Page 41 of The Cowboy Takes a Nanny
The timing was perfect. The day after tomorrow was the birthday party, and they’d actually have places for their guests to sit. Leo had insisted on an outside caterer, even though she’d tried to assure him how much she’d love to prepare the food herself. Given that there’d be less than thirty guests, she hadn’t felt it would be a chore.
In her old life, thirty was an intimate gathering, but she held her tongue. Her old life was something she guessed he might still be sensitive about, and until they’d had the opportunity to talk, she didn’t feel the need to wave any red flags.
And as the delivery trucks finally drove away, the opportunity and the time to talk, finally arrived. “Um, feel like something to eat? We could try out your new dining table. I know it looks big, but you have a huge space to fill, and with the extension leaf it will pull out to fit your entire family and then some.”
He grinned. “I know, I was there when we picked it. Remember?” He bobbed his head to look into her eyes. “Elle? Are you nervous?”
She shrugged. “No. Yes. Maybe …” She grabbed his arm, tugged him along. “Let’s just go eat, sustain ourselves, and then we can maybe—”
“Try out the new furniture in my bedroom?”
“You want to have sex on your new bureau? Easy chairs? Or maybe your coffee table? Because I’m pretty sure we’ve ascertained the bed is quite adequate, and that was already in place.”
“I was so sure you were more adventurous than that … Gotta say, disappointed here.”
She spun to him, placed her hand on his chest, her tone imploring. “Leo …”
His sigh was so deep her hand lifted under the pressure; the teasing in his eyes and tone immediately gone. “You want me to be serious, I get that.” His hand came up to cover hers. “But you know, maybe I don’t want to have that talk … Maybe I know what’s coming. What we’re both going to say.”
He’d had to ask her to repeat her response because it had been pitched so low she wasn’t even sure she’d voiced the thought. “I doubt that …”
*
The interruptions were becoming farcical. Ella had heated soup while he made sandwiches, all the while guessing little of either would be eaten. They’d begun easy, slow—chatting about the furniture, imagining what the kid’s reactions would be. Both nibbling, both knowing one of them had to get the ball rolling and both reluctant.
Leo had thought he’d known what was coming from Ella, but her last comment had thrown him. Surely it hadn’t been his imagination that she’d sounded ominous. But then again, none of their chats had been particularly simple, so what the hell?
One thing was sure, after the other day he doubted anything could shock him. Maybe, then, that was the place to begin.
“You said something about—”
The doorbell rang.
His eyes darted toward the foyer—taking in the colorful artworks propped ready to be hung and flash new hall tables—and wondered who it could be. No one around here on the Lazy H bothered, usually just banged on the door, and if it was family, he’d give them less than three minutes before they let themselves in.
When no one appeared he sighed, and made his way to the door, surprised to see a well-dressed man standing there, until the man spoke and he heard the same clipped accent he’d been living with for the past several weeks.
“Good afternoon, my name is Nicholas Staunton Hawes, Lord Thorvane. I believe Gabriella is here. I’ve been advised that this is where she currently resides.”
Perhaps Ella had heard the voice, but Leo wasn’t surprised to hear her behind him. However, even in her haughtiest moments, he had never heard that icy tone. “Father? What are you doing here?”
He was surprised, though, to see someone else step into view. Someone who’d remained hidden, deliberately or not, but who addressed them with that same crystal-cut accent. A woman, middle aged, and oozing wealth—and his heart sank. It appeared the life he feared would lure Ella away, had come looking for her instead.
“Gabriella dear, I implore you not to turn your father away. He’s been heartbroken over the rift between you, and while he accepts full responsibility, he would like the opportunity to explain.”
Leo turned, Ella’s expression was set, giving nothing away, yet he wondered if he was the only one who saw the glitter of tears in her eyes? It wasn’t a deluge, but he knew her well enough to see she was rocked by her father’s surprise visit, just like he knew that she’d fight hard not to show it.
“I’m sorry, but you have me at a disadvantage. My father seems to have omitted to introduce you.”
And bingo, there it was. Polite, but leaving no one in doubt that Ella wasn’t about to pushed around—and it was difficult to try and hide his grin.
The woman’s mouth twitched. “You sound exactly like your mother,” she said softly. Pulling her fur coat, real if he was guessing correctly, a bit tighter, she turned her attention to Leo. “It’s quite cold out here. I’d forgotten just how chilly these mountains can get. Do you think it would be possible to continue this conversation somewhere warmer?”
He cocked an eyebrow toward Ella. It was her call, and her business not his. He opened the doors wide when she responded with a shrug and a nod.
Ella led the way, not to the new formal living area as he’d half expected but out to the informal family room with its scattered children’s paraphernalia—but also with a blazing fire and brand-new sofa seating. Ridiculously, he momentarily mourned that two-seat sofa now off to the side, the one that had allowed them to sit close together.
Leo formally introduced himself, with the woman returning the favor, declaring herself to be Alicia Wallace, and he noted the quick look she darted toward Ella, maybe checking for any sign of recognition? Ms. Wallace pronounced Alicia with a sibilant c, not the common sh sound, seeming to give it a higher status, but that might have just been in his own head. She also insisted they use her first name, and he wished Lord Thorvane would do something similar. What that what he was supposed to call the man?
