Page 106 of Wylder Ranch
“Who’sthat?”
I follow Saylor’s gaze to where Birgitta is throwing bags haphazardly into one of three SUVs, her long white-blond hair flicking behind her as she does.
“Max’s nanny.”
“She’sthe nanny? Wow, she’shot.She’s not going to be Everly’s nanny, is she?”
“No, we don’t have a nanny.” I shake my head. Even though it’s definitely useful having her around, it’s the most ridiculous sentence I’ve uttered, because who do I think I am?
Actually, the winner of the most ridiculous sentence award was “I don’t need one hundred million.” A statement I still stand by.I don’t.
“Good plan. Because if nannies in England come looking likethat? All I’m saying is she’s no Mary Poppins.”
“Saylor...” I nudge an elbow into her ribs anyway. “Shh.”
Alex reemerges from the cabin, followed by Clementine, who sprints down the stairs the moment she spots me, though I think it’s more that she’s spotted who I’m standing next to.
“Hi, you must be Saylor.” She grins. “I’ve heard so much about you. I’ve been so excited to meet you. Do you ski? You must come with us this week.”
There’s half a second of Saylor sizing up Clementine, because she’s finally meeting someone with the same energy level and enthusiasm, before she matches her broad smile.
“I do ski. That sounds awesome.”
Clemmie claps her hands together in rapid-fire. “Splendid.”
It’s only when Clemmie turns to Miles that Saylor mouths, “OMG I love her,” which probably has everything to do with Clemmie being English and all her words coming out in that clipped tone that’s so hard to mimic. It took me a little while to get used to it and not grin maniacally at everything she said, but now I hardly notice.
“C’mon, Milo, what’s the plan?”
“Just waiting for Alex and Hen to decide what they want to do.”
Thirty seconds later, they emerge from the cabin—Hendricks dressed like Alex in jeans and a thick dark sweater, carrying Max—and walk down the steps. Next tome, Saylor lets out a quiet sigh.
“Okay, if everyone agrees, we’ll go back to our respective abodes, then we’ll head to the polo ground in an hour,” Alex says, peering at me. “Hayve, is that okay with you?”
I nod, because as much as I want to see the house, I have a sudden urge to let off a little steam.
“Sounds good to me.”
Miles whoops. “Then let’s fucking go.”
As I open the car door, Max says, “IknewUncle Miles would say a bad word again.”
Flyingprivate is definitely better than flying commercial, but it still doesn’t help with the jet lag.
In fact, after we headed back to the ranch, I could have easily crawled into bed and stayed there. I don’t even get time to take it all in and enjoy the moment of being back for the first time in two months because Saylor’s hurrying us along. Which means that after saying a reluctant goodbye to Everly, we’re a little discombobulated when the car drops us off.
But because Miles knowseveryone,we’re taken inside the players’ entrance instead of the regular patrons’ entrance, where we find him waiting with Clemmie and Hendricks.
“Ah, good, you’re here. Let’s go,” he says by way of hello, before we’re whisked off again.
We follow him around the path and through a set ofgates leading up to the main clubhouse.
“Get out of my way, asshole!”
It’s only because Hendricks pulls him back in time that Miles doesn’t get trampled as a pony canters past him.
By the time I register what’s happened, all I see of the rider is a long auburn braid bouncing against her back.
