Page 34 of The Nanny's Homecoming

“I don’t like the sound of that.”

She huffed a short, soft laugh and raised both hands. “What? You think I can’t take them down with a karate chop?”

His mouth quivered. She was feisty and cute. “I’m serious, Brooke. You could be in danger. Greed can motivate some people to do anything.”

“They’re kin. They want to scare me off, but they won’t hurt me.” Something in her expression said she wasn’t really certain of that.

“Why don’t you bunk over here in my guest room? Get your locks changed before you spend another night alone.”

“Henry Johnson was supposed to have come today, but he didn’t make it. I’ll be fine tonight, though. Don’t worry.” She stepped off the porch into the darkness. Gabe followed.

She whirled. “You shouldn’t leave A.J. alone.”

“He’s alone right this minute, Brooke. It’s a dozen steps and back, not halfway across town.”

“Still. Something could happen.”

He took her arm and started walking toward her back door. She kept looking over her shoulder as though expecting his house to burst into flames.

“Stop it,” he said. “You’re making me nervous.”

“He’s too little to be alone.”

“No argument about that.” They reached her back door and Gabe waited for her to flip on the porch light. “Mind if I come in and check things.”

“No need.”

“Humor me.”

She did. He made a quick assay of both levels while she barricaded the front door with a chair beneath the knob. He’d never known if that actually worked, but the action gave him a measure of peace.

“If you so much as hear a creak before morning, you call me. Got it?”

“The chances of creaks are good in this old house.”

He fisted both hands on his hips and offered his best CEO stare down. “Promise me, Brooke.”

She saluted. “Yes, boss. Now get back over there to your baby.”

Gabe exited the house and stood on the porch until he heard the lock turn and the chair slide into place. “Good night, Brooke.”

Her muffled snort came through the door. “Go home, Gabe.”

He loped across the lawn, dialed her cell phone and told her to turn off the porch light. He waited at the back door, watching until the house went dark. Then he flipped off his own lights but remained there in the dark, praying for her safety.

Manny would tease him if he knew about Brooke Clayton. She brought out the protector in him.

He didn’t like that someone was trying to frighten her.

But he did like the fact that she’d agreed to work for him. He could keep a better eye on her that way.

Brooke Clayton lived alone. She needed him, but unlike Tara, Brooke was not the irresponsible dingbat he’d first thought her to be. He’d been wrong about that. She was smart and sweet and thoughtful, not to mention as pretty as a Rocky Mountain sunrise.

A little voice whispered in his ear. Face it, Gabe. You’re getting a thing for your neighbor. Your very young neighbor.

With a groan, he leaned his forehead against the back door and hoped he had enough sense to keep a friendly distance.

Chapter Eight

The Clayton Christian Church fellowship hall buzzed with volunteers when Brooke arrived with A.J. on her hip and Gabe at her side. As they came through the door, heads turned. Speculative smiles flickered from Brooke to Gabe and back again. They’d had the same reaction at the Cowboy Café when they’d stopped for lunch.

Brooke didn’t mind, but Gabe noticed and seemed uncomfortable. In the café, he’d pointedly told Erin, Kylie and anyone else within hearing range that Brooke was A.J.’s new nanny. She didn’t know why that bothered her but it did.

Well, okay, she did know why it bothered her. She was a normal female with a normal ego, a need to be considered special by a special man. Gabe was a good-looking, successful guy. Any woman in her right mind would want to be on his A-list.

He’d been unusually quiet today, too. She’d figured he had business issues on his mind, but when she’d asked about the Lucky Lady, his reply had been short, his attention elsewhere.

Was he regretting the decision to hire her?

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