Matters of the Heart Read online

  “I know this sounds terrible, but I don’t know. I mean with her mother dumping her on me like that I’ve got no medical history for her.”

  “Anyway you can get hold of her to ask?”

  “She left no forwarding address which I assume was intentional. Not that I want to see that woman ever again.”

  “Then I suggest we hold off until she’s due for another round of them just in case she’s already been vaccinated.”

  “She won’t get sick, will she? I mean if she hasn’t her shots?”

  Lucy shook her head. “She’s not going to be around other children that much, and don’t worry, I’ll keep a close eye on her. Any sign of problems and we’ll get her to the doctor.”

  “I haven’t taken her for a check-up. Do you think I should?”

  “Probably a good idea. I can do that for you.”

  “Great. I’ll make an appointment with Dr. Willougby.”

  There was silence for a few minutes. Brad crossed his leg over the other and Lucy noticed him eyeing her over the rim of the mug as he drank the hot chocolate.

  He looked more handsome than he had in his office the day before. And for the first time since they’d met, Lucy sensed she might have a tough time keeping business and pleasure separate.

  “I was thinking that maybe we can grab something to eat while we’re shopping. There are a couple of places in the strip mall. Do you cook at all?”

  “I’m great with breakfast and I also make a mean chili.”

  “And my specialty is steak on the grill. And yes, I still cook on it during snow season. And I have takeout menus for just about every eating establishment within a five-mile radius. Good news is that most of them deliver.”

  She laughed. “Then I guess we won’t starve.”

  “Nope, have no fear of that.”

  Presley chose that moment to wake up screaming.

  Brad got up and so did Lucy.

  “Sit down, this is my job now,” she said.

  ****

  Brad thought it was of the most beautiful images he’d seen as Lucy came back downstairs cradling Presley who had miraculously stopped crying.

  “I’ve changed her but I think she probably needs her bottle. If you want to show me where everything is, then I can feed her for you.”

  “Sure, it’s out here in the kitchen.”

  Lucy followed behind whispering to Presley as she did so.

  “I hope I’ve been doing everything correctly. I mean mixing the formula and heating it in the microwave,” said Brad.

  “She looks the picture of health so I think you have.”

  She handed him the baby while she set about making the formula. She looked to be an expert at it, and in what seemed like mere minutes, the bottle was ready, she’d taken Presley, sat at the table, and his daughter was contently feeding, and wrapping her fingers around the bottle as she sucked.

  Lucy looked so at ease as she held his daughter. She’d tied her hair up in a ponytail today and wore a black sweater and blue jeans. She was gorgeous. But like he’d assured his daughter, he had it under control. The last person who’d enticed him between the sheets was Presley’s mom.

  Once bitten, twice shy.

  Lucy chose that moment to look up at him.

  She smiled.

  His legs grew weak and his heartbeat picked up to an almost uneasy beat.

  I can’t, I must not… not this time because she works for me.

  “Did you say something?” asked Lucy.

  Shit, he hadn’t said that out loud without noticing, had he?

  He shook his head.

  “There, she’s all done.”

  Lucy put the bottle down and lifted Presley, put her over her shoulder, and rubbed the baby’s back. She giggled and tugged at Lucy’s hair.

  “Are you ladies ready to head to the store for some shopping?” asked Brad.

  “I am. How about you, Presley?” asked Lucy, lifting her up in the air as she giggled again. “I think that’s a yes, Daddy.”

  He took Presley while Lucy went upstairs to get her coat, mittens and purse. While he got ready, she dressed the baby in the snow suit, and by the time he’d returned she’d placed her in the baby carrier.

  They stepped onto the front step, and Brad locked the door.

  “When we come back, why don’t you bring your car into the garage? There’s plenty of room even when I park the SUV in there.”

  “Are you sure?”

  He nodded. “That way you won’t have to shovel snow off it if you want to go out someplace. And if you do, just let me know. I don’t expect you to be with us 24/7. I mean if you ever have a date or something.”

  He looked for any sign or reaction that might indicate that she had a boyfriend. He couldn’t imagine a pretty girl like her not having lots of guys asking her out. He unlocked the SUV, thinking how he’d react if she brought one home and he saw them together.

  What am I even thinking about something like that for? It would be none of my business what an employee does.

  “Do you have a car seat for Presley?” she asked him.

  “Nope and as sheriff, I know I have to buy one and soon. How about we look for one while we’re out?”

  “Sounds like a great idea.”

  “I’ve been putting her in the carrier on the back seat with the seat belt across the top of it and then driving real slow.”

  “How about I sit in back with her this time?”

  He pulled the front seat down and Lucy climbed in and took the carrier from him. As she reached across for the seat belt her coat pulled up off her legs and he caught sight of her backside. That, like the rest of her, it was cute and enticing.

  Once both she and Presley were secure, he got into the driver’s seat, started the ignition, and then backed out of the driveway.

  “Look Presley, it’s snowing again. Maybe your daddy will build you a snowman,” said Lucy as they headed down the road.

  “I haven’t made one of those for years.” He pulled out onto the main road and headed for the mall. Pine Ridge, being a smaller community, didn’t have a huge one, but just enough stores that he could find everything he needed for Presley without having to drive to Helena.

  “I see you have a fitness center,” said Lucy when they drove by a sandy-colored building.

  “Yeah, just a small one, a couple of treadmills and bikes and that’s about it.”

  “Do you mind if I play my yoga DVDs in the morning? I started last year and I’m hooked on it. It’s great, stretching out to start the day.”

  “Be my guest. Please treat the house as your own home.”

  He glanced in the rearview mirror and could see her looking out, observing everything as they drove by a few of the stores.

  “Are you from Helena?” he asked.

  “Yes, five generations of us.”

  “My great grandfather came from there. He worked in the copper mines.”

  “Mine too.”

  “I’ll have to show you some photos one day,” said Brad.

  “I’d love to see them.”

  Brad put on his left signal light and turned into the parking lot. He got out and opened back the door, noting how the snow was falling at a quicker pace now. He held Lucy’s hand as she got out so she didn’t fall on the icy blacktop in the parking lot.

  “Why don’t I carry this, as it’s slick underfoot,” he said.

  He took the carrier from her and they headed toward the entrance. Once inside she took it back from him and he put his hand on the small of her back to show her which way to head. He held it there longer than he should have but he couldn’t help himself. Her body was warm and it just felt so right resting there.

  She turned and smiled at him. He smiled back and it was at that moment he realized that resisting her was going to be the toughest thing he’d ever had to do.

  Chapter Four

  Brad loved his little girl.

  Even though she’d only been in his life a short while, it
was evident the way he held her, looked at her, and yes, he was already spoiling her. Brad was every woman’s dream guy. The baby’s mother should be certified insane to one, leave him, two, turn her back on this beautiful baby and the gorgeous family they could have been.

  Lucy stood outside the baby store with Presley while Brad took all the purchases out on a cart ready to load them into the SUV. They now had a crib, changing table, car seat, and enough clothing to fill a closet twice. He’d even bought her two dolls, a teddy bear, a mobile to hang over her crib, and two toys, that when she was old enough, would teach her about colors and numbers. If Lucy was any judge, Presley had a great life ahead of her with this guy.

  “I’ll just get these loaded and when I come back we can go get something to eat.”

  He was easy to like, and she guessed just as easy to fall in love with so she’d have to keep her guard up. Getting involved would complicate the whole employer-employee thing and she needed a job right now or her car would be repossessed.

  She played peek-a-boo with Presley while they waited and couldn’t help but laugh when the baby giggled at her.

  Brad came back in with large flakes of snow dusted across his forehead and the top of his hair. She couldn’t help but stand on tiptoe and brush it off with her fingers. They looked at one another, each of them not saying a word until finally he spoke.

  “What do you think about pizza?”

  “I think that’s a great choice, if you mean do I want to eat it.”

  “Pizza Joe’s it is.”

  He put his hand in the small of her back again. She’d almost melted like she had the first time he’d done that. And this time it sent tingles throughout her whole body.

  Yeah, she’d have to watch herself or be unemployed again.

  ****

  He’d picked the right candidate to be nanny to his little girl. He stood at the counter waiting for their pizza and looked back at the table where she sat with Presley. She was making faces and dancing the new toy duck back and forth in front of Presley’s face, making her giggle so hard he could hear her even from this distance.

  “Sheriff Ryan, here’s your pepperoni pizza,” said the boy behind the counter.

  “Thanks a lot.”

  He took the tray thinking how he and Lucy had both picked pepperoni saying it was their favorite and had therefore decided to split a large one. She glanced up at him as he sat down and she put Presley on the chair between them.

  Lucy took a slice of pizza and placed it on her plate. “This looks delicious.”

  “It is. For a small town we have some of the best eating places around. Or maybe that’s because I’m a bachelor and eat out a lot.”

  “Do you get a discount because you’re the sheriff?”

  “I think that would be considered a bribe.”

  Lucy laughed before taking a bite of the pizza.

  “So you like being the sheriff?”

  He could only nod as his mouth was full. He swallowed and wiped his chin with the napkin. “I think the people like me too, so it’s a win-win situation.”

  Brad glanced over and noticed a smear of pizza sauce clinging to Lucy’s cheek. He was about to tell her but then he opted to clean it himself. He lifted his napkin and dabbed it away. They sat looking at one another again. It was getting awkward but he couldn’t think of a damn thing to say until the most stupid thing rolled off his tongue.

  “Do you have a boyfriend?”

  She shook her head. “There was a guy I liked. In fact, I liked him since we were in kindergarten but I never got the nerve to tell him. And to cut the story short, he just got married.”

  “Ouch.”

  “Yeah, I guess that’s what happens when you hesitate about matters of the heart.”

  He took a deep breath. Wasn’t that the truth.

  “I’m sure there’s someone else out there for you.”

  “Yeah, that’s what Ms. Sutton told me, too.”

  “Sadie.”

  Lucy nodded.

  “She seems like a real nice lady. Presley was fascinated by her.”

  “I think children are drawn to some people.”

  “Presley seems to have taken to you, too.”

  Lucy leaned back and smiled at her. “I’m glad to hear that, and I think we’re going to have lots of fun together. “

  “That’s great because I’d feel like a bad parent working long hours and leaving her with different babysitters. I’d like her to have some stability in her life. Presley’s mother did a downright dirty thing and I want to make it up to my daughter.”

  Lucy put her hand on top of his. It felt so good and better than he would have ever imagined. It was a simple gesture that made him tingle all over.

  “Just relax, because you’re doing great and she’s going to be a happy girl all her life. I know it.”

  He nodded and she tapped his hand before pulling it away.

  “Anywhere you’d like to look or shop before we head home?” he asked her.

  “No, but now I know where the shopping center is so Presley and I can take some day trips out.”

  “Hope you’re not going to teach my little girl to be a shopaholic.”

  “Oh daddy, oh, you don’t know what lies ahead for you. There will be dating and make-up and…”

  “Okay, enough,” said Brad laughing.

  ****

  Lucy couldn’t sleep and not just because she was in a strange house and bed. Since her head had hit the pillow, she’d thought of nothing else but Brad. She turned onto her side and fluffed up the pillow. The falling snow made the bedroom light which made getting some shut eye even harder.

  She turned back to her original position and looked up at the ceiling. Who would have thought she would have forgotten all about Bryce so easily and not to mention so quickly? Not that she’d totally forgotten about him. He’d always be her friend. She twirled her hair between her fingers, something she always did when she was deep in thought or stressed.

  She’d made one vital mistake with Bryce. She hadn’t told him how she really felt and that she didn’t want to consider him just a friend any more. She wouldn’t be foolish enough to do that ever again.

  Lucy knew she already had some feelings for Brad. However, revealing that to him, with him being her employer, would be downright stupid. The best thing to do would be to tell him she’d gotten a sudden offer for her ideal nursing job and simply leave. But she hadn’t, and she loved being around Presley.

  Lucy finally gave up on falling asleep. She reached over, flicked on the bedside lamp and pulled out one of the novels she’d brought with her. If she didn’t get to sleep soon she’d be in no shape to take care of a baby.

  ****

  Brad guessed it was still snowing because of the brightness in his bedroom. He was usually a sound sleeper but since instant parenthood had been thrust upon him almost a week ago, he’d been waking in up at night to feed and change his daughter. Daddy radar had set in quickly, turning him into a light sleeper who kept a constant vigil for the least little whimper from his baby girl.

  Who am I kidding?

  Tonight his insomnia had nothing to do with being a father. The young woman who slept just down the hallway from him was the real reason.

  On the ride back from shopping, they’d discovered they had so many things in common. They listened to the same radio station. They liked the same things on TV. She actually watched shows like ‘Masterpiece Theater’ and ‘Nature’ on PBS. He’d never told anyone, but he did too. Black Forest cake was both their favorite dessert. It was if something out there in the universe had brought them together but yet her working for him had ironically put her off-limits. The last thing he needed was to be accused of sexual harassment. Him the sheriff. That would certainly be the talk of Pine Ridge.

  Was that Presley crying?

  He got out of bed and walked to the door. He didn’t hear anything. He headed back to the bed, but now he was sure he heard her crying. He wondered if Lucy had h
eard her too? Maybe not as the house and baby were new to her, so he should probably check.

  Brad headed down the hallway, opened the baby’s bedroom door but stopped in his tracks when he saw Lucy was already there, rocking his daughter in her arms and singing Rock-a-Bye-Baby to her. She wore a t-shirt that was a little on the short side. It clung around the very top of her thighs which seemed to beckon to him.

  He swallowed, hoping he could get rid of the lump in his throat and the sudden tightness in the front of his shorts due to his erection.

  My shorts.

  Shit, he’d rushed out of his bed and room forgetting he was wearing the ones that had shrunk slightly during the last couple of washes, causing the opening to gape and expose some of his bits and pieces.

  He glanced down, hoping it wasn’t as obvious as it felt. Yes, you could probably see his hard-on from outer space. In fact, his dick was straining against the opening and doing its best to break free. His cheeks burned and he sensed he was blushing. What must Lucy be thinking?

  Maybe she hadn’t noticed. He glanced over at her. Her eyes were definitely zeroed in on his crotch and his erection was getting worse and more painful.

  “I’ll warm her formula and feed her,” she said.

  He stepped aside without saying anything. As she made her way downstairs with Presley, he rushed into his bedroom and pulled on his sweatpants. The erection was still obvious but at least his dick was safely covered. He tried to think of something other than Lucy and her short t-shirt, but he couldn’t get the image out of his mind.

  Brad raced downstairs. He couldn’t leave it like this as it would be too embarrassing for both of them in the morning. He turned the corner into the kitchen. Damn, the situation was getting worse by the second. She had the fridge door open and was bending trying to reach something on the bottom shelf. Her pink floral panties were on full display. Where they didn’t quite cover her backside, her cute cheeks hung below them.

  He dug his toes into the wood flooring, hoping that would take the edge off the pulling sensation in his balls. He grabbed the back of the kitchen chair and almost made indents in the wood where he squeezed it so hard trying to get control of the situation.