had probably never in his life been as wrong about something.
He just had to remember Luke was her brother. Other than his brothers, Luke was his best friend, and Cade was not about to jeopardize their long-standing relationship for a brief flirtation that would be forgotten when Erin left for grad school.
Not one bit. Telling himself he could do this, he cleared his throat and got the attention of the two women.
“Grandmother, we’ll give Amelia back to you because Erin has limited time.”
“Thanks for quieting her down,” Margo said as she took the baby. “You have a nice touch and she likes you.”
Erin smiled again. “She’s a sweet and beautiful baby.”
“She looks a lot like her father and she has a resemblance to her uncle,” Margo said, smiling at Cade.
“Grandmother, I’ll be back soon. Call Maisie if you need some help,” Cade said, referring to his cook. He had already made arrangements for her to help his grandmother with Amelia when she needed it.
“I always call Maisie when I need her,” Margo said.
As he walked with Erin into the hall he said, “Amelia sleeps through the night, but it’s still a lot for Grandmother to take care of her. I try to be here as much as possible so I can take care of her in the evenings, but because of business, there are times I can’t be at the ranch. I need a nanny as soon as possible. You saw both of us with her. I’m a novice and Grandmother has forgotten what she knew about childcare,” he admitted.
“You’ll learn what to do.”
“It’s scary. When Amelia cries, I feel like I’m failing her and Nate and Lydia.”
“Relax a little, Cade. You take care of a lot of things on this ranch that are far more difficult and complicated. She’s just a little girl.”
“I meant it when I said that I don’t know anything about babies or kids. And I especially don’t know anything about little girls,” he confessed. Then he rolled his eyes and let out a groan. “I can’t bear to think of trying to deal with a teenage girl.”
Erin laughed softly. “She won’t be a teen for a few years so stop worrying about that. You’ll get accustomed to Amelia in no time.” Erin paused in the hallway to face him and her expression sobered. “I’m sorry I can’t do this. While I’d love to take care of Amelia and it would fit with my future career, living on your ranch or driving back and forth to my home in Dallas every day would be too much of a hardship. And I make a very good salary where I am. I wish you luck.”
He looked into those deep green eyes that he knew he wouldn’t forget for a long time and he knew what he had to do. “At least hear my offer before you turn me down.”
He needed Erin. Amelia needed Erin. At the same time, he had known since she walked through his office door and he got his first sight of her, that resisting the urge to have her wouldn’t be easy. But he hoped it would be possible. Besides, it was only a few months, not long enough to be much of a temptation.
“Come on,” he said, turning toward his office and feeling her follow behind him. “Is there anyone you’re seeing who’ll be upset about you accepting a job on a ranch or being away from Dallas all week?” he asked as they walked.
“No, there isn’t,” she replied. “Luke leaves this week for the Antarctic and isn’t scheduled to be back for the rest of the year. Mom is visiting her sister who lives in Arkansas—” She stopped, as if she suddenly thought of something. “I guess you weren’t talking about my brother and family.” She shook her head. “There’s no man in my life.”
“At the moment that works out better.”
They entered Cade’s office and sat in the leather chairs again. She crossed her legs and looked at him expectantly.
He placed his elbows on his knees and leaned closer. “I know you’re capable and reliable. I know you and your family. I trust your credentials and I can trust you to care for Amelia like she was your own. You’re perfect for this job.”
“Thank you for such faith in me but—”
“I know. You don’t think you’ll make enough money for this nanny job to be worth your time. So, let’s make it worth your time. It’s five months counting December and then you’ll leave for graduate school, right?”
“I’m quitting my job mid-December because I want to get ready to go to the university and I want a little time at home during Christmas.”
“Okay. Only four months, plus two weeks, then. That makes a bigger salary even easier.” When he paused to think, she waited quietly.
“Whatever your salary is for secretarial work, I’ll quadruple it if you’ll work for me,” he offered.
Her eyes widened as she stared at him, saying nothing.
“You can have the use of one of my cars while you live here. That way you won’t have wear and tear on your car or gas to buy when you come and go out here. You can have Saturdays and Sundays off after the first month and a ten-thousand-dollar signing bonus upon acceptance. The reason for asking you to stay on the weekends the first month is because everyone else is gone on the weekend. I’ll get my cook to stay Saturday and take off one day during the week, but I’m not ready to be alone with Amelia and have full charge of her care.”
“Mercy...” As her lips parted, his attention was drawn to them and his curiosity rose over what it would be like to kiss her. It still shocked him that the same person he could so easily ignore as a kid now took his breath away, made his pulse race and inspired fantasies about hot kisses. He had to force his mind back onto his offer when she finally spoke.
“What you’re offering is ridiculous,” she whispered, still staring at him as if he had offered her all the gold in Fort Knox. “It’s definitely something I have to consider, now that I’m going to grad school.” Her gaze flickered as she said, “You know, if I hadn’t known you all my life and if you weren’t really close friends with my brother, I would suspect some ulterior motive for that kind of money. As it is, I know you well enough to know you’re offering me the job for the right reasons.”
“Yes, I am. Because I trust Luke’s recommendation. And because Amelia is the highest priority in my life and I want the best nanny I can possibly get.” He had to, for her and for his brother. When he was away from Amelia, he didn’t want to worry about her. Or even when he was with her. Funny, he thought, how he could handle all kinds of things on his ranch, but taking care of a little baby scared the daylights out of him.
He looked at Erin and held his breath, hoping she wouldn’t take a lot of time to make a decision.
She shook her head slowly and he wondered if she intended to say no. He needed her desperately. If she turned him down, how much more should he offer to get her to accept the job?
“I don’t need time. I can’t possibly turn down your offer. When do you want me to start?”
“As soon as you possibly can.”
He felt relief surging in him and he could hardly stifle the smile that split his lips. Although temporary, he felt positive that he just hired an excellent nanny, and someone who could teach him how to be a parent so that later, he could select the best long-term nanny for his niece.
“I feel desperate and so does my grandmother, not to mention my cook who is doing some double shifts. Although sometimes I relieve her and cook for us so that she can help my grandmother,” he explained. “Actually, tomorrow would be the best possible time for you to start, but I know you can’t change your life that fast.”
“No, I can’t, but I can move to your ranch Monday and get to know Amelia. If you or your grandmother