When Anna got up the next day, she was surprised by how quiet the house was. She checked the time and it was almost eight o’clock. She’d expected Taylor to be awake and needing her attention by seven at the latest. She scrambled out of bed, pulled on jeans and a sweatshirt and poked her head in Taylor’s bedroom. Her crib was empty.

Before she reached the kitchen, she heard low voices and the sound of a baby laughing. Betty was buttering toast while Ben was trying to feed what looked like peaches to Taylor, who kept spitting them out.

“I’m so sorry. I meant to be up earlier,” she apologized.

But Ben just smiled. “No worries. I’m happy to have breakfast with my daughter.”

Anna quickly got a soft cloth and cleaned up the peachy mess all over Taylor’s face and the surrounding area. There was even a big glob of it in Ben’s hair, but he didn’t seem to notice.

“Do you want me to get that for you? It looks like she flung her food in your hair.”

Ben ran a hand through his hair and got most of the peaches out of it.

“She sure did. I’ll be jumping in the shower after this anyway, so it’s all good.”

“Do you want me to take over?” Anna asked.

“No, we’re just about done. You could get her bottle ready, though, if you like.”

Anna warmed up Taylor’s bottle of formula and a few minutes later, Ben handed her to Anna. She got her situated with her bottle and didn’t even notice at first that Ben was watching them with interest.

“You’re very good with her. Did you used to baby sit a lot when you were younger? Before you started nannying?”

“Yes, I did. For a while.” She shivered at the thought. If Ben knew the truth about what she’d done and why she stopped babysitting, he never would have hired her. She bit her lower lip, hoping that he’d never find out.

“Oh, why did you stop? Did you find something more glamorous?” he teased.

She took a deep breath and told him the truth—well, part of the truth. “I got a job working the concession stand at the local movie theater. Perks were free movies and all the popcorn I could eat.”

“And you love movies…” he said with a smile. “Oh, I meant to mention this before, but you don’t have to be stuck here all day. Feel free to take Taylor out and about with you. If you need to run errands or want to meet a friend for lunch.”

“Are you sure?”

“Of course. I trust you.” He leaned over and dropped a kiss on Taylor’s forehead. “Okay, I’m off to the showers. Have a good day.”

Anna watched him go and thought about his suggestion. She was excited and terrified at the thought of taking Taylor out. What if something happened?

Betty was looking at her curiously. “You really should get out for a while. It will be good for both of you. Taylor could use some fresh air and a change of scenery and I imagine you could, too. You don’t want to be cooped up here all day long, every day.”

“I’ll think about it.”

“Her carrier is in the front hall closet. It’s a top of the line model, easy to snap right into your backseat. I can help you with it if you’re not sure.”

Anna smiled. “Thanks. If I get stuck, I’ll come find you. Maybe we will go for a ride later. A friend of mine manages the book store at the ranch. They have a great selection of children’s books and toys.”

“That’s a great idea. Taylor could use some new books. She loves being read to.”

Anna texted Tammy, and they made plans to meet later that afternoon. She could bring Taylor to the store and then take a quick coffee break with Tammy at Sadie’s Saloon.

Once both she and Taylor had eaten lunch, Anna went and found a stroller and baby carrier in the front hall closet and carefully secured first the base and then the carrier in her car’s back seat. Once she was confident that she had it set up correctly, and she’d tested clicking the carrier into it and removing it several times, she brought the carrier back into the house and gently placed Taylor into it. She tucked a soft fleece blanket around her and handed her her favorite plush stuffed animal. Anna smiled at the sight of the funny looking toy. It was a miniature Bigfoot, which she’d thought was hysterical when she first saw it.

“Seems an odd choice for a baby,” she’d commented to Betty, who laughed in response.

“I couldn’t agree more. It caught Ben’s eye at the gift shop at River’s End Ranch when he first moved here. Apparently Kelsi, one of the Weston siblings that owns the ranch, is obsessed with finding Bigfoot. Ben said there’s all kinds of Bigfoot paraphernalia in the shop—toys, books, t-shirts, sweatshirts, even pool towels all with the image of Bigfoot on it. He thought it was funny. Joke was on him, though, when it turned out to be Taylor’s favorite toy.”

Anna glanced at Taylor, who was happily sucking on one of Bigfoot’s ears. It was obvious by the worn and faded spots that Bigfoot was well loved.

“Okay, I think we’re off. Maybe I’ll find a picture book on Bigfoot for her!”

“Have fun,” Betty said as she opened the front door for them.

* * *

Tammy was at the cash register, ringing up a customer, when Anna wheeled Taylor’s stroller into the bookstore. Tammy waved when she saw them and Anna went to the children’s section. She’d been in the bookstore a few times before but hadn’t had a reason to check out the children’s books. She was impressed by the selection. She recognized a lot of old favorites like Dr. Seuss and some cute newer ones like the Fancy Nancy picture books and one that made her smile, Dragons Love Tacos.

She picked out a few cute ones with just a few words per page and lots of fun pictures and brought them to the counter. Tammy rang them up and approved her choices.

“She’ll love these.” As she put them in a bag and handed Anna her receipt, a woman came out of an office in the back. Tammy introduced her as Melissa, the owner of the store.

“Nice to meet you. Enjoy your coffee break.”

“Do you want me to bring you a mocha?” Tammy offered.

“I don’t really need it, but yes, I’d love that. Extra whipped cream, please.”

“Of course!”

“She seems really nice,” Anna said as they headed toward Sadie’s Saloon, which was just a short walk.

“Melissa’s great. And she’s a really good writer, too. I just read her second mystery and I couldn’t put it down.”

“Oh, maybe I should have bought a copy. I want to start reading more.”

“You can borrow mine when I’m done.”

“Oh, thanks. I’m surprised you didn’t get the ebook version.”

“Normally I do. But if it’s author I love, sometimes I’ll get the print copy. Especially when it’s someone I know and they autograph it.”

“That makes sense.”

The coffee shop was busier than the last time they’d been there. The owner of the shop, Sadie, was chatting with the customers in front of them, and handing out tiny plastic spoons with ice cream samples.

“Oh, Sadie must have a new flavor out today,” Tammy said as the people in front of them paid and then it was their turn.

“Hi, Tammy. Would you and your friend like to try a new flavor I’m experimenting with?” Sadie said.

They both said yes at the same time and laughed.

“Here you go.” Sadie handed them both a bite of ice cream. “It’s peanut butter with caramel swirl and bits of chocolate. What do you think?”

“I think I need a cup of that, and a coffee,” Tammy said. She looked back at Anna. “How about you?”

“I wasn’t planning on getting ice cream, but I can’t sit there and watch you eat it,” Anna laughed. “I’ll have the same.”

They brought their coffees and ice creams over to a table and sat down. Anna pulled Taylor’s stroller close to the table so it wouldn’t be in the way. Taylor was wide awake and looking all around the room with big, curious eyes.

“She’s super cute! How is everything going?” Tammy asked.

“She is, isn’t she? So far, so good. Though I was a nervous wreck at first about taking her out. I put the carrier in the back seat several times before I was sure that it was locked into place.”

Tammy looked sympathetic. “It wasn’t your fault, you know. If anything, it was Elise’s.”

Anna was silent for a moment and then nodded. “I know. Rationally, I know that, but I still feel guilty. And it doesn’t help that Elise still blames me for it.”

Tammy’s eyes narrowed at the mention of Elise. There was no love lost there.

“Well, it’s never been fair. You know how I feel about it. And besides, he’s fine now. No harm done.”

“Right. So, how’s your day going?” Anna tried to change the subject. She appreciated that Tammy got fired up on her behalf, but she still preferred to not even think about it.

“Good. That cute doctor I met the other night at trivia came into the store today.”

“Clark? The one that was sitting next to you?”

“That’s the one. He’s a huge flirt, so it’s hard to tell if he might be interested or if he’s just charming to everyone. I’m pretty sure it’s not just me.”

Anna looked at her friend. Tammy was gorgeous. She was taller than Anna, and had brown hair that was so dark it almost looked black and it fell half-way down her back, shiny and straight. And she had unusual, bluish gray eyes and pale skin. The combination was striking. Tammy had always gotten more attention from boys than Anna did, but she didn’t mind.

“It probably was you. Did he buy anything?”

“The newest Lee Child thriller and a couple of crossword puzzle books.”

“He likes crossword puzzles?”

“He said they help him to relax and unwind after a long day.”

“So, he has a somewhat serious side, then. Did he ask you out?”

Tammy laughed. “No. Though he did ask if I was going to be at trivia this week.”

“So he came into your shop and asked if you’d be at trivia? Could be a little interest there, maybe.”

“I’m sure he was just being friendly. And he’s good friends with Wade so probably stopped by to see him before coming to the store. I highly doubt it was just to see me.”

“Right.”

“So, what about your billionaire? Tell me more about Ben. Aside from being insanely good-looking, is he nice?”

“He is, actually. Nicer than I expected.” She told Tammy about waking up to find Ben already up and feeding Taylor.

“And it was his idea for you to come here today?”

“Well, not specifically here, but to get out of the house.”

“He sounds great. Is he single?”

Was he? It seemed as though he probably was, but Anna realized she didn’t know much about Ben’s personal life. Maybe he had a long-distance relationship with someone.

“I think so, but I’m not really sure.”

“I remember reading about him in the tabloids. Always a different girl, usually someone famous. But now that I think about it, I haven’t seen any mentions on him or any women in a long time.”

“He said that was a reason he moved here. To get out of the spotlight and focus on raising Taylor in a more normal environment.”

“Well, once the women in Riston catch wind that he’s here, that’s likely to change. He’s the most eligible bachelor this town has ever seen.”

“I suppose so.” For some reason, Anna found the thought of Ben dating anyone in Riston a bit depressing.

“Maybe it will be you,” Tammy said with a slightly teasing tone, but Anna could tell there was a little hope there, too.

“It’s not like that. I work for him and I need this job. I wouldn’t do anything that could jeopardize it.”

Tammy nodded. “I understand. So, fill me in on the school situation. Have you looked into what you need to do for financial aid?”

Anna took a sip of her coffee before answering. “I have and what I found out isn’t good. In order to qualify for financial aid, I need Elise to fill out some forms and she made it clear she wants nothing to do with helping me go to law school. Besides, even if she did, it wouldn’t matter because I still wouldn’t qualify.”

Tammy looked confused. “Why not? I thought you said she said there wasn’t a lot of money left when your father passed.”

“She lied. He may have lost some, but last I knew he had all of his money in one stock—Amazon, and that’s done nothing but go up in recent years. So even if it did fall, and it is a volatile stock, even with a dip, he should still be somewhat ahead. Enough for me not to qualify for aid.”

“I’m sorry. That really stinks. What will you do?”

That was the big question. Law school was expensive and even if she saved every penny she made, she still wouldn’t have enough to cover tuition and room and board by September.

“I don’t know. I’ll need to see what I can do for loans, and how much I can save. I might need to push it off a year.”

Anna took her last bite of ice cream just as Taylor decided it was time to go. She let out a huge holler and then the tears came.

“I think she’s ready to head home,” Anna said as she stood and looked around for where to throw out her trash.

“I’ll take those,” Tammy said. “I’m going to order Melissa’s mocha and then we can be on our way.”

* * *

Ben stared out his office window, taking in a sight he’d never seen in Silicon Valley. About a hundred yards from the house, in a pretty meadow, six deer were roaming around, stopping occasionally to nibble on some grass. He’d been glued to his computer screen all day, so the short break and peaceful sight was a welcome one. He stretched and twisted in his chair to loosen up his crunchy muscles. He’d have to visit his gym later and get a good workout in. That helped keep him in shape and get a good night’s sleep. It would also take his mind off his pretty new nanny who was sleeping just down the hall. He’d been so desperate to find someone capable to watch Taylor that it hadn’t even occurred to him that a young, pretty nanny could be a dangerous distraction.

Ben liked dating all kinds of women. Admittedly, he’d done his share of it, and it had been fun walking the red carpet with actresses and models and other lovely women he’d met. As a well-known billionaire, he hadn’t ever had a shortage of women interested in going out with him. But, he’d always kept things light. His number one focus had always been on his job and he made it clear with everyone he dated that he wasn’t looking for anything serious. Most of them felt the same way, but he knew a few of them thought they’d be able to change his mind and saw it as a challenge. He also knew most were as attracted to his money as they were to him.

And after a while, he’d grown tired of it. Eventually, he hoped to meet someone that he could be serious with. His priorities had changed now that he had Taylor to consider and truthfully, going out with different women all the time got old after a while. But, while he hoped to eventually meet someone in Riston, he knew that the last candidate he should consider would be his live-in nanny. That just seemed like a recipe for disaster. If it didn’t go well, he’d be out of a nanny for one thing. No, he’d just have to resist the temptation to flirt with her, and focus on keeping his distance and just being her friend. Plus, he had to admit, she hadn’t shown the slightest interest in him other than as an employer. Maybe he was losing his touch.

His phone rang, and he smiled when he saw who it was—Adiel.

“So, what did you think? Did you talk to Steven yet?” Ben asked

“I did. Thank you for the head’s up. It sounds right up my alley and it would be fun to hang out in Riston with you for a few months, or maybe longer if the pilot gets picked up.”

“Did you say yes, then?”

“Steven’s sending over the contract now, and I’m flying in on Sunday to drop it off in person and walk around the property with him. Get a feel for his vision.”

Ben was thrilled to hear it. Except for his friend Jack who worked for the local police and had recently married, Ben didn’t have any close friends in Riston, and it would be fun to have someone to hang out with.

“I couldn’t be happier to hear this. You’re welcome to crash here. I’ve got plenty of room,” Ben offered.

“I will gladly take you up on that for a night or two. I’ll just be in town for a few days, then back in a week or so to stay. Steven said there will be some housing set up for everyone working on the show. It will either be right on the ranch or close by. I’m not sure on the details yet.”

“Well, I’m looking forward to catching up when you get here. Congrats.”

“Thanks again for putting my name forward. I really appreciate it. I’ll see you in a few days.”

Ben glanced out the window again as he hung up the phone. The deer were long gone. But the view was still breathtaking. There were snow-capped mountains in the distance, soaring green trees and glistening lakes. Riston was beautiful and something about the air here really agreed with him. Just looking out the window at the serene views filled him with a sense of peace, and the sureness that this was where he was meant to be.