Chapter 5 - Lesley

I arrived at the ranch, following the directions that Connor had scribbled down at the back of his business card. Besides that, he had also replied to the text that I had sent him with a curt but informative response. I wasn’t exactly expecting him to be a great communicator.

I’ll expect you at the ranch on the sixteenth by midday - Connor

Given that he was expecting me now, I assumed he or at least someone would be present at the gates to greet me. Instead, I carried my own bags down the dirt path which also served as the driveway. Everywhere I looked about me there were open fields. I couldn’t quite believe it. Connor Marshall lived in this place? It had to be some sort of a joke. I could hear the sound of horse hooves at the back of the ranch house. I expected one to just appear out of nowhere any moment.

The decision to take Connor up on his offer had been simple yet difficult in so many ways. I knew I needed a job, a job that wasn’t working part time at a diner where my ass got groped on a daily basis or working at the gas station at night, fending off the advances of drunks and fearing for my life every time someone walked in who I didn’t recognize. It was only now, when I really thought about it, that I realized I was living in constant fear.

Fear of not being able to provide for my family and fear of something going wrong at my jobs. When Connor offered me a job at the ranch, my first instinct had been flight. But when I thought about it, how could any job on a ranch in Texas be any worse than the kind of work I was already doing? I needed to try something different. I needed an adventure. I needed to get away from our matchbox-sized apartment.

And, of course, there was the matter of my crush on him. Even though I tried to tell myself was a silly teenage infatuation, I couldn’t help reliving it now that I had seen him again.

I was curious and thirsty for change, so I left the only home I knew and came here.

Now, no human soul came to greet me at the ranch until I walked up the steps of the porch and knocked on the mesh screen door.

Even the air our here smelled fresh. The sky was clear and, despite the dust clouds in the distance, everything looked clean and serene. This was the last place on earth I would have expected Connor to build a house in, considering the lifestyle he led in the Hamptons.

What kind of work could I possibly do here?

“Who are you?” I heard a small voice and looked down, startled. A blue-eyed blond kid was standing in front of me with his hands on his hips and staring up at me with his small brows crossed.

“Hi, I’m Lesley. I’m here to meet Connor Marshall,” I said, speaking to the boy like he was an adult. He had taken me by surprise. I noticed that he had the same icy cold stare as Connor’s. The realization struck me like a slap across my face. He was Connor’s son. I’d forgotten all about the fact that Connor was a father now.

I’d seen his wife, Natalia Jeeves, around town before. She was one of the typical crew, destined to marry a guy like Connor. When news of their wedding broke out in the neighborhood, all the girls were dying with jealousy. Neither I nor my family had much to do with their circle, so I couldn’t keep up with their news. All I knew was that Connor and Natalia had gone through a bitter divorce soon after their wedding but not before having a son together.

“Daddy is busy. He’s working. I don’t know who you are,” the boy said while I stared at him in awe. Now that I looked closer, there was no denying that he was his father’s son. They had the same eyes, the same hair, and definitely the same attitude.

“Well, can I come in? I’m sure he’s expecting me,” I said in a cooing voice, but the boy wasn’t about to move from his position blocking the door.

“No, you can’t come in, Lesley,” he said like he was spitting my name out. His behavior surprised me. How could there be so much rage in a small boy like him?

“Alfie, be nice to the lady,” Connor’s voice made me snap around in shock. He had crept up on us, and now that I saw him standing there, at the bottom of the steps, I felt like I’d been struck by lightning.

Connor was shirtless. He wasn’t wearing a shirt!

I squeezed my thighs together as I stared at him. He took two steps at a time to reach my side. His chiseled torso moved stealthily. His abs were like those cut out of marble on a Greek God’s statue. His skin was rough and tanned and a thin film of perspiration covered his torso. By my side, the musky masculine scent of him filled my nostrils, and I realized that I’d lost my words.

“I apologize for my son. He’s not very good with strangers,” Connor said, ruffling his son’s blond hair while I gaped at the two of them. My bags still dangled heavily from both my shoulders, and Connor hadn’t offered me a hand. His dirty blond hair grazed his shoulders and a stubble was beginning to take shape on his cheeks. He looked rugged and masculine and dripping with sexuality. I had to be dreaming this up!

“It’s okay . . . No problem,” I mumbled under my breath, making him arch his eyebrows. It was like he was enjoying watching me squirm and being uncomfortable.

“Who is this, dad?” Alfie looked up at his father, and I saw the admiration in the boy’s cool blue eyes.

“This is Lesley Evans. She’s going to be your nanny.” Connor was speaking directly to Alfie, but this was news to me too. He wanted me to be his son’s nanny? He hadn’t said anything about being a nanny! I opened my mouth to speak, but he had already cut me off.

“Have one of the guys show you around the ranch. You’ll find someone at the back. They know you’re coming,” Connor said and I clamped my mouth shut. Everything was happening too fast, and he wasn’t allowing me the chance to ask questions. What guys? Who was he talking about?

“We eat dinner at six here. After working all day on the ranch, we boys tend to get hungry pretty early,” Connor said and then looked down at Alfie to exchange knowing smiles with him. I licked my lips, preparing to ask him some question that might enlighten me a little. I was still reeling from the word. Nanny!

He looked at his wristwatch and interrupted me again.

“So, you still have a couple of hours to go before serving. Alfie will show you to your room,” he said and, before I could say anything, Connor was bounding down the steps again.

I watched him go in silence. The muscles on his back were sharply cut and pronounced, just like his bulging biceps. His waist was narrow and a dusty pair of frayed jeans clung to his thighs. He didn’t just walk. Connor strode like he was nearing wild prey. He didn’t even turn to look at me once.

“Are you coming or not?” Alfie’s voice brought me back to earth and I turned to find him already inside the house. I had no other choice but to follow him inside.