Mia

“I've got the kids, Margie, so you go to your doctor's appointment and take your time,” Mia said into her phone as she pulled up to the school pick up/drop off area. She was about ten minutes early, but that was good since it meant she got a better spot.

“Thanks, Mia,” Margie, the kids' foster mother told her. “I know this wasn't the plan. This was the only time my doctor could see me, though.”

“The plan was for you to take these kids because no one else would. I pulled you out of retirement because I was desperate for these kids to have one more chance,” Mia replied. Margie had been one of Mia's best foster parents before she retired and Mia had begged her to come back. “You were the only person I knew of that would take three kids out of the blue. Especially three troubled kids on the verge of being separated.”

“I just wish I were younger so I could keep up with them better,” Margie said, sounding glum. “You were right. They're good kids.”

Mia smiled. “You're doing more than I could have ever asked, so thank you.”

“You be careful, Mia,” Margie warned. “I know how attached to your charges you get. I don't want you to get hurt. They aren't your kids. They're the system's. You're going above and beyond for these kids, and I don't want you to burn out.”

Mia sighed. “I know. It's just the situation. I would do this much work for any of my kids.” In her mind's eye, Mia could see the disapproving look Margie was giving her.

“If you say so,” Margie replied. “I just don't want you getting too attached and having your heart broken.”

“Thank you,” Mia told her, trying not to take Margie's concern personally. “You go to your doctor appointment as planned. I'll take them to the ranch and get them some dinner. You make sure that doctor gives you a new hip or something so you can keep up with these kids.”

Margie laughed, and they both hung up with smiles.

Mia checked her watch. She was still early for the bell, so she took out her phone and pulled up Google. It was time to find out more about Carter and that stupid smile when she didn't recognize him was about.

“Carter and Stone Mountain Ranch,” she murmured as she typed in the search bar. She hit enter, not expecting much.

Nothing came up. The only hit was for the address of the ranch, which wasn't even correctly labeled on the map. It felt a little weird, like someone had manipulated the search results.

Mia frowned slightly and tried again. She didn't think the trophy was Carter's, but it was something worth putting in the search bar. She didn't really have very many other ideas. “Carter and car award.”

This time, her eyeballs nearly fell out of their sockets.

He wasn't the manager or some ranch hand or random hired help. He was Carter Williamson, owner and CEO of W Motors, makers of the fastest electric cars on the planet. She'd assumed he was a random employee, but instead, he was the freaking billionaire owner.

Mia sank down a little lower in her very worn seat as she scanned his bio. She skimmed the article, trying to read it as quickly as possible before the kids got out of school.

Mia swallowed hard and continued to read through the article as quickly as she could.

Mia groaned softly. The article didn't mention any property in Colorado, but that just meant he had so many properties they couldn't list them all. He owned over a dozen properties, but the one her kids broke into was the one he was living at. Just her luck.

The picture in the article was most definitely him. Only, instead of the jeans, t-shirt, and boots, she was used to seeing him in, he was wearing a really, really nice suit. Suits were usually her preferred look for guys, but for some reason, she preferred the jeans on him. It suited him better to her mind.

She shook her head and reread the article. This belonged in some sort of novel, not her real life. Billionaires were like royalty. You saw them in magazines and on TV, wondered what their life would be, and never actually met them. The idea that a billionaire had her kids working on his ranch to pay off a broken window was crazy.

At least it explained the security around the ranch. She'd never seen so many guards responding to a broken window before. However, it being a billionaire's window, it made sense that the response would be rapid and heavy.

The school bell rang, making her look up from her phone. She shook her head and put the phone back in her pocket as a stream of kids poured from the school doors. It was only a few moments before all three kids were in the car and buckling themselves up.

“It's ranch day!” Grayson shrieked, pulling the seat belt across his lap enthusiastically with Alexander's help. Both boys were already grinning from ear to ear with excitement.

Lily wore a matching grin as she settled herself in the front seat. Mia loved that they were all in a good mood. It was such a nice shift from two weeks ago when picking them up from school was like going to a funeral. The ranch was good for them.

“Did you know who Carter is?” Mia asked as everyone buckled up.

“Yeah, he's Carter Williamson, the guy who owns W Motors and makes those awesome cars,” Alexander replied. “I didn't know it was his house when we went there, but it makes sense.”

Mia just stared at him for a moment. Alexander was completely fine that Carter owned one of the largest car companies in the US and that they were earning back a broken window from him.

“He asked us not to say anything,” Lily said from the front seat. “He's trying to keep a low profile, so we're just to tell people Grayson got caught by security, and we're working for Laura. No one even cared, to be honest.”

Mia didn't know what to say. The kids all took it in stride who they were working for. She, on the other hand, was still trying to wrap her head around it. She decided that the kids just didn't understand just how much Carter was worth and that they saw him as an equal, not different. If they could do it, then so could she, she decided. He could be a normal, regular guy to her.

Except, when she thought of his blue eyes, she knew that he was anything but normal. And it wasn't his bank account that told her that.

* * *

The three kids chattered excitedly as Mia drove them to the ranch. She let them talk without interruption, listening to their conversation and chiming in only when they asked her a question. They were there in the space of what felt like only several hundred questions, which was faster than Mia expected.

“Laura said I get to groom the horses today,” Alexander announced proudly.

“She said we all get to help groom today,” Lily corrected him.

“Do I have to?” Grayson asked. He shifted nervously in his booster seat. “Horses are really big.”

“You don't have to touch them if you don't want to.” Alexander reached over and gently squeezed his arm. “But I want to. It'll be cool.”

Grayson chewed on the inside of his lip and nodded. He didn't look completely convinced at the coolness of horses yet.

“This is going to be so awesome,” Lily said, getting out of the car. She went and opened the back door up and helped Grayson out.

“You know this is supposed to be work, right?” Mia asked, jokingly. “This is supposed to be a punishment for breaking the window.”

“'If you love what you do, you'll never work a day in your life,'” Lily quoted.

“Who taught you that?” Mia asked, impressed.

“You did,” Lily told her with a grin. “You said it to me one time at the courthouse when I asked you why you did what you do.”

Mia's heart swelled. She hurried over and gave the teenage girl a big hug.

“You three aren't work,” she said. Alexander and Grayson ran past her, knocking her off balance. She shook her head and added, “most of the time.”

Lily hurried after her brothers with Mia close behind. The two boys and their sister ran to the stables, eager to start their work with the horses. Laura greeted them with big smiles and motioned them over to one of the stables. She made sure she had all three kids' attentions before beginning a lecture on proper grooming techniques.

Mia smiled as she watched them. Laura was amazing with all three of them but was especially attentive to Lily. Laura answered every question with enthusiasm and would tell the teenager why she was doing things so that Lily could learn the thought processes herself. It looked as though Lily had found a new role model, and to be honest, Mia couldn't be happier.

“If I didn't know better, I'd think they were enjoying themselves.”

Mia smiled at the now familiar voice. She had so hoped Carter would show up today. Her stomach did a single, excited flip as she turned around.

It was as if he had planned her being in that exact spot to look at him. He stood before her in soft jeans that hugged his frame and a t-shirt that showed just how broad and strong his shoulders were. The sun haloed his golden hair and made him look like some sort of god from a Greek story.

“As far as punishment goes, they are enjoying this far too much,” she replied. Her heart fluttered as he came and stood next to her, close enough for her to almost be able to touch him.

He shook his head and grinned. “Sadists.”

Mia laughed. How was it that her day suddenly seemed so amazing? Up until this point, it had been a normal day, but if someone had asked, it was now a great day.

“Would you like to finish our tour?” he asked. His lips went to a sexy half-smile as he waited for her response.

She glanced over at the kids, but they had completely forgotten about everything but the horses. Grayson was standing off to the side as the other two started grooming a horse under Laura's watchful eyes. He still looked unsure about being near the big animals, so Mia was glad Laura wasn't pushing him. He yawned, but then went to fetch a brush for his older siblings.

She knew they'd be fine. She chuckled to herself. As if they'd do anything to jeopardize their time here. The ranch and the horses were all they talked about.

“I'd love to,” Mia told Carter. “I want to see the rest.”

Carter's face split into a grin, and he looked around, figuring out where they left off last time. “You've seen the stables and the arena...”

“And I met Hopeful Dreamer,” Mia added.

“Then you need to see the garage. And the house.” He paused and looked at her. “Which one would you like first?”

“I'll take the garage, Mr. Williamson,” Mia replied, feeling a little bit smug. He raised his eyebrows at her, and she confidently crossed her arms and raised her chin.

“You figured out who I am.”

“I did.”

“You seem rather calm about it,” he said with a knowing smile.

“I had the drive over to stop screaming.”

Carter chuckled. It was still hard to believe the man was a billionaire. He seemed so normal. He was still easy to talk to, and that smile of his was still just as disarming.

“So, what's it like owning W Motors?” she asked. “Do you really make as many cars as they say you do?”

He motioned to the path, and they started walking. Together they walked with easy steps along the carefully maintained rock path toward the big garage. It was located on the opposite side of the house from the barn, but it was so beautiful outside that Mia enjoyed the short walk.

“It's a lot of work,” Carter said, answering her earlier question. “My father started out making cars and taught me everything I know. Eventually, I started making my own car designs, and that led to building my own company. Cars are in my blood. I love them.”

“And here I thought horses were in your blood,” Mia replied, motioning to the beautiful horse ranch behind them.

“Horses, horsepower- they're not that different,” he explained. His voice warmed with excitement about the topic, and it made her smile. “Cars are what I make. Horses are what I take care of. Both get me where I want to go. I am allowed to enjoy multiple things.”

He gently pushed her shoulder in a friendly teasing manner. At his touch, her stomach filled with butterflies again. She secretly hoped he'd do it again, but they were already at the garage.

The garage looked more like a second barn than a traditional garage. The building was huge and made of weathered gray wood, but Mia could see security cameras tucked in the eaves. This was far more than just a regular garage.

“Everything you see in here falls under the non-disclosure agreement you signed the other day,” Carter said as they approached the door. “You can't tell people what I'm working on in here.”

“Of course,” Mia replied. “Besides, who would I tell? Who would even believe me?”

Carter chuckled and went to the door leading inside, but he paused before opening it. “I'm actually working on something, and I'd love your opinion on it. If you're interested.”

“On a car?” Mia shrugged. “I'm not exactly a car expert. I'm not sure how much of an opinion I'll have.”

“We'll see.” He opened the door, and they stepped inside.