Chapter Five
I had Lance’s number in my phone by the end of the day. I wanted to help this single father as much as I could. I told myself to forget about how good-looking he was. I was his employee. I was here to start over with a family that just happened to live at this ranch. I still suspected that my aunt was playing matchmaker to some degree too, though she didn’t say anything to me about it.
I could just see the smirk in her eyes when she gave me his number. I could see the way that she looked at us when we were talking together about Logan from that day on. She wanted Lance to be my version of Michael. She was happy and in love.
The days passed easily with meal preparation and playing with Logan. He was such a fun kid to hang out with, and it was hard to believe that I was being paid so generously to watch him like this. It was the end of the week when I took him and Sarah into town to see the movie Finding Dory. I hoped I could love his favorite characters as much as he did.
I was used to groups of people with kids, but I had never been the one in charge and liked to be in the background, observing everyone else. Now it was all me. I parked the compact Jeep near the theater and we got Logan out of the car. He took each of our hands as we walked towards the small building, talking excitedly about the movie.
I bought our tickets with money that Lance had provided and stopped at the concession stand for popcorn and drinks. I knew that Logan was allowed treats from previous conversations even though all of the meals we served were healthy. We made our way to the theater and sat midway down the aisle.
Logan was so innocent in his enthusiasm. Sarah was great with him. I was getting attached to my cousin more and more by the day. I loved my aunt as well, and I wondered why Mom never let us meet one another while she was alive. Had they been awful people, I’d understand, but they were amazing and warm towards me. I hated that I felt resentment towards her for that, but it was there. I could’ve had them in my life for the last eighteen years.
I came back to the moment as I munched on buttery popcorn and sipped the lemonade that I was sharing with Sarah.
The movie started, and I glanced down at Logan as he stared at the screen. His brown eyes were riveted, and I decided to watch the movie from his point of view. I could let my guard down a little bit for the time being. The movie was funny and lighthearted, like any kid’s movie. I surprised myself by liking it as much as I did, laughing a lot as well as wiping a tear away a time or two. I watched Logan more than I did the screen at times.
I loved the entire experience, and I vowed to do the same every couple of weeks with Logan and Sarah too, if she wanted. It could be on weekends and, if Lance didn’t have plans, he could come too. It could be just Logan and I sometimes as well. I became more comfortable with him as the days went on. I knew that I could handle this.
I finished my first week successfully, and it was Friday evening when Lance approached me with a worried look on his face. “I had friends ask me to come to their rodeo tonight, and it’s going to run a little late for Logan. Would you mind staying here while I’m gone?”
I knew that it’d been a busy week as the men had faced some challenges at the ranch. I shook my head. Lance was too young to never go out. “Of course not. He’s had dinner so we can just hang out until he goes to bed.”
“Thank you, Brie.” Lance held my gaze for a moment and I felt my heart skip a beat. “I appreciate it.”
“No problem. Everyone deserves some time to themselves.” I knew that I sounded like I was ninety years old. I forced a smile on my face.
“When do you get that?” he asked as I tilted my head. “You watch Logan all day and help around here in addition to that. Have you gone out for fun just on your own at all?”
“It’s been a week, Lance. I’m sure I’ll get there. For now, though, I love the peace that comes along with this property. It’s worth its weight in gold,” I replied as I realized that I was starting to sound like my aunt – both her accent and her little sayings.
“I can’t argue with that,” he agreed as he reached for his cowboy hat hanging by the front door. I was starting to like cowboy hats. Especially when combined with great looks, an accent, and some of the best manners that I’d ever seen. All of the men I had met here so far were like that, though I had to admit that Lance was my favorite by far. “I’ll try not to be too late, Brie.”
“Don’t worry about that. Have fun! I know where to find my bed if I get tired,” I assured him. I was comfortable here now and, in fact, I found this place to be very homey. Lance had a lot of money, but he decorated his house simply with comfortable couches and furniture that could be dinged up. Perfect with a little kid around.
Logan and I went for a walk on the property. The sun was setting and we talked about the cows and the horses, Logan’s favorites out of all of the animals. This land still took my breath away. I found myself thinking that I might have been a country girl all along.
I took Logan back to the house and locked up before we settled in for a movie. I wondered if Lance was having a good time. I’d never been to a rodeo, but I was sure the girls were pretty and probably all over Lance, looking the way that he did. I wondered if the feeling in the pit of my stomach was jealousy. I quickly pushed the thought away. This was ridiculous. Lance was twenty-eight and I was only eighteen, not to mention his nanny.
Logan took my hand and led me to his cowboy-themed room when the movie was done. I tucked him into bed and read his favorite book. I assumed this was what his dad did for him as a bedtime routine, and it was sweet to see his big eyes drop as I read the last words. I tucked the blanket in around him gently before I closed the door and walked out into the hallway.
It was still early and didn’t want to go to bed yet. I could watch a movie for myself on one of the many cable channels that Lance had on his television. I made a small bowl of popcorn, grabbed a soda from the fridge, and dropped onto the soft cream sofa, the baby monitor within reach. I loved spending time there.
I found an HBO series and watched it as I munched on the buttered popcorn and settled against the big pillows piled around me. I wondered if I’d someday have a house like this with a guy that I’d meet here–a place where I could relax and just be me. I felt like I was finding myself now, here on my own. I said a small prayer for my mom before I looked back at the hot vampire on television.
I pulled a blanket over me after a while and watched the third show of the season with a happy expression on my face. I could get used to this.