The Cowboy Texas Ranger's Unexpected Love (The Cowboy Texas Rangers Series Book 3), page 23
The Cowboy Texas Ranger's Unexpected Love
The Cowboy Texas Rangers, Volume 3
Janalyn Knight
Published by Janalyn Knight, 2024.
Table of Contents
Title Page
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Epilogue
About the Author
Chapter One
Jack McCollough paced back and forth across the living room as the front door shut behind his most recent nanny applicant. With a deep sigh, he contemplated the similar aspects of the six women he’d interviewed in the past two days. They’d all seemed nice and professional—and yet that very professionalism had made him uncomfortable. One had actually shown up in a two-piece skirt suit. Another had talked about how important discipline was for a child approaching her terrible twos. He’d been vetted by the agency himself, but he wondered if somehow the vetting these nannies had been through had been thoroughly flawed.
The nanny he wanted to eventually hire must be more like a modern-day Mary Poppins with a sunny and bright disposition. She had to be loving while caring for his eighteen-month-old daughter, Lily. It was the “loving” part he’d sensed that these ladies had been missing, and that was the rub. Lily’s mom, his ex-wife Sarah, who happened to be a CIA operative, had just accepted a two-year posting in the Middle East, and that meant that Lily would need a mother figure in her life.
He traveled frequently with his job as a Texas Ranger, so the nanny position was a live-in arrangement. That made it doubly important that he find the right match. The woman would share his home.
He glanced at his watch. The next applicant was due in a few minutes, and he had high hopes for her. Unlike the other veteran nanny applicants, this woman was an artist with volunteer experience with children. She sounded quite interesting, and he hoped that these differences might mean that she was more like the vision he had for Lily’s caregiver.
Tired of pacing, he sat down on the couch and checked his emails in an attempt to distract himself.
When the doorbell rang, his pulse began to race. This might be it—the answer he’d been waiting for. He opened the door, and the corners of his mouth lifted at the woman’s appearance. “Please, come in. You must be Emily Anderson.”
She looked to be in her late twenties and wore a brightly colored blouse with sleeves gathered at the wrist, blue jeans, and red ballet flats. She was an extraordinarily beautiful blonde with ice-blue eyes and, although she wasn’t very tall, her slender figure was perfectly curved.
“Yes, I’m Emily.” She stepped inside and, after offering him her hand, said, “Nice to meet you.”
She appeared nothing like the others, and her happy smile made the knot in his chest relax immediately. Could this be the one?
He took the recliner, letting her have the couch. As he opened the folder with her resumé in it, he said, “I see you have a background in art. What made you want to be a nanny?”
“I’ve always loved children. I’ve volunteered with them in one way or another since high school. I know I can use my art to enrich children’s lives. If you hire me, I’ll definitely find ways to do that with Lily.”
He liked the sound of that. “But didn’t you ever want a career in art?”
She pursed her lips. “At one time, I considered it. However, I think more with my heart than my purse. I worked in a gallery for several years while I pursued my own art in New Orleans, and I realized just how cutthroat the art world can be. That’s not who I am.”
He liked how she’d phrased that.
“I love photography, and that’s what I’ve been doing for the past couple of years. I recently moved home to live with my parents. They live just outside of McAllen.”
“I’m impressed with your volunteer work with the children at the homeless shelter in downtown New Orleans. I can only imagine how hard it was to see kids in that kind of environment.”
Her brows drew together. “Yes, their situation was tough, but I loved that I could help them have fun. I found a sponsor for their art supplies through the gallery where I worked, and we made some nice things together. I tried to be sure that our projects could be completed in one session because the kids never knew where they’d be from one day to the next. That part really broke my heart.”
She sounded like such a special person. “This is a live-in position, Emily. Do you foresee any problems with that? Of course, you’ll have the weekends off. You’ll be free as of Saturday morning and back on duty at Sunday by five.”
“No, that’s no problem at all. It was in the information I was sent.”
He nodded. “Did you also see the part about the additional time you may have to spend with my daughter if I need to travel out of town? It might mean giving up your weekend off if that happens. Some of the other applicants had an issue with that. It’ll be paid as overtime, of course.”
She shrugged. “Of course that’s fine. I’m here to care for her when you can’t, after all.”
He relaxed for the first time since finding out that Sarah was going overseas. “Tell me, how would you discipline an eighteen-month-old?”
Emily frowned. “First of all, I think “discipline” is the wrong word. With a child Lily’s age, you talk to her and then redirect her. She’s too young for real discipline. And I think if I provide a fun, enriching environment and make sure that she’s rested and well-fed, we should get along pretty well.”
“Would you like to meet Lily before you leave?”
“Of course!” Emily rose from the couch with an eagerness that made him grin.
“I’ll be right back. She’s in her room with Brandi, the babysitter I use from time to time.”
He walked back into the living room a moment later with Lily in his arms. As he approached Emily, he said, “Lily, this is our new friend, Emily.”
Emily smiled at Lily and patted her leg. “Hey, little one. You’re adorable.”
Lily stuck her finger in her mouth and eyed Emily.
“Do you like to color, or do you like to paint better?” Emily asked.
Lily gave her a tentative smile.
“Painting’s fun—even painting with your fingers,” Emily said.
Lily slowly reached out her hand.
Emily took it and gave it a little shake. “We could be good friends, you and I.”
Jack was impressed that Emily had let Lily approach her in her own way. In his experience, adults tended to force their affection on children, attempting to hold them before the children were ready.
A smile tugged at his lips. “Emily, would you be our nanny? I think you’ll be perfect for Lily.”
Emily smiled. “I’d love that. Thank you, Mr. McCollough.”
“Call me Jack. Can you start on Monday? Does two days give you enough time?”
“That sounds great.”
Lord, that smile of hers beamed with kindness.
“Why don’t you come back Sunday afternoon to move your things in?” he said. “If you like, you can spend the night then, too.”
“That sounds good,” Emily said.
“If you want to take a look at your room, it’s the first door on your right down the hall. The bathroom next to it is yours, too.” He motioned in that direction, and Emily nodded her thanks before heading that way.
He still couldn’t believe his luck. Emily was the answer to his prayers.
A couple of minutes later, Emily came striding back. “What a great bedroom. I’ll be very happy here. So, I’ll be back at, what, five Sunday afternoon?”
“That’s perfect.”
When she’d gone, he paid Brandi and sat with Lily in the rocking chair in her room. The easy back-and-forth motion had always soothed his nerves.
He called Sarah to share the good news. He knew she’d been worried about having to leave the States with the issue unresolved.
She answered with, “Everything ok, Jack?”
He could hear voices in the background. “It’s more than okay. I think I found a perfect nanny. She starts on Monday.” After asking her if she had a few minutes, he told her all about Emily.
“Jack, I’m so relieved and thrilled that this woman seems so kind. It’s what I’d hoped for.”
“I know. Me too. And she doesn’t mind at all that I might be called out of town sometimes. She’s everything we wanted.”
“Good job, Jack. I knew you could do it. Listen, I’ve gotta go. I’m on site, and I’ve got a meeting in five. Thanks for calling.”
He’d been worried when he’d found out about Sarah’s Islamabad posting. That part of the Middle East was a hotbed of terrorist and other jihadist activity.
Lily scooted onto his kne
He chuckled. It was one of her favorite games. He complied, giving her a lively ride. Everything was going to be okay now, and he had a beautiful woman named Emily to thank for it.
Emily headed for the kitchen, figuring that her mother would be there cleaning up after lunch. As she walked in, her father, who was standing at the sink washing a skillet, said, “Brenda, that sure was good. We haven’t had scrambled egg sandwiches in a long time.”
“Thanks, honey.” Her mom turned as she noticed Emily. “How did your interview go, sweetheart?”
“I got the job!” Even now, Emily could hardly believe it. She knew that the agency would have sent over plenty of better-qualified applicants. The fact that she’d been given the job amazed her.
Her mom dried her hands on a dish towel. “Stedman, did you hear that? Our daughter’s going to be a nanny.”
Emily’s father put down the skillet and came to give Emily a hug. “Congratulations, honey. I’m not a bit surprised. That man knew a good thing when he saw it.”
She laughed. Her parents had been supportive of her interests her whole life, whether it was her early sports, her art career, or her wanting to be a nanny.
“There’re plenty of scrambled eggs left if you want to make yourself a sandwich, Emily. That’s what we had for lunch,” her mom said as she returned to the sink to rinse the skillet.
“Sounds yummy. I’m starved.” After putting bread in the toaster, she heated some of the eggs in the microwave. What should she take with her to her new job? Clothes, of course, and her laptop. Her Kindle was a must as well. She couldn’t live without that. Reading romances and mysteries was one of her favorite pastimes. She went to her bedroom and grabbed some paper and a pen. She’d have to start a list, or she’d forget something important.
After fixing her sandwich, she started writing. Her bedroom at Jack’s was plenty big, but she’d have to be careful not to bring too much. Her room needed to be aesthetically pleasing, not cluttered. She’d been impressed by the walk-in closet, and the bathroom had plenty of counter and cabinet space, too.
Just as she finished her sandwich, the agency called and confirmed the details of the job and her acceptance of the terms of employment. After that, she went into her room to begin packing. First, though, she sat on her bed and called her best friend, Claire. They’d known each other since they were children, and Claire was now a stay-at-home mom with two kids.
Claire answered with her usual good cheer. “Hey, I’ll bet you good money that you got that job. I’ve been praying for you, girl.”
Emily grinned. “I sure did. Sounds like you had more confidence in me than I did, though.”
“Honey, you’re perfect for the job. That daddy took one look at you and saw the same thing I did. The perfect applicant. You were a shoo-in.”
Emily chuckled. Claire could always be counted on to bolster her ego. “Thanks, bestie. I’m packing right now and trying to figure out what to take. It’s weird thinking about living in a stranger’s house, you know what I mean?”
“Yeah, it is kind of strange. Does the guy seem nice? What’s he like? And what’s the little girl like?”
“His name’s Jack, and he seemed great. He asked all the right questions, and I think he really wants what’s best for his daughter. I know I’ll like working for him. And the little girl—her name’s Lily—is just precious. I’m going to love taking care of her.”
“Wow, I’m so happy for you. I know how much you were hoping you’d get the job. Do you want to come over for a glass of wine tonight?”
“I’d love that!”
“Plan on a sleepover in the guest room, then. Nick’s taking the kids out for pizza and a movie so I can have some me time. It’s the perfect occasion for a girls’ night here at the house. We can relax, chat in peace and quiet, and drink as much wine as we want.”
“Oh Lord, that sounds fantastic. I’ve been so nervous the past couple of days about this interview that I’ve been tied up in knots. What time do you want me to come over?”
“How about six-thirty? That gives me time to shower and pick up around here a little bit.”
That would give Emily time to finish her packing too. “See you then. I can’t wait.”
Emily leaned back on Claire’s couch and sighed. She loved spending time with her best friend. Claire knew what Emily was thinking almost before she did. She could tell what Emily was feeling at a glance, and she always knew just what to say to make her feel better.
They’d met in second grade when Claire’s family had moved to town after the school year had already started. Their desks were side by side, and their friendship had begun when Emily had loaned Claire her markers. The two were inseparable by the end of the day.
Claire got up to refill their wine glasses. “Did I tell you that Marcus is going to sign up for flag football in the spring? He’s decided not to play soccer again.”
“Really? He’s eleven now, so he’s been playing youth soccer for, like, seven years? What made him change his mind?”
“Some of his friends play football and convinced him that he needs to switch,” Claire called from the kitchen.
As she walked back in with their glasses, she said, “At least it’s flag and not tackle. I would’ve had a word or two to say about tackle football.”
“I agree.” Emily took a sip of the slightly bubbly red wine. “What about Sofia? Is she still going to play soccer?”
“Oh yeah. She loves it. She started when she was four, remember? She was so tiny! She’s the tallest kid on her team now. She takes after Nick.”
Claire took a long swallow of her wine. “So, tell me more about this Jack. What does he look like? You’ve been pretty quiet about that.”
Emily ducked her head. If she told Claire how strikingly handsome the man was, she’d never hear the end of it.
Claire chuckled. “I think you might be blushing. Now I really want to know.”
Emily looked up and rolled her eyes. “He’s nice-looking. Well-built, I guess.”
“Oh, come on, now. Be honest. Something had you looking like a schoolgirl who just met the star quarterback.”
Emily couldn’t help but laugh. “All right. He’s hot. He’s got dark-blond hair and these really great blue eyes. He’s actually built like a quarterback—tall, broad shoulders, muscular, but still kind of lean, too. Very sexy hips. And he’s a Texas Ranger. Have you ever seen how they dress? It’s cowboy all the way. Khaki Wranglers, boots, white dress shirt, Western belt and hat. I could hardly take my eyes off him.”
“Oh my God! He sounds like a dream. And you’re going to live with him? You’re one lucky girl.”
Emily grimaced. “That’s just going to make things more uncomfortable, if you ask me. I’ll be so self-conscious. At least at first. Hopefully, I’ll eventually relax and quit worrying about how I look or how he looks.” She sipped her wine, desperately wishing that would be the case.
“You’ll be fine. I know you. You’ve never had a problem with self-esteem, and you won’t this time.”
“Thanks, Claire. What would I ever do without you?”
Her friend smiled. “You’ll never have to find out, ’cause I’ll always be here for you.”
“So, how are things with you and Nick?”
Claire grinned and launched into a story about how her husband had brought her flowers and taken over the kids’ bathtime and bedtime two days earlier. “I swear, the guy must think I’m falling apart. When he offered to take the kids to dinner and a movie tonight, I was blown away. I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him for all I was worth. Then I assured him that I was okay.
He said, ‘Babe, you’re a great mom and an even better wife. I need to help you more. You shoulder all the responsibility around here, even taking care of the finances. I’m going to start sharing the load.’ Now, how’s that for an amazing husband, huh?”
“Wow, I’m totally impressed. Not many guys come up with that all on their own.”
“I know, right? He makes me so happy, Emily. He’s really a wonderful man.”
Emily had always envied Claire her joyful family life. She and Nick had married right out of high school. She’d been pregnant, and they’d both been so happy about it. Nick got a factory job in McAllen and worked his way up to management. They were both committed to Claire staying at home to raise their children and had sacrificed a lot to make that happen.
