Читать книгу The Nanny Bargain - Glynna Kaye - Страница 11

Chapter Three

Even to her own ears, that didn’t sound like much of a compromise on her part.

And standing her ground was a risk—a foolhardy one perhaps—given that Sawyer had exercised due diligence before recruiting her. While she could explain the situation to any reasonable person—she and a group of high school friends had staged a protest when an out-of-town developer managed to circumvent local laws and was preparing to raze a historic building—Sawyer was right. The Selbys might not take an arrest lightly.

Nor did it sound as if he’d be interested in hearing her side of the story. Besides, didn’t Grandma always say wrong is wrong, and having a reason for doing it didn’t make it right?

Sawyer’s assessing gaze locked on hers as she held her breath, preparing for another reminder that with a few well-chosen words he could ensure she wouldn’t retain this job—or land any other job in town, for that matter.

But he didn’t respond. At all.

“So,” she said hesitantly as the silence stretched between them. “You’re good with that?”

“It looks as if I’ll have to be, doesn’t it? That is, as long as you alert me to anything significant that could negatively impact my brothers.”

“You have my word on it.”

“And you have mine to keep my mouth shut, as well. Assuming, of course...”

“I said you have my word.”

He nodded. But despite the grudging settlement between them, she held no illusions that he was pleased about this turn of events. Even though they’d only recently become acquainted, it was clear Sawyer Banks wasn’t a man who liked to have his plans thwarted.

Nevertheless, a prayer of thanks winged its way Heavenward. Sawyer didn’t seem to personally hold her teenage infractions against her and had agreed not to share them with the Selbys as long as she kept her part of the bargain.

She wanted this job. How often in the past week had she relived her encounter with the orphaned Cubby and his grandfather at the ice cream shop? Recalled how it had hit too close to home? She wanted to be here for the little guy and his brother. She needed to be here to hold them and hug them when tears flowed. But she had no intention of sharing with Sawyer her impressions of that chance—or divine?—meeting or what convinced her to change her mind about applying for the job.

He wouldn’t understand.

“What did Ray and Therese say—” Sawyer’s gaze probed “—when you told them you’d also be working part-time at the Outpost?”

He hadn’t initially been pleased last week when she insisted that she’d tell them before accepting any job offer. “They were good with it.”

He looked at her doubtfully.

She didn’t attempt to elaborate. Couldn’t, in fact, because there was nothing else to tell except that Therese and Ray had exchanged a look, the significance of which she didn’t understand. Then Ray nodded and thanked her for telling them.

That was it.

So why did Sawyer seem to think they might not be pleased?

“Is there something you’re not telling me about your relationship with the Selbys?”

“What makes you think that?”

“You weren’t thrilled when I told you I was going to be up front with them about plans to work for you, and now you’re doubting me when I told you they didn’t have any problems with it. Obviously, you anticipated they might.”

“What can I say? It’s awkward. You know, their daughter being married to my dad. Me being a half brother to the product of that union. Me being an age most would expect the twins’ father to be. I’m part of the family, yet not really. It’s hard to figure out how I’m supposed to fit into the boys’ lives. Into Therese’s and Ray’s.”

She could see how that connection would be a problematic one, for the Selbys and Sawyer alike. Definitely complex. Maybe that’s all there was to the tension she’d sensed this morning. Nothing more.

Ready to move away from unsettling topics, she nodded to the wad of paper towels in his hand, her nose wrinkling. “Thanks for disposing of that. I hope I won’t need it.”

He laughed. “Naw. I think you’ll be fine.”

“I’ll remind myself of your words if I hear any rustling in the kitchen during the deep dark hours of the night.”

He lifted his hand that held the trap. “Call me. Any hour. Day or night. I’ll be on your doorstep.”

Her cheeks warmed as their gazes met.

“I’d better get going.” He moved toward the door to the hallway. “I have errands to run before I open up shop this morning and I need to let you get to your unpacking.”

“Lots to do.” She motioned to the stacks of boxes. “I guess I’ll talk to you next week, then?”

“Sounds like a plan.”

Yeah, it was a plan alright. That is, unless she needed the mousetrap reset after all...

* * *

Sawyer had barely climbed into his crew-cab pickup when his cell phone rang. He glanced at the caller ID, then grimaced. Kyle Guthridge.

“Yo, Sawyer.” His friend’s west Texas drawl echoed in his ear despite the fact the man had lived in Arizona since he was twelve. “Got your phone message that you’ll be late on tomorrow’s payment.”

At least he had the generosity of spirit not to say “again.” Sawyer cringed inwardly, acutely aware of the risk his longtime friend had knowingly taken in extending the loan, probably one his wife had loudly protested.

“My apologies, Kyle. Temporary cash-flow problem. But I’ll be able to make a deposit by the end of next week and will drop off a check then.”

“I totally get the cash-flow issue and don’t mean to badger you.”

“It won’t happen again.” But this was the second time in four months. He prided himself on his integrity. His financial responsibility. But since early last summer he’d been hammered by one unbudgeted expense after another, most related to building maintenance. Plumbing. Electrical. And who’d have thought a new roof and replacing a furnace large enough for a retail space would cost that much?

That series of events had led him to approach a few buddies for personal loans rather than the bank where he’d taken over Grandpa’s mortgage payments on the Outpost. But he’d sell his pop-up camper or his fishing boat before he’d allow a payment to be delayed a third time.

“You’re not badgering,” Sawyer continued, embarrassed for his friend at having to speak up as much as he was for himself. “We’re friends, but we’re also businessmen.”

“That we are.” Kyle paused. “I don’t suppose you’re going to the play at the church next Friday night, are you? Annie and I are taking the kids. Family friendly. You could bring the check with you. That would save you a trip to my place.”

Kyle lived a distance out of town, off a branching series of dirt roads that weren’t well maintained in the winter months. But a church play geared toward youngsters? Not exactly high on his couldn’t-wait-to-do list.

“I won’t be able to swing that, but you’ll have your check on Friday. Guaranteed.” He wouldn’t drop the check off in advance of making the deposit, though. Kyle had been known to get preoccupied—okay, absentminded, to be more accurate—and giving it to him early could risk premature cashing and bouncing of the check. “Thanks for the extension.”

“You’re welcome, buddy. Have a good rest of your week.”

Sawyer repocketed his cell phone and stared down the snowy street. Winter was still wreaking havoc with his bottom line, but by late spring he should see an uptick in demand for outdoor gear. Continuing to tighten the rein on everything but the most necessary expenses for the next six or seven months might allow him, by autumn, to get that personal loan paid off.

Was it a wise move, then, to employ Tori part-time right now? While she’d help out behind the scenes, by her own admission she didn’t know anything about hunting, fishing or camping. But with her hired to take care of his brothers, he needed to uphold his part of the bargain. Make sure it was monetarily worth her while to remain in Hunter Ridge.

He owed his dad and his dad’s wife that much. And the boys.

He’d come up with the money.

Somehow.

He started up the truck and headed in the direction of the Outpost. As Therese had mentioned, he hadn’t visited Cubby and Landon in a while. But he wasn’t sure how welcome he was. Like he’d told Tori, it was an awkward situation.

What he hadn’t shared, though, was that he couldn’t help fearing that Dad’s wife may have told her parents that Sawyer had promised her he’d take care of things while Dad was out of town. Feared they were silently watching, waiting for a confession that their daughter’s death was his fault. But they’d been on an Alaskan cruise the week of the fire and, gradually, he’d come to realize it was unlikely that Vanessa had contacted them about what at the time seemed a trivial matter. But that didn’t ease the guilt when he was around them.

Who’d ever heard of a hot water heater blowing up and catching a house on fire?

* * *

When she walked into church Friday night a week later, Tori couldn’t help but remember the first time she’d stepped through the doors with her friend Sunshine last autumn—Labor Day weekend. She marveled at how far she’d come since then.

Emotionally battered and bruised, still in shock at the unexpected turn of events with her fiancé, she’d been drawn in by the brown-brick edifice with its old-fashioned bell tower and stained glass windows. Now, greeting those around her and helping the twins into a pew near the front where they could best see the play, she felt right at home. Knowing, too, that she’d helped design and sew tonight’s costumes for the high school–aged actors gave her an even greater sense of belonging.

Amazingly she had an almost stranger, Sawyer Banks, to thank that she’d be able to remain in town after all.

“Why are you smiling, Tori?” Cubby stared up at her intently as she helped him out of his coat. “What’s funny?”

“Not funny,” she whispered, banishing the image of Sawyer that lingered in her mind. “I’m just happy.”

About things having nothing whatsoever to do with Sawyer, of course.

“I’m happy, too,” he whispered back.

“You are? Why is that?”

“Because I like church. Landon and I used to come here with our mommy and daddy when we were little. They’re in Heaven now.” His forehead creased as he gazed up at a stained glass window of Christ walking along a rocky road, a staff in one hand and a lamb cradled in His other arm. “Did you know my mommy and daddy?”

“No, I didn’t. I wish I had.”

He settled back into the pew. “I miss them.”

She patted his hand. “I know you do.”

“Hey, look!” Cubby’s twin cried out in a too-loud-for-church voice. But fortunately others were still finding seats and no one seemed to notice. “It’s Sawyer. See?”

Tori and Cubby both turned to look where Landon was pointing. Sure enough, Sawyer was standing inside the main door, visually searching the growing crowd and looking, if she weren’t mistaken, slightly desperate.

“I bet he’s trying to find us.” Landon scooted out of the pew and Tori made a grab for him, but he escaped by mere inches and headed up the middle aisle toward the rear of the sanctuary. At least she managed to detain Cubby, who’d also slid out of the wooden seat. He was attempting to squeeze past her knees, which she’d pressed against the pew in front of them.

“Stay here, Cubby.” But how could she retrieve Landon and keep his brother corralled at the same time?

“We gotta get Sawyer, Tori. With all these people, he can’t see us.”

She wasn’t convinced Sawyer was there to find the boys. He looked more like a man on a mission who wanted nothing more than to get in and back out as quickly as possible.

Then an unexpected apprehension stabbed. Had something happened to Therese and Ray and he was here to find her and his brothers? She’d offered to take the boys to the church play so the couple could gather with friends in Canyon Springs, a town about thirty minutes away. It would be, Therese had confided before they departed several hours ago, one of a few out-of-town evenings without the children that they’d managed since taking the boys into their lives full-time.

Queasiness roiled her stomach as she stood, hoping Sawyer would spot her. Unfortunately, Cubby used the opportunity to squirt past her and into the aisle. She caught his arm. “Hold on a minute.”

She glanced back at their coats and her purse on the pew. Surely no one here would bother them, would they? Then Cubby grasped her hand and tugged. “Okay, I’m coming.”

Like fish swimming upstream, they wove between the arriving playgoers, and up ahead she could see Landon in earnest discussion with his big brother and pointing toward the front of the church. Sawyer, on the other hand, was shaking his head and looking around him, apparently still in search of an elusive someone. Spying her and Cubby making their way toward him, he cast her a resigned smile.

Cubby’s hand slipped out of hers and he barreled himself toward Sawyer. Fortunately, his big brother saw him coming and caught him before he plowed right into him. Lifted the boy into his arms.

“We found you!” Cubby grinned in triumph.

“That you did, bud.”

Landon punched Cubby’s foot. “I found him first.”

“Yeah, you did,” Sawyer soothed, with a reassuring pat to Landon’s shoulder.

“He can sit with us now, can’t he, Tori?” Landon turned hope-filled eyes on her. “We have lots of room.”

“Of course he’s welcome to sit with us, but your brother may not be here to see the play.” Her heart still hammering an anxious beat, she gave him a pointed look, hoping he understood her unspoken words. Is everything okay?

“Tori’s right. I’m here long enough to drop off a check with someone who said he’d be here tonight.”

The tension eased. The Selbys were fine. But both boys stared at him, their disappointment evident.

“You’re not staying?” Cubby’s lower lip protruded, his expression darkening to thundercloud proportions, and she caught alarm flashing through Sawyer’s eyes. He no doubt recognized the makings of a public meltdown.

He gave the boy a hug, then set him down on his feet. “This is a little kid’s play, buddy. I’m a big kid.”

“Tori’s a big kid and she made the costumes, too.” Landon looked around the now-crowded space, noting mothers, fathers and grandparents in abundance. “There are lots of big kids. Don’t you want to sit with us?”

Sawyer glanced uncertainly at Cubby, whose lower lip was trembling. The overhead lights dimmed, then brightened again, signaling that audience members should be seated.

“Sawyer can’t stay tonight.” She reached for Landon’s hand, then stretched out her other one to Cubby. “Let’s find our seats. The play is going to start. It’ll be fun.”

But Cubby shook his head and turned away from her.

Standoff.

She sent a pleading look in Sawyer’s direction. Surely he could suffer through a single hour with his brothers, couldn’t he? Having spent but a week under the same roof with them, she hardly knew the boys, nor they her. She had no “street cred” with them. Hadn’t yet gained their respect or established her own authority beyond Ray’s warning, as he and Therese departed, to “do what Tori tells you to do.”

The lights abruptly dimmed and as her eyes adjusted to the darkness she looked anxiously toward the stage, where Pastor Garrett McCrae stepped out in front of the curtain to welcome everyone.

“I guess I could stay,” Sawyer whispered. “Sure won’t be able to find my friend now, even if he’s here.”

Landon squeezed her hand in excitement and, in the dim light, she felt Cubby searching for her other hand. Meltdown avoided. Thank You, Lord.

It took a bit of doing, but they found their pew near the front. Landon slipped in first, she followed, then Cubby and Sawyer. But they’d barely gotten situated when Cubby stood again and maneuvered his way to the other side of Sawyer. They all shifted in their limited space, leaving her sitting next to the rugged outdoorsman.

Like she’d be able to pay attention to the play with his rock-solid arm brushing against hers.