Rags To Riches: At His Bidding. Rebecca Winters

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      Coco decided it was time to intervene. “I usually sing a song right now.”

      He glanced at her. “Nice of you to show up.”

      She bit her lip, but couldn’t conceal a smile. “Well, it looks like my timing is perfect. Seems that you two worked it out,” she said.

      “Temporarily,” he said. “She sure can spit.”

      “I try to cut it off before that point. Once she starts gurgling, it’s the beginning of the end.”

      “What’s the magic song?” he asked.

      “Wash your cheeks,” she sang in a soft voice. “Wash your mouth. Shine like a sparkly star. That’s what you are,” she said and tapped Emma on her nose. “A sparkly star.” Feeling sheepish, she shrugged. “I’m a triple threat with my deep lyrics, incredible vocal range and the ability to clean a baby’s face at the same time.”

      “But can you dance and lasso cattle?”

      “I don’t know. If I tried to lasso cattle, then it might look like I was dancing,” she said. “You want to pull her up from her high chair?”

      He shot her a blank look. “Why would I want to do that?”

      “Because she’s finished eating and needs to get out of her chair, and the two of you need to get used to each other,” she said.

      Benjamin sighed and she noticed that his eye twitched slightly, but he unfastened Emma from the high chair and picked her up in his arms. The baby stared at him for a moment, then looked away and started making babbling noises.

      Benjamin glanced at Coco. “What does that mean?”

      “She’s allowing you to carry her,” Coco said and couldn’t withhold a chuckle. Benjamin appeared as if he were carrying a live grenade and it would go off at any moment.

      “What do I do now?”

      “She’s probably due for a diaper change,” Coco said, goading him just a bit.

      He shot her a dark glance. “I think the smashed pea shooting is enough for one day.”

      “In that case, carry her upstairs and I’ll join you in a minute or two,” she said.

      “What am I supposed to do for that minute or two?” he demanded.

      “Bond with her.”

      Benjamin groaned and walked into the hallway.

      Coco cleaned up Emma’s messy high chair and counted to three hundred. Carefully, she crept up the stairs to stand outside the nursery. She heard Benjamin talking. Peeking inside, she saw Benjamin pick up one of Emma’s bunnies and move it from side to side in front of the baby.

      Emma reached for the stuffed animal and squeezed it for a few seconds then dropped it.

      “Oops,” Benjamin said, reaching down to scoop up the bunny. Emma reached for the bunny again and dropped it again. “Fickle little thing, aren’t you?” He caught sight of Coco and gave a nod.

      “I see you’ve reached a peace agreement,” she said.

      “For now,” he said and handed the baby to Emma.

      “You just need to keep spending a little time with her. Soon enough you’ll be giving her horseback-riding lessons,” she said as she put Emma on the changing table and changed her diaper. “Helping her learn to ride a bike, then teaching her how to drive.” She looked up to meet his horrified gaze.

      “Driving,” he echoed and shook his head. “Maybe she won’t want to drive.”

      Coco laughed. “Now you’re just dreaming.”

      “Let’s take this one step at a time. The next step for me is to change out of this shirt that’s covered with strained green peas.” He glanced from Coco to Emma to Coco again. “See ya later,” he said.

      As soon as he left, Coco turned to Emma. “Good job!” she said. “You’ll make a daddy out of Benjamin Garner before you know it.”

      * * *

      The next day, Benjamin rode on horseback to check fences with one of his assistant foremen, Jace. Jace was young, but a hard worker, and both Benjamin and his foreman Hal valued good work ethics in their employees.

      “Looks like there could be the beginning of a problem in the northeast corner,” Jace said from his horse.

      Benjamin lifted his binoculars and nodded. “Good catch.”

      “I should be able to get to it this afternoon,” Jace said.

      “That’ll work,” Benjamin said. “Let’s check the other pasture, then we’ll be done.”

      “Hal mentioned that we should be on the lookout for strangers coming on the property,” Jace said.

      “Have you seen anyone?”

      “No. Hal also said it was something to do with the new nanny. She’s not in danger, is she?”

      “No,” Benjamin said. “Coco’s fine.”

      “Well, speaking of the nanny, she sure is nice,” Jace said.

      Benjamin glanced at Jace. “How would you know?”

      “I met her when she was going fishing one day. Looked like she was pretty good at it,” he said and laughed. “For a woman. I was wondering if it would be okay if I asked her out sometime.”

      “Coco?” Benjamin said.

      “Yeah. She’s pretty and nice. She seems like she would be fun.”

      “No,” Benjamin said instinctively and without hesitation. He didn’t have to think it through.

      “No?” Jace echoed, clearly surprised.

      “No,” Benjamin repeated, bemused by the odd gnashing feeling inside him. “We’re trying to get the baby used to living here. Coco is the most important ingredient in that equation. I don’t want her distracted or bothered.”

      “I wouldn’t bother her,” Jace muttered.

      “That’s right. She’s off-limits. Feel free to spread the word to the rest of the men,” Benjamin said. With no female employees besides his housekeeper, Sarah, dating hadn’t been an issue, until now. Even though Coco was attractive and appeared fun, he didn’t want any additional complications in the picture with her. There were enough with the whole royalty thing. He hoped she would be able to put that on the back burner, but if she couldn’t they would have to work something out. He had to think about what was best for Emma, and what was best for Emma was Coco.

      * * *

      Coco dressed Emma in a light jacket, tucked her into the stroller and took her for a walk. There СКАЧАТЬ