Page 38 of Forbidden Cowboy
More intrusive thoughts.
“That’s good to hear,” I responded.
We lapsed into silence for a little bit after that, just relaxing in the chairs while Anna played. Even with Eliana’s frequent visits, Anna seemed to cherish the time that it was just her and Sierra, and I hadn’t really seen much of the creeping anxiety that had plagued her when she had first come to live with me full time. I hoped it stayed that way.
“You’re going to go back to Denver, aren’t you?” I said in a quiet voice, finally voicing a fear I’d had.
“Eventually, yes, probably. It all depends on how Beau is doing.”
“I understand,” I said.
I wanted to offer my home to her forever, to ask her to stay, in whatever capacity made her comfortable.
“I actually… I wanted to talk to you about my employment,” she said, and my heart dropped.
She was going to leave. She was going to go back to Denver or go back to sitting by Beau’s side every day and leave Anna and me in the dust, because Eliana had shown up and ruined everything.
“Yes?” I asked in a falsely calm voice.
“I checked my bank account at the hospital last night, and you are paying me a ridiculously exorbitant amount of money.”
Oh. I felt my shoulders drop and tension release.
“I think I’m paying you a perfectly fair wage,” I said.
“Oh, really?” She huffed a laugh, “I figured you’d be stubborn, so I did some research, and you are paying me almost double what some of the top earners in the country make as a nanny.”
“Well, you do more than I hired you for. You cook, you clean, you fly out to New York for my daughter’s birthday—” she blushed at that, and I felt a small sense of satisfaction, “—and you’ve done more good for Anna and her wellbeing than anyone I’ve ever met.”
“I also have free room and board,” she countered, and I shrugged.
“I wasn’t using that room for anything, and you needed a place to stay.”
“You could have rented it out.”
“I don’t need any more money.”
“You’re incorrigible,” she said.
“I know,” I replied.
She sighed and rubbed a hand over her face. Her freckles had really become more pronounced the more time she spent in the sun.
“I just don’t want you or Anna to think I’m only here because of the financial benefit to me,” she said. “I really lo—really enjoy both of your company.”
She blushed harder, and refused to meet my eyes.
“Well, we really enjoy your company as well,” I agreed. “So, if it’s okay with you, I will keep paying my employees what I would like to.”
She rolled her eyes, but dropped the subject.
In the distance, all three of us heard Greg calling the dairy cows home, and as we watched the mountains around the ranch, we saw them start to trickle in.
“Should we go for a walk up to the dairy?” I asked.
“That sounds good,” Sierra replied.
“Yeah!” Anna yelled, jumping out of the pool when she heard us.