Thanks for all your kind comments, please keep them coming. I'm not sure right now how long this is going to be but I have tons of ideas. Thank you for taking the time to read this.
*
Luke is stunned throughout her little speech. Suddenly this quiet little creature has turned into a fireball and he can't help but feel his body react to her. Getting to his feet quickly and turning to walk out of the room, knowing if he stays in the same room with her any longer he won't be able to hide his reaction.
Hannah sighs softly, glad that he's leaving but unsure of why she said what she did. Why did she say that when all she can think about is him kissing her.
Luke turns as he reaches the door, looking her over once more...making her feel the heat of his gaze as it touches each inch of her. Lifting his eyes back to hers.
"Hannah, your absolutely right on the first count...you're definitely not a little girl." He grins wickedly. "but as for the second thing....don't count on it."
Hannah sinks down on the bed, wondering once again what she's gotten herself into. Wanting Luke Williams from a small dark corner in a room was a far cry from being so close to him....feeling the heat of his body..
While Hannah is in her room, fretting over her newfound situation...Luke is humming happily as he heads back downstairs to make some phone calls. He hasn't felt this excited in a long time....excited and....relieved.
Luke stops at the back door and pushes open the screen door, looking out to see his boys happily heading out to the barn. He leans against the door jam, catching their voices on the wind. He had never thought, growing up, that he would ever settle down and have kids. Honestly, it had been the last thing he had ever figured he'd do. Then, Jenna had come into his life like a whirlwind and before he knew what was happening she was pregnant with Chance and Lucky. He'd married her then, just like his mama had raised him. After raising him alone, she had instilled in him a strong feeling of responsibility for his actions. Jenna had settled into married life reluctantly, making it clear from the start that she ached for life outside of this small town. She had managed to stick around until just before the twins' first birthday and then she was gone in the night, taking everything she owned with her
Luke turns and walks into his small office and sits down at his desk, looking at the picture of his four children sitting on his desk. Jenna had drifted in and out of his life after that, just long enough to give birth to Cash and then 3 years later to his precious little girl Rainy. He had told her, in no uncertain terms, after she had given birth to Rainy, that if she left again not to come back. He knew, finally, that his children deserved better than a mother that drifted in and out of their lives like a whirlwind.
His thoughts drift to his new nanny/housekeeper/cook...fiery, yet guarded...she was a puzzle. Luke reaches for his phone and dials the number for his old friend Jack, a P.I in Houston. Time to put the pieces of this puzzle together....
The two weeks had passed since signing on to take care of Luke's home and children and Hannah could honestly say this was the happiest and busiest she had ever been. The best part was that Luke had been so busy for the past two weeks that they had barely seen each other. She could almost believe he had forgotten all about her. Almost...only because of the little notes he had been leaving on her door each morning. Each note encouraging and kind in a way that she hadn't known since before her mother's death when she was 8 years old.
Hannah shakes her head as she sits on the bed, braiding her hair. A small smile lighting on her face as she glances down at the drawer in her nightstand where the notes are. The notes are always short...but always so sweet....thoughtful. Hannah sets her face in a stern look as she glances up at the mirror on her dresser...no, she will not think about that. She will not think about how sweet Luke has been to her in the past two weeks....she will not think about the looks he's given her when they've run into each other in the hall....she definitely will not think about the feel of his lips against hers.
Standing up, she looks into the mirror. Today's the day of the trail ride...a whole day spent with Luke. Hannah smoothes her hands over the worn denim of her jeans, making sure the pale pink t-shirt is tucked in. Smiling at her reflection as she tosses her braid over her shoulder and turns and walks out of the room. She stops by the nursery on her way down the hall, only to find Rainy gone from her crib. She takes the stairs two at a time and enters the kitchen, smiling as she sees the boys sitting at the bar arguing over who gets the last cookie.
"Nobody gets it..." Luke sits at the table and watches as Hannah snatches the cookie off the plate and grins at the boys. "....except me, of course." Hannah bites into the double chocolate chip cookie, sighing happily. The boys' groans are cut off immediately as she leans forward and whispers conspiringly, "I'll make more this afternoon, I promise."
"Sometimes you're worse than they are." Hannah jerks around to find Luke sitting at the table holding Rainy against his chest.
