The Cowboy's Little Secret by Jill Kemerer

Author:Jill Kemerer
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2023-03-07T20:21:16+00:00

Chapter Nine

“Would you be available to work Monday through Friday?” Austin glanced at the hastily scribbled notes in his hand. Earlier, during his first cup of coffee, he’d come up with a few basic questions for Allison. So far, the interview was going well. The full-figured woman smiled a lot and seemed nurturing. Within five minutes of arriving, she’d hauled AJ onto her lap and handed him crayons and a few pieces of paper to scribble on. The kid seemed to like her.

“Yes. Whatever days you need me really, except Sunday. Pete always gets Sundays off. It’s our family time.”

“Understood.” He peeked over at Cassie, who was sitting at the end of the kitchen table to his left. Then he turned his attention to Allison once more. “And your son is...how old again?”

“Six months.” She beamed, bouncing AJ a few times. “Tyler’s starting to scoot. He’ll be crawling before I know it.”

“AJ started crawling young, too.” Cassie smiled. “You should have seen him. One minute he was rocking on all fours, the next he was into everything.”

Allison laughed. “Babies. They seem to change and grow every minute.”

“Do you think it will be a challenge for you to watch my very active toddler and your baby at the same time?” He held his knuckles to his chin as he gauged her reaction.

“No.” She shook her head. “I’ve been babysitting most of my life, and I helped with my sister’s kids all the time when they were young. I don’t think it will be a problem at all.”

He drew his eyebrows together slightly. He didn’t doubt her. She seemed capable. So what was bothering him?

“AJ’s used to having all the attention on him,” he said.

“Well, it might be good for him to have a friend.” Allison smoothed the hair from AJ’s forehead as he ground the blue crayon into the paper in his zeal for coloring. “Keeps kids from thinking the whole world revolves around them.”

His frown deepened. There was truth in the statement, sure, but... “AJ’s already going to be facing a big adjustment after Cassie leaves. I want him to have all the attention and care he’ll need.”

“Oh, you don’t have to worry about that.” She waved off his worries. “I love children. He’ll get all the attention he needs. Trust me.”

AJ let go of the crayon and squirmed to get off Allison’s lap. She helped him to his feet, and he went over to Cassie and started climbing the chair to get on hers. She boosted him up, settling him on her lap and kissing the top of his head. He tipped his head backward and grinned up at her, making her chuckle.

“What time would you need me to be here?” Allison asked. “If you hire me, that is.”

“Cassie arrives at seven and leaves around three. Would that work for you?”

Her eyes grew round as her mouth spread into a smile. “That would be perfect. It would give me time to get home and put supper on before Pete gets off work.

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