Her Forever Man. Leanne Banks

first calf. I don’t have time to take you into town for stitches.”

      She glanced at him with her head cocked to one side. “Oh. Who is sick?”

      Brock knelt down beside her and quickly swept the glass into the dustpan. He tried not to inhale her subtle feminine scent. “My daughter Bree. I just picked her up from school. Do you want the picture?” he asked, looking at the photo of a smoothly handsome man with a weak chin.

      “To burn it,” she said, reaching for it.

      Brock snatched it back. “Not in this room,” he said, visions of a house fire filling his head. “I’ll take care of it for you. More than friends, huh?”

      “No, but I thought we were at least friends.”

      The loneliness and betrayal in her voice and eyes grabbed his gut. Brock brushed the response aside. He had no time or space for this. “I need to get my daughter to bed and get back to work.”

      “Thank you,” she said. “How sick is she?”

      “Probably just a virus, but my pediatrician brother is in Blackstone. I keep waiting for the time I reap the benefit from his medical school tuition. My housekeeper’s off today, too. That calf’s ready to drop. You look okay, so I’ll leave,” he muttered, and headed out the door, his mind on the three hundred pressing issues facing him.

      Halfway down the hall, he heard her footsteps behind him. “Excuse me,” she said.

      Fighting impatience, he looked over his shoulder at her. “Yeah?”

      She laced her fingers together, her prim stance at odds with her skimpy attire. “How old is your daughter?”

      “Seven. Why?” he demanded, unable to keep the irritation from his voice

      “I could stay with her,” she offered, “if you think that would help. I would like to help.”

      Stunned, he stared at her warily. “Wearing that?”

      Felicity’s cheeks bloomed with color. “No. I’ll change my clothes.” His expression must have revealed his doubt. “I can pour juice and water,” she told him. “I can read books.”

      Bree would like the reading part even though she could read circles around most kids her age. For that matter, Bree might like Felicity. Brock wasn’t sure that was a good idea especially since he was hoping his silent partner would be packing her impressive rear end back to New York where it belonged as soon as possible.

      “You sounded busy. If you’d rather I leave her alone…”

      “No,” he said, flexing his fist in frustration. “Thank you,” he said, the words sounding grudging to his own ears.

      She met his gaze, looking as surprised with herself as he was. The corners of her mouth lifted in a lopsided smile. “You’re welcome. I’ll change my clothes and be right out.”

      Did he really want his daughter influenced by such a woman? Brock frowned. It was just for a few hours, he told himself. The housekeeper would be back soon. Deep in his gut, however, he had a strong feeling about Felicity Chambeau. And it wasn’t good. It would be easier if he could say his discomfort was due to something about her character, but he suspected it had more to do with his libido.

      He swore under his breath and walked down the long hallway to Bree’s room. He told his daughter Felicity would stay with her and was immediately bombarded with questions.

      “Where’s she from?”

      “New York City,” Brock said, adjusting Bree’s pillow. “She’s no cowgirl, but she can read to you.”

      “Is she old?”

      “No.”

      “Is she pretty?”

      Brock tugged at his collar. “I’ll let you decide.”

      “But what do you think?”

      Thankfully, Felicity appeared outside Bree’s open door, her face scrubbed clean and her hair pulled back. She wore black jeans and a white silk shirt, but he couldn’t banish the image of her in the skimpy nightie with her hair in sexy disarray.

      He inhaled and drew in her teasing elusive scent. Grinding his teeth at his susceptibility, he introduced the two females, then turned to Bree. “You know my cell phone number and my pager,” he told his daughter. “Call me if there’s any problem.”

      “Cell phone, pager,” Felicity echoed. “I didn’t know there was cell coverage in Texas.”

      Brock’s lips twitched, but he didn’t quite smile. “We may talk slowly, but we have a few modern conveniences like running water and cell phones. What were you expecting?”

      Felicity shrugged. “A bell?” she suggested.

      “We have one of those, too. The cell’s faster and doesn’t upset everyone on the ranch.” He adjusted his hat, feeling an odd twinge of discomfort at the look of curious fascination on Bree’s face. “Call me if you need me, baby.”

      Brock left the room, and Felicity felt his departure like a physical force. Odd, she thought, that a man’s absence could be so strong when his presence was so imposing. Shaking off her strange sensations, she glanced at Bree and found Brock’s daughter staring back at her. Felicity felt another little twist of inadequacy. She didn’t have much experience with children. She’d offered to help Brock because she could see as a single father and head of the ranch he had too much to do, and she’d added to the list by arriving last night. If she’d told him that, however, she suspected he would have died before he would ask for help, especially from her.

      Okay, she might not have much experience caring for a child, but she had experience being one. Felicity returned Brock’s daughter’s gaze. The little girl’s cheeks were slightly flushed with fever, but her blue eyes were curious and assessing.

      Felicity smiled. “You have your father’s eyes.”

      Bree smiled and nodded. “I’ve got his hair, too,” she said, tugging at her long ponytail, “but you can’t tell because he won’t grow his long like mine.”

      “And you smile a little more often?” Felicity asked.

      Bree nodded again. “Uncle Tyler is always telling Daddy to lighten up and he takes himself too seriously.” She rolled her eyes. “My brother does that, too.”

      “Your brother, Jacob,” Felicity clarified, immediately liking this warm, outspoken child.

      “Yes ma’am. Jacob. We’re twins.” She cocked her head to one side thoughtfully. “You talk funny.”

      “It’s because I’m from New York City,” Felicity said.

      “Oh, well you can’t help it that you’re not from Texas,” Bree said sympathetically. “You’ll be much happier now that you’re here.”

      Felicity couldn’t help chuckling. “What makes you so sure?”

      “Texas is the best place in the world to live,” Bree said in a matter-of-fact tone. “Everybody wants to live here,” she said, then her face turned thoughtful and she rubbed her fingers over her quilt, “except my mom. She moved to California because she wants to be in the movies.” She lifted her chin, another gesture that reminded Felicity of Brock. “My dad says me and Jacob are more fun than movies.”

      The mixture of pride and vulnerability in Bree’s eyes scored her heart, reminding Felicity of the dozens of times her own mother had sought a more exciting party or exotic trip in lieu of spending time with Felicity. She thought again of Brock. An honorable man? She’d believed that species was extinct.

      She met Bree’s proud gaze. “You and Jacob are more fun than movies? I bet your dad is right.”

      “He’s the best dad in the world,” she said, again in the matter-of-fact voice and