Nanny Makes Three(27)

After what felt like an endless climb, the plane leveled off. Hadley freed Maggie from her car seat so she could burp her. Peering out the window, she saw nothing but clouds below them. With Liam occupied in the cockpit and Maggie falling asleep in her arms, Hadley let her thoughts roam free.



Several hours later, after Liam landed the plane at a small airport outside Vail, their rental car sped toward their destination. When she’d stepped off the plane, Hadley had been disappointed to discover that very little snow covered the ground. She’d imagined that in the middle of January there would be piles and piles of the white stuff everywhere she looked. But now, as they neared the mountains, her excitement began to build once more.

Framed against an ice-blue sky, the snow-covered peaks surrounding the town of Vail seemed impossibly high. But she could see the ski runs that started near the summit and carved through the pine-covered face of each mountain. Liam drove the winding roads without checking the navigation, obviously knowing where he was headed.

“What do you think?”

“It’s beautiful.”

“Wait until you see the views from the house. They’re incredible.”

“Do you rent this house every year?”

“A longtime friend of my grandfather owns it.”

“I didn’t realize you like to ski.”

“I had a lot more free time when I was younger, but these days I try to get out a couple times a year. I go to New Mexico when I can get away for a weekend because it’s close.”

“It must be nice having your own plane so you can take off whenever you want.”

“I’m afraid it’s been pretty idle lately. I’ve spent almost ninety percent of my time at the ranch this year.”

And the other ten percent meeting Maggie’s mother and spending the night with her. Hadley glanced into the backseat where the baby was batting at one of the toys clipped to her car seat.

“You said that’s been good for your business,” Hadley said, “but don’t you miss showing?”

“All the time.”

“So why’d you give it up?” From the way Liam’s expression turned to stone, she could tell her question had touched on something distasteful. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to pry. Forget I said anything.”

“No, it’s okay. A lot of people have asked me that question. I’ll tell you what I tell them. After my grandfather died, I discovered how much time it takes to run Wade Ranch.”

She suspected that was only half of the reason, but she didn’t pry anymore. “Any chance your brother, Kyle, will come back to Texas to help you?”

“No.” Liam’s answer was a clipped single syllable and discouraged further questions. “I’m finding a balance between ranch business as a whole and the horse side that I love. Last summer I hired a sales manager for the cattle division. I think you met Emma Jane. She’s been a terrific asset.”

She had terrific assets, Hadley thought wryly. The beautiful blonde was memorable for many reasons, not the least of which was the way her eyes and her body language communicated her interest in Liam. That he’d seemed oblivious had surprised Hadley. Since when did a man who enjoyed having beautiful women around not notice one right beneath his nose?

Maybe becoming a father had affected him more than Hadley had given him credit for.

Liam continued, “But it’s not like having someone I could put in charge of the entire operation.”

Obviously Liam was stretched thin. Maybe that’s why he’d been looking so lighthearted these last few days. The break from responsibility would do him good.

Forty minutes after they’d left the airport, Liam drove up a steep driveway and approached a sprawling home right at the base of the mountain.

“We’re staying here?” Hadley gawked at the enormous house.

“I told you there was enough room for you and Maggie.” He stopped the SUV beside a truck and shot her a broad smile. “Let’s get settled in and then head into town for dinner. It’s a quarter mile walk if you think Maggie would be okay.”

“We can bundle her up. The fresh air sounds lovely.” The temperature hovered just above freezing, but it was sunny and there wasn’t any wind, so Hadley was comfortable in her brand-new ski jacket and winter boots.

A tall man in his midsixties with an athletic bounce to his stride emerged from the house and headed straight for Liam. “Mr. Wade, how good to have you with us again.”

“Hello, Ben.” The two men shook hands, and Liam turned to gesture to Hadley, who’d unfastened Maggie from her car seat and now walked around to the driver’s side. “This is Ms. Stratton and Maggie.”