Chapter 10

10

Mason

The gravel crunched under my boots as I stepped out of my truck, taking in the sight of Sunshine Acres. I let out a low whistle. “I still can’t get over how nice this place looks.”

Walker chuckled beside me. “Somethin’, ain’t it?”

The old farmhouse next to Red Downs had undergone a complete transformation in the past two years. The weathered wood siding was now a cheery yellow, with crisp white trim around the windows. A sprawling porch wrapped around the front, dotted with rocking chairs and potted plants. It looked like something out of a magazine.

“Eryn’s really worked her magic on this place,” I said, shaking my head in disbelief.

We climbed the porch steps, our boots clicking against the wood with each step. I reached for the door, but Walker beat me to it, flashing me a grin and holding it open for me.

“Age before beauty, Mase.”

I rolled my eyes. “You’re only three years younger than me, smartass.”

Gray’s little brother was just as much my own kin at this point. And I loved him like a brother, but boy, sometimes I found myself wanting to strangle the charming bastard.

We stepped inside, the main reception area bustling with business. A line of folks waited patiently at the front desk, carrying totes and yoga mats. Others sat in fluffy chairs and sipped water with lemon and—was that cucumber?—out of crystal tumblers. A group of silver-haired ladies in white fluffy robes walked past us and disappeared behind a door with a sign that said “Quiet Space.”

It sure was like a whole ‘nother world, but I was happy to see Eryn making such a difference here. This town needed some new life breathed into it. But I had to admit I was a little shocked her retreat was this busy on a Tuesday morning.

Walker caught the eye of a red-haired girl behind the counter. “Hey Jessie. Mind telling Eryn we’re here when you get a chance? We’ll wait outside.”

She nodded and picked up the phone, then smoothly ask the next person in line to step forward, and we made our way back outside.

As we waited for Eryn, I leaned against the porch railing, taking in the view of the rolling hills beyond. The scent of lavender drifted on the breeze.

“Can you believe how much has changed ‘round here?” Walker mused, his blue eyes scanning the horizon.

I nodded, thinking back to the sleepy town I’d grown up in. “Whittier Falls sure ain’t what it used to be. But I reckon that’s a good thing.”

“You got that right,” Walker agreed. “Between Eryn’s retreat and our new offerings at the ranch, we’re puttin’ this place on the map.”

A surge of pride swelled in my chest. We’d come a long way from just being a couple of reckless ranch hands .

“Remember when the most exciting thing in town was watchin’ the train roll through?” I quipped.

Walker threw his head back and laughed. “Or countin’ the cars that drove through Main Street?”

We both chuckled, caught up in the nostalgia. But truth be told, I wouldn’t trade our little town for anywhere else in the world. It was home, plain and simple.

“Imma grab me one of them fancy waters,” Walker said, disappearing inside again.

A minute later, the sound of footsteps caught my attention. I straightened up, ready to talk business. But a flash of blonde hair caught my eye, and suddenly, I couldn’t look away. Through the glass door, I saw Chloe walking down the hall with Eryn, her blue eyes bright as she talked animatedly about something. My heart did a little flip in my chest.

“Well, I’ll be,” I muttered under my breath.

Chloe’s hands were moving as she spoke, her delicate fingers tracing patterns in the air. She hadn’t noticed us yet, too wrapped up in her conversation with Eryn. It was nice to see her so at ease, a far cry from the shy woman I’d first met.

As they approached, I straightened up, pulling the door open for them, but trying to look casual. “Afternoon, ladies,” I called out, tipping my hat. “Hope we ain’t interruptin’ anythin’ important.”

Chloe’s eyes widened slightly as she noticed me, a faint blush creeping up her cheeks. “Oh, hi Mason,” she said softly, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.

“Oh shoot,” Eryn said, “I forgot the tablet with all the plans. Give me one moment. I’ll be right back.”

I couldn’t help but grin. “Fancy meetin’ you here, Chloe. You come here often?” I winked, hoping my lame attempt at humor would put her at ease .

To my surprise and delight, Chloe let out a small laugh. “Only every day,” she quipped back, her voice gaining a bit more confidence.

“Every day? Well, shoot. If I’d known that, I might’ve scheduled more meetings here,” I teased, feeling a warmth spread through me at her smile.

Chloe’s eyes sparkled with amusement. “Is that so? And here I thought you were just here for the cucumber water.”

I knew it.

I chuckled, impressed by her quick wit. “Nah, that’s just a bonus. Though I gotta say, it does make a man feel fancy.”

As we bantered, I couldn’t help but notice how the sunlight streaming under the covered porch caught the gold in Chloe’s hair. She looked . . . radiant. I found myself wanting to keep her talking, to see that shy smile bloom into something more.

I leaned against the wall, crossing my arms casually. “So, how’re you likin’ Whittier Falls so far? Found any hidden gems yet?”

Her eyes lit up. “Actually, yes. There’s this little bookstore downtown?—“

“Ah, Rosie’s place,” I nodded, grinning. “Best collection of westerns this side of the Mississippi.”

“And poetry,” Chloe added, surprising me. “She has a whole section of contemporary poets I’ve never even heard of.”

I raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “Poetry, huh? Didn’t peg you for the type.”

She shrugged, a mysterious smile playing on her lips. “There’s a lot you don’t know about me, Mason Bridges.”

My heart did a little flip at that. Lord, this woman was something else.

Before I could respond, a familiar drawl cut through the air. “Well, well, what do we have here? ”

I turned to see Walker sauntering towards us, his trademark cocky grin firmly in place. He tipped his hat to Chloe, blue eyes twinkling.

“Howdy, ma’am. Walker Anderson, at your service,” he introduced himself, extending a hand. “I don’t believe we’ve had the pleasure.”

Chloe hesitated for a moment before shaking his hand. “Chloe Beecham,” she said softly. “Nice to meet you.”

Walker’s grin widened. “The pleasure’s all mine, darlin’. Any friend of ol’ Mase here is a friend of mine.”

I rolled my eyes at his antics, but couldn’t help noticing how Chloe seemed to shrink a bit in Walker’s presence, putting up a wall like she had with me in the beginning. Protective instincts I didn’t even know I had started to stir.

I felt a sudden, irrational stab of jealousy watching Walker charm Chloe. It was stupid, I knew that. Walker had always been a flirt, but he was head over heels for Caroline now. Still, something in my gut twisted as I watched him lay on that easy charm.

“So, Chloe,” Walker drawled, “what brings a pretty thing like you to our little slice of heaven?”

I expected Chloe to retreat further into her shell, but to my surprise, she straightened her shoulders and met Walker’s gaze. “I threw a dart at a map and it landed on Whittier Falls.”

“Ha!” Walker practically slapped his knee at that joke, and Chloe looked pleased with herself. I had to admit, I was pleased with her too.

But I caught Walker noticing that. He gave me a look. One that told me he knew just how I felt about this woman.

“Looks like we’ll all be seeing more of each other,” he said, smooth as silk.

Chloe nodded, a small smile tugging at her lips. “I look forward to it. ”

I couldn’t help but stare at her, fascinated by this glimpse of confidence. She was opening up, becoming more at ease with each passing moment. It was like watching a flower unfurl in the sun, and I was mesmerized.

“Earth to Mason,” Walker’s voice broke through my reverie. “You still with us, buddy?”

I blinked, realizing I’d been caught staring. “Yeah, just . . . thinking about the trail rides,” I lied smoothly.

But as the conversation continued, I found my attention drifting back to Chloe again and again. The way she laughed at Walker’s jokes, how she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, the little crinkle that appeared between her brows when she was thinking.

I knew I was paying more attention to her than I probably should, but I couldn’t help myself. There was just something about Chloe Beecham that drew me in, like a moth to a flame.

Suddenly, my phone buzzed in my pocket. I fished it out, frowning at the unfamiliar number. “Excuse me,” I said, stepping away from the group. “I need to take this.”

I answered the call, my stomach dropping as I heard Mrs. Henderson’s wavering voice. “Mason, dear, I’m so sorry . . .”

As she explained about her broken hip and the long recovery ahead, I felt a cold sweat break out on my forehead. Six weeks without childcare? Maybe longer? My mind raced, trying to come up with a solution.

“Don’t you worry about a thing, Mrs. H,” I said, forcing a calm I didn’t feel into my voice. “You just focus on getting better, okay?”

I hung up, my hand trembling slightly as I slipped the phone back into my pocket. Shit. What was I going to do now?

“Mason?” Eryn’s gentle voice startled me. I turned to see her standing nearby, concern etched on her face. “Is everything alright?”

I ran a hand through my hair, sighing. “Not really. That was Mrs. Henderson. She broke her hip and can’t watch Abigail for at least six weeks. Even then, I’d feel bad asking her to jump right back to lookin’ after a six-year-old.”

Eryn’s amber eyes widened in sympathy. “Oh no, that’s terrible. Poor Mrs. Henderson . . . and poor you! What are you going to do?”

“I have no idea,” I admitted, the anxiety building in my chest. “I can’t exactly bring her to work with me every day. And I don’t want to deal with trying to find a new babysitter every other day. I need to find something stable. Someone who can be there for her.”

Eryn was quiet for a moment, then her face brightened. “You know . . . Chloe’s been asking for more hours at Sunshine Acres, but I don’t have any shifts available. What if she could help out?”

I blinked, surprised. “Chloe? As a nanny?”

“Why not?” Eryn shrugged, her bracelets jingling softly. “She’s great with kids who come to the retreat. And Abigail already likes her, right?”

I nodded slowly, considering the idea. It wasn’t a bad solution, actually. But would Chloe be up for it?

My gaze drifted to where Chloe stood, chatting with Walker. The sunlight made her blonde hair shine like spun gold. I couldn’t help but notice how her blue eyes crinkled when she laughed at one of Walker’s jokes.

If she was Abigail’s nanny, I’d probably have to stop noticing shit like that.

“You might be onto something, Eryn,” I said, my mind racing. “Abigail does adore her. And having someone Abby knows and trusts . . . that could make a world of difference.”

I weighed the pros and cons, picturing Chloe in our daily routine. Her gentle nature would be perfect for Abby’s more sensitive moments. And that sarcastic wit of hers? It’d keep my wild child entertained for sure.

“Hey, Chloe?” I called out, my voice a touch rougher than usual. “Got a minute?”

She looked up, a flicker of surprise crossing her face before she nodded and made her way over. I couldn’t help but notice the slight hesitation in her step, the way she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear—telltale signs of her shyness kicking back in.

“What’s up, Mason?” she asked, her voice soft but curious.

I cleared my throat. “Well, I’ve got myself in a bit of a pickle. Mrs. Henderson, Abby’s regular sitter, is out of commission for a while. I know this is a big ask, but you’re so good with her. I was wondering . . . would you consider being Abby’s nanny?”

Chloe’s eyes widened, and I saw a flash of panic cross her face. “Me? A nanny? I . . . I don’t know, Mason. I’m not sure I’d be any good at it.”

“Are you kidding?” I said, letting out a chuckle. “Abby talks about you non-stop after every visit to the cottage. You’re practically her hero already.”

A blush crept up Chloe’s cheeks, and she bit her lip. “But what if I mess up? What if I can’t handle it?”

I reached out, gently touching her arm. “I know it’s a lot to ask, but I’ll make it as easy a transition as possible. And I won’t be a dick when you listen to your instincts like last time.”

She let out a soft chuckle.

“She has school most of the day, so I would just need someone for afterward. Maybe before on days I gotta get to the ranch early, but we can work up to that.”

She looked up at me, uncertainty still clouding her eyes. But I saw something else there too—a glimmer of hope, maybe ?

“What about my job here?”

“Oh, don’t worry about that,” Eryn piped up with a smile. “I can schedule you while she’s in school. And if it’s too many hours, we can scale back. You know I love you and love having you on my team, but this would give you the hours you’ve been wanting.”

“It wouldn’t be a problem?”

“Of course not. Anyway, Mason and Abby are family. I know this would help them out.” Eryn nudged me with her shoulder and nudged Chloe with her words.

“You really think I could do it?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

I nodded, feeling a smile tug at my lips. “I know you can. And I want you too.”

She smiled back at me, cautious but glimmering all the same.

“So what do you say? Want to give it a shot?”

I held my breath, watching Chloe’s face as she mulled it over. Her blue eyes darted between me and Eryn, who stood nearby with an encouraging smile.

“Okay,” Chloe said softly, nodding. “I’ll give it a try.”

Relief washed over me. “That’s great, Chloe. Thank you.”

Eryn clapped her hands together. “Wonderful! Now, let’s figure out the details, shall we?”