Montana Match

Her expression told him she was deep in thought about something that didn’t make her happy. He could relate to that look.

He stepped forward. “Excuse me. Are you Brittany Gorman?”

She stared up at him, her appearance still somber. Her light brownish-green eyes held a puzzled look. “Yes. How do you know my name?”

“I’m Parker Watson, Heather’s uncle.”

“You’re Heather’s uncle?” The pitch of her voice rose along with her eyebrows.

“I am. Is there a problem?” Parker tried not to frown.

Could she possibly know about his past—seen him on the news when he’d been falsely accused of an inappropriate relationship with one of his high-school students? According to Heather, Brittany had moved to Billings about six years ago, after the scandal had subsided, but that was no guarantee. He knew firsthand how malicious gossip could linger.

Despite being innocent, he’d never gotten his life back. In the beginning, he’d tried to repair his reputation, but the hushed conversations and whispered innuendos had followed him. Frustrated and hurt over the way his former friends and colleagues had turned against him, he’d decided things would be easier if he gave up teaching and kept to himself on the ranch.

She grimaced, a blush creeping up her freckled face. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be so abrupt. It’s just that…well, I expected you to be older…much older.”

“So that’s why you seemed startled?”

Nodding, she placed a hand over her heart. “When Heather was talking about her uncle, I had this picture in my mind of a man about the age of her father with a salt-and-pepper beard.”

Realizing that she didn’t know anything about his past, Parker let his relief come bubbling out in a chuckle. “I’m twenty-five years younger than Heather’s dad and only seven years older than Heather. She seems more like a cousin than a niece. I figured out a long time ago that I was my parents’ ‘oops’ baby.”

“Oh.” She looked away, as if his statement had embarrassed her.

He’d probably given her more information than she wanted to know. He had a bad habit of speaking his mind, no matter what the consequences. Better change the subject. “Heather told me you took a ski lesson this morning?”

“Yeah. Where is Heather?”

“Still on the slopes, but she sent me down here to check on you. How did the lesson go?”

Brittany shrugged. “Okay, I guess. I learned how to snowplow.”

“That’s a good start. Are you ready for lunch?”

Brittany nodded. “I thought Heather was meeting me.”

“She is, but she wanted to do a little skiing with Rose and Jasmine first before the girls did their afternoon thing.”

He was out of practice talking with single women who were close to his own age. What did it matter? He wasn’t going to see Brittany again after this weekend. Even if she was pretty, he didn’t need to impress her. “Do you mind if I join you while we wait for Heather?”

She looked up at him in surprise. “I’m sorry. I should’ve invited you to sit with me. I don’t know where my manners have gone. Please, join me. In fact, I’m glad to have a chance to talk to you. I want to thank you. It’s really generous of you to pay for everything, especially since I’m not family.”

“Think nothing of it.” Parker smiled. He pulled out a chair and sat across from her.

Now what did he say? He hated small talk, especially since he seldom had face-to-face interaction with anyone except the people on the ranch and an occasional family member. It was better for him and the twins to be surrounded by people who supported and accepted them. But in his efforts to shield his girls from malicious gossip, he’d gotten out of practice at making conversation with strangers.

Parker tried to lasso his thoughts, but her cute freckled face had his mind in a dither. Maybe that’s why she had him noticing things about her that he shouldn’t be noticing at all.

“Heather tells me you live on a ranch.”

“Yeah.” An invitation to talk about himself—one of his least favorite things to do. When he was with his family, all he wanted to talk about was his girls, but he didn’t want to explain to a stranger why he was a bachelor father.

“Do you raise cattle?”

“I’m more of a gentleman rancher.”

“A what?”

“I don’t actually do any ranching. I only live there.”

“Oh.” The word was wrapped in curiosity.

Hoping to avoid giving her any other information, he ignored her questioning look. “What about you? What do you do?”

Brittany stared at him for a moment, then glanced away toward the windows. Sighing heavily, she looked back at him. “I’m currently a substitute teacher. I lost my real job a few months ago. I tried some temp jobs, but they were short-lived. Then a teacher I know from church suggested that I sign up to be a substitute, but that still makes for a rather unsettled life—not knowing how much will be in my next paycheck. It’s hard to find regular work of any kind.”

Parker couldn’t help remembering Delia’s speculation about Brittany being a prospect for the nanny position. His desperation to find someone to care for his daughters was making him have irrational thoughts. He knew very little about this young woman. “What was your previous job?”

“I worked for a financial-planning company, and they were downsizing. I was the last hired and the first fired.” Brittany laughed halfheartedly.

“Any job prospects in your field?” Now Parker knew what had caused her troubled look. He’d like to commiserate, but he certainly didn’t want to explain the false accusations that had cost him his job. The unfairness of it all still troubled him.

She shook her head. “I’m just trying to figure out what I’m going to do next. Kind of puts a damper on trying to have fun.”

“Maybe we can get you up on the slopes and take your mind off it for at least a little while.” And his mind, too.

“Heather said the same thing.” Brittany smiled.

“Then we’ll try not to mention it again.” Taking in that smile, Parker tried to ignore the way his heart bumped against his ribs. Another reason not to entertain the idea of her as a nanny. Having a nanny he was attracted to would be a big mistake.

“I’m not sure that will help. I keep thinking about it. Can I find a new job in Billings, or should I go back home? If I choose to go home, how will that affect Heather, since I share an apartment with her?”

Parker took in the fact that Brittany, despite her own troubles, was still concerned about Heather. Brittany’s thoughtfulness said something very good about her. “So where’s home?”

“Pinecrest, a little town north of Spokane, Washington.”

Glancing toward the door and hoping to see Heather, Parker nodded. “Yeah. I know Spokane. I’ve been there several times.”

“But I’ll bet you’ve never been to Pinecrest.”

“You’d be correct.”

“Not many job prospects there, but maybe I can find one in Spokane.” Brittany sighed. “I think my parents want me to move back. My dad’s checking out jobs in Spokane for me. He says the sooner I get back into finance the better. Temp jobs and substitute teaching don’t exactly enhance my resume.”

“What brought you to Montana in the first place?”

Brittany sighed. “My boyfriend Max. He came to college here on a football scholarship.”