Knowing Jace was in the house somewhere while she picked things up and prepared breakfast was more than a little weird.
Was that an indication she should turn down Jace’s idea of moving to the ranch?
Bonnie took a deep breath. She would need time to consider everything. Talk to Wyatt and Chrissy to get their opinion. Praying definitely wouldn’t hurt. “I’m going to need a little nudge from You as we go through today. A blatant ‘yes’ or ‘no’ would be great, too.”
Bonnie set her bag down by the front door, grabbed the baby monitor from a nearby table, and proceeded to go upstairs to the little boy’s room.
He was still asleep, even though he shifted a little as she entered. He would be up and going soon. Bonnie took advantage of the time she had to add a few toys, diapers, and some other supplies to his backpack.
Meanwhile, her mind kept wandering to this ranch that she’d agreed to go see. It didn’t mean she was committing to anything. She was just gathering all the facts, something Wyatt would agree with wholeheartedly.
Would she seriously consider moving in order to keep her job as Gunner’s nanny? When would Jace expect an answer from her? He likely needed one as soon as possible, and she couldn’t blame him. If she said no to the change in her job, he’d need to start a search for a new nanny.
The idea that someone else could potentially be caring for Gunner brought with it a pang of loneliness. She’d known her job was likely to only last until he started kindergarten. But at least that was still a few years down the road.
Bonnie was fortunate to have worked for Jace for two years. Losing her job or having to find a new family to nanny for was a possibility she always knew existed, even if she hadn’t had to deal with it.
She still didn’t. Not really, because nothing had changed.
Yet.
Bonnie looked over to find Gunner scrambling down from his toddler bed and running across the room for her to pick him up.
The little boy was so active lately, that the only time she got any cuddles in was first thing in the morning and right before she put him down for bed on the nights Jace worked late.
She scooped him into her arms and moved to the rocking chair. Gunner snuggled against her chest.
“We’re going on an adventure today. Your daddy is home, and he’s going to take us to go look at a ranch. Would you like that?”
“See horses.”
“I’m not sure what we’ll see.” Now that he mentioned it, Bonnie hadn’t thought to ask what kind of ranch it was.“But it’ll be a lot of fun. We’d better get you downstairs to eat breakfast and then get dressed. Do you want a pancake?”
Gunner nodded, climbed down from her lap, and ran for his bedroom door.
And her busy day began-–except she would be spending time not only with her young charge, but with his handsome father as well.
That last thought sent a wave of nervous flutters through her stomach.
* * *
It wassurreal to be sitting in the passenger seat of Jace’s brand new Ford F-150. It wasn’t the first vehicle Bonnie thought of when it came to her wealthy employer. In fact, that’s exactly what set him apart from the other rich individuals she knew.
Take her own parents, for instance. They often drove their Mercedes while the Tesla remained in the garage to prevent them from being damaged.
As for Bonnie, she much preferred something more practical. Or at least vehicles that didn’t cost as much as a house.
Gunner gave a surprised gasp from the back seat. “Cow!”
Jace chuckled. “It sure is, big guy. There are a lot of cows out here. Do you remember Great Grandpa’s ranch and all of the sheep?”
There was a tinge of sadness in his voice that had Bonnie’s heart aching for him.
“Baaa!” Gunner announced from his seat.
Bonnie half turned to give him a smile. When she faced forward again, she addressed Jace. “A sheep ranch. How interesting. Will you be helping your grandpa?”
Jace cleared his throat and didn’t respond for several seconds. “Grandpa passed a few weeks ago. He left the place to my sister and me. We’ve decided to do our best to keep it running.”
