FORTUNE ON HIS DOORSTEP _ Michelle Lindo-Rice _ Sample Chapters

They both needed a helping hand…struck a deal that changed everything!

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About the Book

Kelsey Fortune had finally achieved her dream of owning her own ranch…but the disrespectful male ranch hands and runaway herds are creating challenges she hadn’t anticipated. She needs advice—and fast. When a chance meeting at the local grocery store introduces her to wealthy cattle CEO—and sexy single dad—Trevor Porter, her quest for assistance mingles with electric attraction. Trevor is charmed at Kelsey’s ability to calm his triplet toddlers and offers a practical proposal: lend a hand with his children and he’ll help wrangle her wranglers. But as the sparks between them grow, Trevor might have to find the courage to risk a fresh start for himself, his children and the woman he finds he can't live without…

Chapter One

It had only been eighteen hours, twelve minutes and nine seconds since his father had left for his month-long cruise with his fiancée, Manuela. Yep, Trevor Porter was already on a countdown, desperate for his pop’s return.

Standing in the kitchen of the gorgeous mansion he had rented while his new house was finished being built in Emerald Ridge, Trevor tried to focus on the calm of the river visible through the huge bay windows instead of the cacophony caused by his nine-month-old triplets wriggling about in their high chairs. Remembering his father’s advice that Trevor should get back into the dating world, he snorted. As if any woman would willingly want the responsibility of dating a man with three kids.

Just getting them all dressed and strapped in for breakfast had been a task. Since Halloween had been the day before and he had purchased two outfits, Trevor had decided to dress them in outfit number two today. Yesterday they had worn bee rompers with matching caps while he had been their beekeeper. Today they wore pumpkin outfits, but he’d had to change his Dad of the Patch coordinated T-shirt.

Note to self: Don’t get dressed before giving the kids a bath. And don’t forget to put on their bibs before feeding them.

Within seconds of tucking them into their high chairs, most of their cheerios and scrambled eggs had been scattered on the kitchen floor.

He ran a hand over his beard and groaned. There was no way he was going to be able to care for the triplets on his own for the next twenty-eight days. An extra pair of hands made all the difference in the world when you had hungry mouths to feed. Tending to them was so much easier when Pop was around. He treasured having family around.

It was actually because of newfound family—cousins, Imani and Jonathan—that Trevor had even ventured to Emerald Ridge. He had such a sense of belonging with both his cousins and the land that Trevor had decided to raise his family here.

Sighing, he rubbed between his eyes as his words to his father came back to him. Don’t worry, Pop, enjoy the Caribbean seas, I’ve got this.

If those words could be eaten, his thirty-one-year-old tummy would be full. Because the only thing he had was three squirming, crying babies.

That’s why Trevor had placed an ad for a temporary live-in within an hour of his father’s departure in the town’s online community social page. He eyed the clock. He had already interviewed two applicants and neither seemed capable of handling one, much less three babies. His final candidate was due any minute. Hopefully, he would get his children settled before she arrived.

Sasha let out a bellow loud enough to rattle the glassware in the china cabinet. Covering his ears, Trevor reached over to pluck William’s foot out of his mouth before settling his son back into his high chair. He ducked his head, narrowly missing the fistful of scrambled eggs James threw his way. The eggs landed on his T-shirt that his late wife, Claudia, had purchased when they learned they were going to be parents of three and not one baby. This was the first time he had actually donned it, and he had to scoff at the words. Being a Dad of Triplets Means Having Three Times the Fun.

He had chosen it to boost his spirits, but the words now only served as a beacon to remind him what a woeful job he was doing since his wife’s passing. He was surviving minute by minute—no, make that second by second. Trevor jumped and yelped as something cold and wet hit his cheeks. That move made Sasha stop mid-cry before her body shook with laughter. He brushed the eggs off because he wasn’t changing a third time.

“Oh, you think it’s funny that Daddy has egg face,” he said, wiping his face and then playing with her cheeks. Sasha dissolved into laughter even more. Trevor looked into the little face, which resembled her mom, and his heart pinched. Sasha had taken her first step yesterday, and he had managed to capture the moment on camera. He had cheered so loud that he had startled his baby girl and she’d fallen to her bum before her chin wobbled with tears.

Gosh, he wished Claudia had lived to see their children’s milestones. But a mere week after childbirth, she had passed suddenly from a weakened heart muscle, and he had found himself a single dad of three. He had needed family. That’s why Trevor had taken time off from his beef cattle business, Porter Cuts, an hour away in Dallas. He was fortunate to have the staff and capital so he could wait until the triplets were a year old before returning to work. That was his game plan.

“Dadadadada,” James said, pumping his feet hard enough to move the high chair.

Trevor patted his head and scooped up some eggs out of the blue plastic bowl to give to his son. He gave William a quick glance and sighed. His son’s foot was back in his mouth again, his sock discarded somewhere. It was always the left foot and always the big toe.

“I bet all that toe needs is some ketchup,” he joked. Trevor looked around for the errant footwear, finding it underneath Sasha’s leg. After he put it on, he stepped back and decided to take a picture of his children. With her light brown eyes, olive-toned skin and curly hair, Sasha was already Claudia’s mini-me. William, however, was all Trevor and his mom, Samira, with skin the color of smooth brown sand, twinkling dark brown eyes and a ready smile. While James was a blend of the both of them, with Claudia’s deep dimples and complexion and his height. All three faces and clothes were covered with eggs and milk from their sippy cups.

Seeing those chins tilted up at him with such trust made his eyes well. Claudia had been so right when she had said there was more to life than work. His wife’s mantra had been ingrained in him. But he had been too stubborn to listen, too focused on accumulating his wealth, on making Porter Cuts thrive. Yes, they had had their problems—he had been a workaholic—but Trevor would trade all his success to have her back with him, to give his children a mother.

He knew what it was like, having lost his own mother when he was eighteen years old. He walked around feeling like his heart was permanently cinched with crab’s claws. And days like today, it squeezed harder than others.

His cell phone rang. It was Jonathan calling. He answered the phone and put on Timmy & Friends on YouTube to entertain the children while they ate.

“How’s the nanny situation going?” his cousin asked. The fact that he had a cousin made Trevor’s chest expand. Growing up an only child with a single mom, he’d felt pretty lonely at times, but it wasn’t until Samira was on her deathbed that she had confessed to him his true heritage. That he was the grandson of tycoon Hammond Porter, a fact he resented. The discovery of blood relatives near his age had been the only reward so far.

“It’s going,” Trevor heaved out. “I have one more today, and if that doesn’t work out, I don’t know what I’m going to do.” A splat of something hit his back. Something squishy and wet. Reaching a hand behind him, he brushed away the egg.

“Just offer a larger bonus,” Jonathan suggested.

“Great idea.” The doorbell rang. Of course, the triplets broke into a wail. His cousin was saying something and Trevor had to press the phone closer to his ear.

“Whoa. It sounds like you have your hands full. Do you need me to drop over?”

“I might have to take you up on that offer, but I hope to be hiring someone today.”

“Oh, good. Well, keep me posted.”

Praying the person on the other side of the door would be the one, Trevor scurried out the kitchen, past the family room littered with laundry and filled with scattered toys, then swung open the front door. Even though the triplets were secure, the cries behind him had escalated, putting him on edge. There was an older woman standing at the door with her arms crossed who introduced herself as Ms. Quinn. Though it was a beautiful autumn day, she wore a lined business suit, and even with the light breeze, her bun was firmly in place. He invited her inside, hiding his smirk at her pursed lips once she had taken in the state of his home.

“I have a housekeeper,” he felt compelled to offer. “It didn’t look like this yesterday and it won’t look like this at the end of the day.”

Ms. Quinn poked her nose in the air and sniffed. “The key is to clean as you go,” she said, her tone disapproving. “Your children will need order. Structure.” She scanned the area, frowning at the dollop of sweet potatoes on the edge of the coffee table—or at least he hoped that was what that was—and shook her head. “This is chaos.” Right on cue, his children’s cry level boosted. Ms. Quinn covered her ears and shook her head. “Unacceptable. I can see they will need to be kept in line.”

Her stiff tone made his hackles rise. He wanted a doting, loving nanny, not a drill sergeant. Trevor swallowed his irritation and pointed to the front door. “I don’t think we need to continue,” he said, jogging toward the kitchen. “I’ve got to go tend to my children.” He gestured to the front door. “I trust you can see your way out.”

“But you didn’t ask any questions,” she sputtered from behind him.

“Don’t need to. You’ve already shown me enough of who you are,” he tossed over his shoulder, dismissing her from his mind. A second later, he heard the door slam and satisfaction filled his chest. Good riddance. Boy, he wished he could have someone like Jonathan’s son’s caretaker, but his cousin wasn’t about to share his nanny with anyone.

Trevor rushed to the nursery and retrieved a box of wipes. James’s and Sasha’s faces were red from crying. Will just sat checking out his siblings, though his eyes welled. The minute they saw him, their cries ceased, their little chins wobbling. “It’s alright. It’s alright,” he cooed. “Daddy’s here.”

Releasing James and William first, Trevor wiped their faces and hands. He placed them into the large playpen in the family room. Then he retrieved Sasha and did the same. Just before he put her with her brothers, Trevor got a whiff that told him that she needed changing. He slapped his forehead.

Diapers.

Pop had told him at least three times to order diapers. With three babies in the house, Trevor used a mail-order service, but Orson had stated there was a glitch, so the order hadn’t processed. That had been two days ago.

He dashed into the children’s nursery with Sasha wriggling in his arms—a converted master bedroom—and counted the stack. He was down to twenty-seven. That might be enough until morning. But, then again it might not. Grabbing three and a box of wipes, Trevor placed Sasha on the changing table. She was squirming so much, he ended up ripping the tab off the diaper. And then another.

At this rate he would be out of diapers before dinner. He was going to have to head out to the store. And he might as well stop at the farmers market to get some fresh fruit and veggies to puree for the kids’ food. Making their own baby food was something Claudia had wanted to do for the children, and so far, he had kept up with that. 

Quickly finishing up with Sasha, he cleaned James and Will then packed the trio into their car seats. Since he drove a large SUV, Trevor was able to fit a wagon in the third row and the stroller in the trunk. After grabbing a fully stocked diaper bag, Trevor packed the triplets into his rear seat and drove over to the general store. It wasn’t until he was about to head to the farmer's market that he considered he might not have any room for his farm haul. He rested against the doorjamb of the passenger seat and released a long breath. He felt like he had run a marathon instead of shopping for necessities.

Maybe he should head home and do this another day.

No can do. Stopping at home would mean he would be bumping close to nap time. He would pick out his goods and then see if the farm offered delivery. With that plan in mind, Trevor grabbed the stroller wagon and strapped his children inside before tugging them down the gravelly path. He figured they would find it fun while he shopped, but he was oh so wrong. Because all he saw were panicked faces and hands gripping the sides of the wagon as their bodies heaved forward and backward. 

Suddenly his morning had gone from bad to worse. 

*

Kelsey Fortune loved this time of year—the foliage of reds, yellows, oranges and greens, the crunching leaves under her feet. The weather was chef’s kiss perfect, and she welcomed the smells of autumn. If it weren’t for the fact that her newly purchased ranch, Fortune 8, could be in trouble, this would count as one of her best days ever.

All Kelsey wanted was for her ranch to flourish. But taking care of her cattle, sheep and horses was too much to do alone, especially now that she had rashly fired her foreman and workers. Her pair of old jeans, a white tee and a flannel shirt, along with her boots and cowgirl hat, were the practical choice for the grueling labor she’d had to do at the crack of dawn before driving to the Emerald Ridge Farmers Market to buy supplies. A tedious task made bearable because she was meeting up with her cousin to shop together and engage in some small talk since Kelsey hadn’t had time to socialize the past month.

Priscilla was already there when she arrived. Kelsey pulled up next to her. The cousins squealed and shared a hug like they hadn’t seen each other in years.

When Priscilla’s parents, Mark and Marlene, died in a plane crash two decades earlier, Kelsey had been just three years old, and her father had only been twenty-four. But, despite being young and grieving, her dad moved with Kelsey into the Fortune mansion to take care of Priscilla and her siblings, Roth, Harris and Zara. At twenty-eight, Priscilla was the nearest to Kelsey in age, which was why they were so close.

“It feels like forever since I’ve seen you,” Priscilla said. “I was so glad when you reached out for us to meet up.”

“I know. It’s been a minute since we’ve hung out. The ranch takes up so much of my time. That’s why I started the family group chat so I can keep us all in the loop.”

Arm in arm, the cousins walked together from the parking lot up the path toward the market, enjoying the brilliant blue skies on this fine November day. There were a lot of other shoppers milling about, including parents with their little ones. This was one of the must-go places in town. In addition to being a market, there were farm rides and a small café. She could smell the apple cinnamon donuts and roasted pecans, which she would make sure to get before leaving.

To the right of the shop, there was a pumpkin stand with a gaggle of children carving away on some of the benches. She grinned at the kids’ joyful squeals. If she weren’t pressed for time, she would definitely join them.

Kelsey grabbed a flatbed while Priscilla reached for a cart, and they went into the main store. She then filled her flatbed with oversize bags of apples and carrots for her horses and a bushel of corn for her cows. Kelsey didn’t relish having to hoist her feed in her truck bed later. But she decided to let later worry about itself.

Kelsey and Priscilla made sure to avoid the piles of pumpkin slosh as they made their way to the vegetables.

“How is it going with your foreman?” Priscilla asked.

“Oh, don’t get me started.” She had inherited Young with the property, and every time she spoke to him, he smirked, calling her Little Lady, which encouraged the ranch hands and cowboys to do the same.

“But that’s not even the worse of it. I learned that Young has been making fun of me on social media. He has quite a following commenting and laughing at everything I do. I know I’m only twenty-five,” she grumbled, “but I’m still very much their boss and I deserve their respect.”

“Ugh, that man is just beyond insulting,” her cousin said, putting some celery into her handheld basket. “I doubt he would do this if you were a man.”

“I agree. Young used every opportunity to undermine my authority, and that grew old really fast.”

“You know he’s salty because you won the bid over his uncle for the ranch.”

She waved at a little girl eating an ice cream cone though it was only half past ten. “Yup. I can’t believe I fell for his lies. Young had given me some sob story about being a single dad and having to take care of his teen daughter. Something he made up so he could record my response and post for likes. Can you believe that?”

“This guy sounds like a real jerk.”

“He is. And he’s free to join his uncle over at his ranch. I let him go this morning.”

Priscilla nodded. “It sounds like you made a great decision. Who did you hire as his replacement?”

“Um… I’m going to put up some ads this morning.” She pointed to the small stack of signs, nails and hammer in her purse. “I’ve already posted a few.”

Her cousin frowned and gently squeezed her arm. “Kelsey, I know this guy has been awful and I sympathize with you, but you shouldn’t have fired Young until you secured another foreman.”

Tilting her head back, she met Priscilla’s hazel ones. “Actually, I fired all of my workers.”

Priscilla’s mouth dropped. She tucked her blond tendrils away behind her ear. “All of them? So, you’ve been running the ranch by yourself? Please tell me you haven’t been doing all those ranch chores all alone.”

“Yes, two days ago, and I’ll honor your wishes by not telling you I’ve been handling feed, mucking stalls and checking for lice on my own for a couple of days.” She walked toward the register, putting all her strength into pushing the flatbed. Her cousin caught up to her and they joined the queue. “Now, before you chide me for being too hasty, I have zero regrets.” She squared her shoulders. “Correction. I had no regrets until I remembered that my starter herds are set to be delivered by the end of this week and it’s almost lambing time for a couple of my ewes.” She shuddered at the thought of managing a cattle herd of forty and birthings by herself.

“Th-this week?” Priscilla sputtered, her eyes wide. “You’re being way too calm for my liking. You need to hire help pronto.”

Kelsey blew out a breath. “I wish I could hire an all-female crew.”

“That would be hard to pull off in a town as small as Emerald Ridge.” They stepped closer to the register.

“A girl can dream, can’t she?” she muttered.

“Take your head out of the clouds and pin up another ad,” her cousin said, pointing to a space on the advertising wall. While Priscilla kept their place in line, Kelsey did just that, then returned to the queue.

“What did Uncle Sander have to say about all this? I’m surprised he isn’t out there helping you.”

“Um, I haven’t exactly told him that I’ve been on my own.”

Priscilla stopped to give Kelsey a stern look. “Great. Now I have to tell Uncle Sander. He’ll be upset if he learns that I knew and didn’t say anything.”

“No. Don’t. Dad’s busy with the search for the hidden family surprise.” From when they were children, they had learned that Mark and Marlene had hidden a special treasure in Emerald Ridge before departing on their fateful trip to California.

Over the past twenty years, the Fortunes had looked everywhere for it on the family compound, but to no avail.

And they didn’t even know what they were looking for. However, that August, during their yearly summer trip to Emerald Ridge from Dallas, her father, herself and her cousins vowed to stay there until they had found the surprise. She and her father had settled into the main house while her cousins had each moved into the guest cottages on the property that Mark and Marlene had built for each of their children. It was now November, and the family was still looking.

“Yeah. I’m not sure if my parents were just teasing about this long-lost family surprise, or if it’s actually real. Before I moved out, I combed through my cottage but didn’t find anything. It’s been so long since my parents died, and I really hope this will be the year we find it. If we don’t…” The sadness in her cousin’s tone tugged at Kelsey’s heart.

“I think it is.” She tapped Priscilla’s arm. “We’ll find it. It’s got to be somewhere on our property.”

Priscilla released a long breath. “Between searching for the surprise and trying to figure out why Linc was killed, this has been one eventful summer.” Linc Banning was the son of their childhood housekeeper who had been found shot to death in the Emerald Ridge River just before they came out to Emerald Ridge. That’s when Priscilla revealed that she’d went out with Linc once, but he’d abruptly broke things off after that one date.

“Ugh. I don’t have the bandwidth to talk about Linc Banning right now. I have such wonderful memories of Linc that I’m having a hard time processing the dark person he had become.” Kelsey rubbed her temples. “I just hope they find who killed him.” 

Priscilla smiled. “Life has a funny way of working out sometimes. Jax is so wonderful that—”

“Yeah. Yeah. I’m going to cut you off before you start singing his praises.” Kelsey chuckled. She had never been in love, but seeing Priscilla getting all gushy whenever she talked about her fiancé made her know she wanted to avoid it at all costs. Priscilla had fallen for Linc’s stepbrother, Jax Wellington, the widowed father of a baby boy, Liam, and successful cattle rancher. “Let’s circle back to my not having a foreman… If Dad hears that I fired Young, he might doubt my ability to run the ranch, and it’s important to me to do this my way.” When the other woman didn’t look convinced, she pressed, “Give me until the end of the week and if I haven’t hired anyone, I’ll tell Dad myself.”

“Alright. I can’t resist those pleading green eyes. But make sure. Okay?”

“I will.”

When they finished checking out, they stood off to the side of the register. The manager promised to have someone help her load her truck.

Priscilla’s cell phone rang. “That’s Jax. I’d better get going. I’m meeting him and Liam for lunch. But I’ll ask him if he knows someone who can help you out.”

“Thanks, I appreciate that.” She sighed. Sometimes, she could be too hasty. But she would sleep good tonight. Kelsey battled insomnia whenever she was bothered about something, and she had been bothered about Young.

The cousins hugged and parted ways.

As Priscilla walked off, her phone pressed to her ear, Kelsey smiled. Her cousin was so happy. Kelsey felt a twinge of…what, exactly? Loneliness. She hadn’t dated or had a serious relationship in a long time. But she was good with her decision. She had her business to focus on. So, she would redefine this feeling as restlessness and redirect her focus on… She looked around, her gaze falling to the stack of pumpkins outside the door. Pumpkins. She would bake a pumpkin pie.

Yes. That was a great way to fill her evening once she was done with her chores. Now she just had to find the perfect pumpkin. Small, dark, dense ones were the best for baking. She ran her hands along the hard fruit—or was it a vegetable? Spotting one under the pile, she moved the others out of the way to get to it.

Right as she picked it up in her hand, she heard loud wails from behind her. Ear-piercing screams were a more accurate description. Kelsey swung around so fast, her Stetson fell off her head, causing her long red curls to splay around her face. She was about to retrieve it off the ground, but was waylaid when she found herself locking eyes with the gorgeous man pushing the three babies in a wagon toward her.

For a second, she managed to tune out the screams to take in the man who, despite appearing to be overwhelmed, gave her a lopsided grin that said, Help me. She took a single step forward, her breath catching.

He was at least six foot three with skin the color of amber, a well-trimmed beard and black hair shaped into a sharp fade. Clearly he worked out because that T-shirt shaped his broad chest and abs in all the right places. As he drew close, her eyes dropped to his bare ring finger. Not that that meant anything. A lot of men didn’t wear a wedding ring. She had no right checking out a man who was probably married, and who, based on his T-shirt, had his hands full with three babies.

Three absolutely adorable babies dressed in identical pumpkin suits, who were cute as could be despite their screams and the frowns of other shoppers giving him a wide berth.

Kelsey picked up her hat, dusted it off on her jeans and turned back to the pumpkins. She continued her search for another one fit for baking. Pies. She would focus on pies.

“C’mon guys,” a low, deep voice a few feet behind her said. “Daddy is trying here. I just need five minutes to get some fruit and veggies, then we can go home. I promise.” His words were soft and calm, but she could hear the slight frustration in his tone.

She snorted. Was he seriously trying to reason with babies? The cries escalated. It was like they were riffing off each other. Poor guy didn’t stand a chance. Mind your business, Kelsey. Grabbing another pumpkin, she moved toward the entrance to cash out. But his plea to his children stopped her.

“Help Daddy out, please.”

Kelsey had never been able to resist a cry for help. Or children. She was a baby whisperer. In her family, her famed peekaboo was deemed magical. No baby could resist her charms, or so she had been told. She exhaled and looked upward. Walk away. You don’t have to do this.

Oh, but of course, she did. Their cries were a siren.

Putting the produce back on the stand, she marched over to the melee and squatted beside the father. Her thighs bumped his, but she pretended not to notice the feel of those big, strong arms that moved to steady her, or those muscled thighs, and focused on the three little ones in front of her.

“Hello, there, little pumpkins,” she sing-songed, touching each on their legs. Their father sat on the ground, the heat of his eyes on her, which she did her best to ignore right along with her suddenly frantic beating heart. She eyed the children’s spiked lashes and the dried tears on their reddened cheeks, wishing she had more than two arms to bundle them all close to her.

Three little mouths hung open. Great. Now that she had their attention, it was time to seize the moment. She covered her eyes with her hands and then popped them open and squealed, “Peekaboo.”

Hesitation.

She did it again. “Peekaboo!” Then a deep throated chuckle from one and two tummies rumbled. Joy spread deep in her chest. How she loved hearing the sounds of children having fun. “Peeeekkkaboo!” she sing-songed.

This time there were three sets of giggles. As loud as they had been crying, they were now laughing. She cracked up and then faced their father. The look he gave her made her face heat.

“How did you do that?” he asked, amazed.

She shrugged to hide her reaction to his presence. He smelled of cedar and ocean and man. A combination that reminded her once more how long she had been alone. It had been six endless months since she’d been held by a man, and that brief encounter was best forgotten, tucked away into her never-shoulda-ever in this lifetime or the next. “I-I don’t know. I just have a way with kids, I guess.”

Grasping onto the stroller, she stood and dusted off her jeans. “Happy to have been of service. Have a great day!” She strutted off, pushing her hat deeper on her head. Then, spotting the helper by her flatbed, she gave a little wave.

“Wait!” She heard the distinct sound of wheels on the gravel, coming up alongside her.

“I’m sorry, but I can’t let you leave like that. You were the heroine who stopped all the passersby cutting their eyes at me. I’ve got to repay you for your kindness,” the man said, gracing her with a smile.

Oh, this one was quite the charmer. She had to remain immune even if her pulse wasn’t beating like a rumba in her chest. 

Gesturing to the associate to follow her, Kelsey said, “You don’t have to repay me.” Then she saw one of her posted signs and tossed out, “Unless you happen to know some great ranch staff. I just bought a spread and I’m hiring but it’s becoming a bit of a nightmare,” she explained, not expecting that he would have a suggestion. They walked out to the parking lot, the helper lagging behind. “Which is why I am in desperate need of help.”

“I don’t know anyone, but I’m the owner of Porter Cuts in Dallas. Have you heard of it?” Of course she had.

“Who hasn’t?” Kelsey stuck out her hand. “So, you must be…”

He grasped her hand, his touch warm and firm. Kelsey liked a man with a solid grip. “I’m Trevor Porter, and I’d be happy to give you tips on running a ranch and with staff management over dinner tonight, if you’re available?”

“Uh, I’m Kelsey. Kelsey Fortune. I appreciate the offer but I’ve got a lot going on…”

“Fortune?” He raised a brow. “What a coincidence. My cousin’s married to a Fortune.”

“I would say it’s a small world, but you can’t sneeze without running into a Fortune here in Texas.” She patted his arm. “Who is it?”

“Jonathan Porter, of the Porter Oil business. He’s with Vivienne Fortune.”

She whistled. “Yes, I heard about their wedding…”

“It’s just dinner. We both have to eat, right? It’s not a date.”

The interest in his eyes and the energy between them contradicted his words.

She felt flustered, because she was so ready to say yes, but then gave herself a much needed reality check. The man had three kids. Three. She opened the trunk and dug around in her bag for her purse and gave the associate a tip. She knew lifting those bags would be no easy feat.

“Hang on. Let me go help this dude while you think about it.” He gave her a wink and jogged over to assist.

She played with the babies, stealing glances at Trevor’s bulging muscles as he assisted with the load like they were a bag of feathers and not grain..

“So, what did you decide?” he asked once they were finished. “It’s been the triplets, my dad and me since my wife’s passing, but he’s off on a cruise with his fiancé so it would be good to talk to someone who can respond with more than a babble.”

“Happy to oblige… What made you move here?”

“I wanted to set up roots near family. I’m an only child and thought it would be nice to get to know my cousins, especially since I had the children. I would like them to have more family besides me and my pop.”

She nodded. “I get it. I’ve got family all around me and we are ever growing. So, how will it work managing your company while you’re here in Emerald Ridge? Do you plan to commute or will you get a new manager?” She felt her cheeks heat. “I’m sorry, my curiosity got away from me.”

“No, don’t apologize. Those are good questions. I have competent people working for me who oversee the day-to-day. But I weigh in on all the important decisions, conference in as needed and review meeting notes and updates, especially anything that involves the quality of our beef.” He cleared his throat. “A lot of what I do now can be managed online, which leaves me time to spend with my family. The key was to recruit and train talented, loyal staff. Because of that, my company runs itself like a well-oiled machine.”

She could use some pointers. “Well, I’m happy to learn from you later this evening. I live with my dad at the main house on the Fortune compound here in Emerald Ridge, though we both have our own wing. Have you heard of it?”

“Yes, I’ve heard of the estate, but I’ve never been.”

She waved a hand. “Oh, it’s hard to miss in this small town. I’ll tell you all about its history when we meet. I’ll cook us dinner.” She rattled off her address and they exchanged numbers.

“I’m intrigued. I should have secured a sitter by this evening. See you about six tonight?”

“See you then.”

Chapter Two

Trevor made his way down the winding driveway toward the Fortune compound, his eyes widening at the expanse of lush, green land before him. There were mini mansions along the estate, but the main house was straight ahead. From afar, it was a grand, imposing sight.

As he drew closer, his apprehension grew.

Maybe he should have canceled. Trevor peered at the three pairs of feet dangling from the car seats from his rearview mirror. They were each playing with their baby sheep, all toothy smiles. He wasn’t sure how Kelsey would feel about him showing up with his children, but he wanted to see her again. For the first time in months, Trevor felt a spark of interest in another woman. A flame he had thought permanently doused after his wife’s passing.

Neither had been ready for marriage but when Claudia discovered she was pregnant with the triplets, things shifted for the two of them, and they were willing to give their marriage another try for the children’s sake.

But then, unexpectedly, Claudia was gone, and Trevor thought that was it for him as far as relationships. But now there was this buzz of excitement he’d felt when he’d met Kelsey earlier. He had to see if this was all a fluke or if this could be the start of a new chapter for him.

He glanced at the massive dwellings on either side of the path tucked away on the grounds. Each was beautifully landscaped with an air of understated elegance. If he recalled, his contractor had been an apprentice from the same company who designed these homes. His grip tightened on the steering wheel. After seeing the Fortune compound, Trevor couldn’t wait to see the final results for his own home. So far, most of the updates had been via video call. He hadn’t wanted to take the triplets with him around all the construction.

The main house lay ahead. His eyes drifted upward, taking it all in. The regal two-story sprawling structure boasted a sweeping roofline and massive columns. Kelsey texted she lived in the right wing, which had a separate entrance in the back, but since they were meeting for dinner, he should park by the front. With the baby bag on his shoulder, he removed the children from their car seats, gathered them in their wagon and hefted it up the three steps to the front door. Wiping his brow, Trevor paused to admire the wraparound porch, the large oak double doors and the wrought iron hinges before ringing the doorbell.

William started to fuss so Trevor bent over to rub his son’s tummy until his boy gave him a toothy grin. After lunch and a nap, Trevor had changed the children into black pants and orange long-sleeved tees, while he had chosen a pair of black jeans and a long-sleeved tee for himself.

The creak of the door made him spin around.

Then he was looking into a pair of sparkling, green eyes that made his breath catch. She had on a pair of jeans that showed off her curves and a billowy blouse.

“Hi…” She pointed to the children in the stroller and ran a hand through those silky strands. “Looks like you’ve got company.”

“Yeah. The agency I use said the sitter took another job instead. I’m sorry. I was looking forward to meeting with you tonight and didn’t want to cancel. But we can do this another time if bringing them was too much.”

Moving past him, she squatted to greet his children. They immediately started wiggling and laughing. 

There was a light breeze, and he enjoyed watching her vibrant red curls sway across her face. She was beautiful. And totally caught up in his children. What a way to man’s heart. Er, if he were looking for a relationship. 

Which of course he wasn’t.

He had his hands full with his little bundles, and he couldn’t expect another woman to willingly want that responsibility full-time. 

After a few moments of playing with the children, she tilted her head to look at him, her smile genuine. “They are irresistible.” He helped her to her feet and she murmured, “Come on, let’s get inside.”

Relaxing his shoulders, he grabbed the wagon’s handle, willing himself to resist the sight of her perky butt in those jeans. “Lead the way.”

They crossed the threshold into the foyer, and he peered up at the thirty-foot cathedral ceilings. The coos of his children created an echo, which only made them giggle and make louder sounds. He scanned the wide, airy flagstone entry that led into the living room, which featured a floor-to-ceiling fireplace on one side of the wall and plush, inviting couches. It was evident that the Fortunes didn’t half step when it came to their abode. Huge bay windows gave a panoramic view of the property. He followed Kelsey, admiring the open floor plan, as they made their way into the kitchen, which extended into a sunken family area with a large television screen and bright-colored couches.

While they walked, Kelsey supplied a little back history. “This place once belonged to my Uncle Mark and his wife, Marlene. My dad’s brother. They bought the place envisioning that it would be a summer estate for their family. Every time they had a child, they built them a home until it became what you see now.”

“Oh, what a great idea,” Trevor said, eyeing his own triplets. “I might steal that. I have more than enough space on my land to build three homes.”

“Feel free to take pictures if you need inspiration,” she offered. 

“I might take you up on that.” He winked. “I can just imagine the grand time your uncle and his wife had here. It seems as if they spared no expense.”

They entered the kitchen. “Sadly, Mark and Melanie didn’t live long enough to enjoy the fruits of their labor. They died in a plane crash,” she said, her tone solemn.

“I’m sorry to hear that,” Trevor said, resting his back against the quartz countertop. Sasha folded her legs to try to get out of the wagon and James had his arms outstretched.

“It’s alright. It was a long time ago. Now it’s just me and my dad here in the main house. We each have our own wing but we share the kitchen and living space.” Eyeing the children, she waved a hand. “Give me a second. I’m pretty sure we have an oversize playpen somewhere that your children can roam about freely. There’s too much trouble these little darlings can get into if we’re not careful.”

“Thanks, that would be wonderful. I didn’t think to bring one, and I have three at home.” 

“It’s all good,” she said. “I’ll be right back. Feel free to help yourself to whatever you like.” She pointed to a large door. “We have everything you could want in the walk-in pantry.”

He watched her retreat before taking in the kitchen. Wow. With the custom cabinetry, extra-large island and top-of-the-line appliances, it had everything a chef would dream of. 

And then some. 

Clearly, this was the heart of the home. He could tell that there had been a lot of love and laughter here because he felt the warmth in the atmosphere. A warmth that was reflected in Kelsey’s green eyes…and made his insides get all twisted.

There were a couple Porter Cuts steaks defrosted on the countertop along with multicolored potatoes, onions, garlic and green peppers. The stove had a grill, but the day was nice enough to cook the food outside.

Trevor went to help himself to a bottle of water from the pantry. When he came back out and shut the door, the wagon was empty. His eyes went wide. He scurried around the room to see that William was crawling near the couch. James had opened a kitchen cabinet and Sasha… Where was Sasha? He hadn’t been gone but a second. How had those little rugrats gotten out so fast?

Picking up his sons, he asked, “Where’s your sister?” Of course, they had no answer. James grabbed Trevor’s hair, and William pulled on his dad’s ears as they bounced in his arms.

Scurrying to find Sasha, Trevor peered into the dining room but there was no sign of her. His heart pounded in his chest. Not This house was huge and there were all kinds of places she could get into. Plus, there were stairs. No! No! No! Panicking, he bounded toward the foot of the staircase and peered up the winding stairs, his ears and eyes peeled. Then he scolded himself. Sasha wouldn’t have gotten that far. Scuttling back, he retraced his steps, intending to go the direction that Kelsey had gone. That’s when he heard a little laugh.

The ball in his stomach punctured from relief. “Sasha!” He moved toward the sound, calling out her name again.

Trevor stopped short. His baby girl was happily babbling in a man’s arms, her hands on his cheeks. His protective instincts kicked in and he sped forward. “Hello, sorry about that. That’s my daughter. She got away from me.”

The older dude gave a laugh. “I see why. You’ve got your hands full. Literally. I’m Sander Fortune.” Ah. The owner. Kelsey’s dad. She must have gotten her height, red hair and green eyes from her mother because Sander looked like he was over six feet and he had blond hair and blue eyes. Sander cocked his head. “And you are?” The gentleman’s tone was mildly curious, and he didn’t look alarmed, as if he bumped into a stranger in his house all the time. Wait, did he?

“I’m Trevor. Kelsey’s…uh, friend.” He rushed to explain. “She went to search for a playpen.”

“Oh, yes. She told me you would be here. She’s probably in the attic getting it.” Sander rubbed Sasha’s tummy, and then they made their way back to the kitchen. “I found this cutie heading for the bathroom.”

“Thank you. It’s great meeting you.” 

“Welcome. We’re pretty laid-back here. So make yourself at home. Did my daughter give you a tour yet?”

“No, not yet. I only arrived a few minutes ago.”

Sasha held out her arms for Trevor to take her, but of course, he had his hands full. She started to fuss. “Give me a second, sweetheart.” He placed William and James in the wagon and picked up the baby bag to give them their pacifiers and a stuffed toy. That should keep them satisfied for a few moments. Where on earth was Kelsey?

As if he had voiced the question aloud, she returned with a huge box in hand. “I’m back. I had to trudge up to the attic for the playpen. Did you get my text?” She looked over at her father, who still held Sasha in his arms. “Oh, hey, Dad. I’m guessing you two have already introduced yourselves.”

“Yes,” Sander said, handing over Sasha to Trevor before giving his daughter a peck on her cheek. “I was just about to head over to Roth’s when I saw this adorable baby doll coming my way.”

“She might have been following you, Kelsey,” Trevor told her as he rubbed Sasha’s back. The baby rested her face against his chest. All the frazzled emotions melted away at her sweet little face.

“We’re about to cook dinner. Did you want me to save you something?” Kelsey asked her dad.

“No thanks,” Sander said. “I’m having a bite with Roth.”

Nodding, she went three steps down into the sunken family room and began to unpack the box in a corner of the room. She looked relaxed, the exact opposite of how he felt. 

“Let me help you with that,” Sander offered. The two made quick work of assembling the playpen, so with Kelsey’s permission, Trevor busied himself by taking the steaks out of their wrapping and prepping them for seasoning. He also washed the vegetables and potatoes.

The children could eat mashed potatoes, and he’d ask Kelsey if they could boil some carrots to go with it. The triplets each had six teeth—three on top, and three on bottom—in the same places. The wonder of triplets.

Kelsey and her dad kept up a steady stream of low conversation, centered around figuring out how to get things set up. Trevor was moved by Sander’s graciousness. He could see where Kelsey inherited her warmth. He thought of his own father and sent Orson a text to check on him. Sander left the room, briefly returning with a basket of toys. Of course, that led to three excited shrieks. Trevor grinned, wiped his hands on the kitchen towel and walked around the island to peek at them as they bounced around excitedly in the playpen.

He snapped a pic. They looked so cute he couldn’t resist.

“There. That should occupy them while you two talk business.” Sander brushed his hands on his legs. “Kelsey tells me that you’re here to give her some tips with the ranch. That’s nice of you. She’s determined to do it without me, so I’m glad to see she’s accepting advice from someone.”

“I’m glad to help.” 

“Daddy, don’t you have somewhere to be?” Kelsey said, her tone pointed, communicating that her father had outstayed his welcome. Communicating that perhaps this was more than a business meeting? Trevor straightened. Hmm. Invigorated was the word that best described the feeling now coursing through his veins. 

“Right. Yes.” Sander observed them for a beat, then tipped his hat and went to say goodbye to the children before addressing him with an, “I’ll see you around.” It wasn’t cold, but it wasn’t warm either. It was more like…guarded. The kind of tone from a dad who knows when his daughter is into someone.

Trevor and Kelsey stood facing each other, as the click of Sander’s boots echoed throughout, the sound of the door closing filling the quiet.

*

Kelsey broke eye contact, moved away from Trevor and turned on the television in the kitchen. She surfed through the channels before putting on Bluey.

The three babies clapped their hands. “Are they hungry?” she asked, changing topics.

“They are okay for now. I fed them a snack before we came over. In about an hour or so, they will be ready to eat though.”

She began working on the steaks. “So, how long have you been raising your children on your own?”

“Claudia—their mother—passed not too long after they were born, so it’s pretty much been me and them ever since. I took a year off from work to care for them. My father helps but is away on a cruise, and so I’ve been looking for a temporary stand-in but I haven’t found anyone suitable.” He jutted his chin in the direction of where they sat watching television. “Someone with not just the skill but also the patience.” He shrugged. “I’ll know when I meet them.”

She glanced over at the children whose eyes were glued to the screen. Gosh, they were so darned cute. If only she could volunteer her services, but she had a lot going on at the ranch already.

Perhaps if she had a foreman, she could juggle her schedule and help pitch in. Speaking of which…she really needed to get someone hired. Hopefully, one of her interviewees tomorrow would be the person.

Kelsey fired up the indoor grill and turned on the fan above the stove. Then she reached for her cast-iron skillet to sear the meat and turned on the burner. Normally, she would use the outdoor grill, but she didn’t want to be going back and forth, leaving Trevor with the children inside, and the temperatures were going to dip about ten degrees. She couldn’t chance any of the triplets getting sick.

He pointed at the potatoes and green peppers. “Do you want me to chop those for you? I make a great sous chef.” With a nod, she retrieved a knife and a chopping board. “That would be great…thanks.”

“I’m on it. Also, if you have three carrots, I can prepare that for the children.”

“Sure.” She grabbed some out of the refrigerator and handed them to him.

Trevor saluted and got to work. 

While the skillet heated, Kelsey dropped some butter inside, then diced the onion and garlic before adding some to the butter. She placed the meat inside the skillet, having already seasoned it with salt and pepper.

“That smells good,” Trevor said, sniffing the air.

“Thanks. It’s quality meat.” She winked at him before shuffling off to get the potatoes. She liked how things were so easy, so familiar, between the two of them. It was like she had known him for years instead of hours. Heart skittering, she handed him the fork. “Let’s have it sear on both sides while I’ll put these potatoes on to boil.”

“At your service, ma’am.” Their fingers grazed when he took the utensil out of her hand, and she swore she had more steam inside her than the meat on the stove. The energy between them was surprising.

And tantalizing. 

Sucking in a breath, Kelsey asked, “How do you like your steak?”

“Medium well.”

“Me too.”

“You mentioned it was just you and your dad here. May I ask where your mother is?” Trevor asked, flipping the meat. 

“My mom died in a car accident when I was a month old.”

The fork fell out of Trevor’s hand with a clink. “Wow. I’m sorry. I had no idea.”

“It’s okay. You didn’t know. But when you told me that your wife had passed, I felt an instant kinship with your kids because I too grew up without a mom.” She released a quavering breath. “It wasn’t easy and I think of her often, wondering what she would say, what she would think of me now. Stuff like that. But my father has been great, which helped.” She pointed his way. “Like you seem to be with your children.”

“I try. But I have a lot to learn. Being a father is the most scary but wonderful thing in the world.”

Kelsey smiled. “I can imagine. I don’t know what I would do without my dad. He’s my biggest supporter, and we have a great relationship.”

“I hope to have the same with my children.” Their eyes met for a beat before Trevor cleared his throat. He took out the steak and rested it in the baking tin, then placed the other to brown. “I do wonder how I’ll handle the void of the mother being in their life.”

She lifted her chin and met his gaze. “Just love them. You’ll make mistakes. My dad isn’t perfect, but his love for me is and it’s all I ever needed.” She gave a little laugh. “Along with some good aunts and uncles and cousins. Family is important.”

“I agree. That’s why I sought out my father once I learned that I was having triplets. My mother didn’t tell me about Pop until she was on her deathbed.”

“Whoa. Maybe she had her reasons?”

“Maybe. But I was too focused on her deteriorating health to ask too many questions. I mainly let her talk while I listened.”

“Do you have more family besides your dad and cousin?”

“Yes, but none that I care to know.” The edge in his tone told Kelsey not to push or ask questions. She would learn more in time. 

They continued to work side by side in companionable silence, the aroma of the food cooking making her mouth water. Once everything was prepared, they tag-teamed it and fed the children the mashed potatoes and carrots. Then he dug in their baby bag for their sippy cups, which they filled with formula. She shifted the conversation by asking Trevor to give her some tips on securing a foreman and ranch hands who would take her seriously.

Trevor told her that it was all about passion and being confident in her abilities. Instead of asking them if they could do things, she needed to assert her authority from the very beginning and be firm instead of tentative. Kelsey accepted his advice and vowed to do it the next day with her interviewees. She wished she could offer him advice on actually finding a babysitter, but she didn’t have any children of her own. A few hours with her baby cousins did not an expert make.

By then the children had conked out, so they ate in the dining room. They enjoyed their food under candlelight, and then together they washed the pots and stacked the dishwasher. They kept bumping hips, here and there, which kept her body in overdrive. It was close to 9:00 p.m. when they huddled on the couch, with the only sound besides their chatter being the hum of the dishwasher.

All in all, this made for a very nice evening, and she told him so.

He moved closer to run his fingers through her hair. “Kelsey, I’d like to kiss you, if that’s okay.”

She scooted close to him. “If that’s okay? I thought you’d never ask.” Then she cupped his face with her hands and planted her lips onto his.

He took charge of the kiss and whispered in her ear, “I’ve been dying to do that all evening.” That low rumble in her ear was her undoing. She rocked her hips, and he deepened the kiss. 

When he tore his lips away, she exhaled. “That was some first kiss.” His mouth was lipstick stained from their kisses.

He wiped the perspiration off his brow and locked eyes with her. “When I started my day this morning, this wasn’t how I imagined it ending.”

She smiled. “I didn’t either.”

He looked at his watch. “It’s pretty late. I’d better get going…” They shared another brief kiss.

This time she broke free and stood to put distance between them. “I’ll help you get the children out to your truck,” she whispered. “Hopefully, we won’t wake them.” She was almost tempted to tell Trevor to leave them until the morning, but then reality kicked in. There was no way she was ready to tackle three babies at night.

Trevor went outside to start up the truck and stow the wagon and baby bag. Meanwhile, she gathered Sasha into her arms, inhaling the little girl’s scent. Knowing that this precious child would never know what it felt like to have a mother’s arm wrapped about her broke Kelsey’s heart. She knew what it was like to experience puberty, to have all those questions, without a mother’s touch. Or guidance. She also knew what it was to never experience love from one of the people that mattered most. The thought of Sasha, William and James experiencing the same pain she had was just too much. Kelsey squeezed her eyes shut to keep the tears at bay. She felt ridiculous getting emotional when just yesterday she hadn’t even known of their existence. 

But all it took was one day and she was already attached. Smitten. She didn’t want to see these babies leave. Even now, as Trevor came back inside and lifted William out of the playpen, she dreaded their departure. But he would probably snatch them and run for the hills if she told him how deeply connected she felt to his children.

“Kelsey?” she heard from behind her. “You okay?” She turned around to face Trevor, who had his arms open.

Instinctively, she drew Sasha closer. He arched a brow. “I can walk her out then wait with the children while you come back for James.” She could feel his eyes on her as she headed toward the car. He must be wondering about her sudden mood shift, but if she divulged what she was thinking, there was no doubt he would question her sanity.

Chapter Three

He had no business kissing Kelsey last night. She was only twenty-five. Yes, that was a mere six years younger than his own age, but it was a lifetime of difference when it came to experience. He had already been married, was now a widower, and now he was juggling fatherhood. She was just starting out.

That’s why at daybreak, while preparing oatmeal for the kids, Trevor had convinced himself that the best thing he could do for Kelsey Fortune was stay away from her. He had too much baggage. 

She was beautiful. Inside and out. And could have her pick in men. Why would she be interested in him and his ready-made family? Yes, last night was amazing and the most fun he’d had with a woman in well over a year, but he had to be real with himself before he got in over his head with Kelsey. Because he could.

Quite easily.

If he allowed it. So, the answer was simple. Stay away from her. Turning off the burner, Trevor put the oatmeal to cool. Then he got to washing and cutting apples before pureeing them in his baby food blender. 

At precisely six-thirty, his doorbell rang.

That would be his potential new nanny. She had answered his ad through email when he got home last night, and they had agreed for her to arrive before the triplets awakened. That way they could have an actual conversation without the usual chaos. He smiled and padded to the front door.

“Hello,” she smiled, her chin high. “I’m Cindy.”

Trevor liked that, though it was early in the morning, the woman looked refreshed and upbeat, and she radiated confidence. That was a good sign. According to her résumé, she had experience working with multiples and she had even been in charge of a day care center, which made him hopeful that he had found the one.

“Hello, Cindy,” he greeted, stepping aside. “Come on in.”

They headed to the kitchen, and she slipped onto the bar stool behind the counter, folding her hands in front of her. Now that he had a good look at her, she looked young, but he didn’t want to ask her age. She was dressed in jeans and a sweater and had her dark brown hair swept up in a ponytail. But her oversize trendy glasses took up most of her face.

“So, I checked your references and they gave you such glowing reviews, which put my mind at ease. But can you tell me why you’re seeking this position? From your résumé, I’m surprised you’re even available.” Grabbing three bowls, he ladled the oatmeal inside and then reached for the applesauce, placing generous amounts inside.

“I’m in between jobs at the moment so I’ve started doing temporary nannying. I have gotten to travel throughout Europe as an extra hand for parents who want to get away but don’t want to leave their babies. Although I like the experience, I am on the hunt for something more permanent. Something stable so I can attend night classes.” She pushed her glasses up on her face. 

“That sounds like a great plan.”

Her chest puffed. “My goal is to graduate from college debt free.” Trevor loved that she had a plan for her future. His optimism rose.

“Awesome. Well, I’m not sure if the agency informed you, but you would begin on a trial basis. My triplets are at the age where they are active and into everything, so I want to see how you do. I have some work to take care of in my office, but I’ll be here if you need me.” Plus he had already turned on the nanny cam so he would be able to keep an eye on things from his office.

“Yes, the agency informed me that the trial would be part of the interview process. I get that as you want to make sure we’re a good fit. I’m sure I’ll be fine.”

Just then, a soft cry came through the baby monitor on the counter along with some rustling. Then another cry. And another. “And they’re up.”

She shot to her feet. “And so am I.” Holding up a hand, Cindy assured him. “I’ve got this.”

“Alright.” Baby monitor in hand, Trevor showed her where everything was inside the pantry and then took her into their bedroom, which was an oversize master that he had converted into a nursery for three. He had converted another room into their official playroom, but more times than not, he found himself setting them in the living room. The kitchen was already filled with their paraphernalia. Basically, every room besides his office and his bedroom had become their domain. 

He had chosen a Noah’s ark theme for the nursery, and the walls were painted a light gray with white trimmings. The three cribs took up a good portion of the room, but he had two rocking chairs and a large center rug. There were three changing stations, and three gigantic teddy bears in the corners that Claudia had insisted on buying. He chuckled now thinking of that before his smile dimmed.

“Wow. This place is great,” Cindy said, going over to where William stood, shaking the crib bars. Sasha had a leg propped over hers, and James sat eating his bed sheet.

“Thank you. My late wife and I put a lot of thought into it.” They each took a child and began changing diapers. “I like to have breakfast ready for when they get up, and then in a couple hours, I give them a morning snack. I have typed out a schedule for you to follow. It’s on the refrigerator.”

“Okay, thanks.”

Finishing up with Sasha, he scooped up James next. Trevor frowned. James’s cheeks appeared to be a little red, but it could be because he had been crying. He was about to check if the little guy had a temperature when his cell phone buzzed.

It was a text from Hammond. What on earth did his grandfather want now? He looked down at the message.  I have a good sitter if you need one while your father is away.

With a grunt, he deleted the text and shoved his phone in his pocket. His cousin must have told Hammond about his father’s trip and Trevor’s need for a babysitter. Jonathan had been encouraging him to give his grandfather another chance, saying life was too short. But all Trevor could think about was how Hammond had snubbed his mother. Trevor had watched his mother suffer alone on her deathbed when she could have had family by her side, and it was all Hammond Porter’s doing. There was no forgetting that for him. Ever.

His cell rang. This time it was Kelsey. Despite his earlier vow to keep his distance from her, he couldn’t hold back a smile.

“You could go ahead and get going if you need to, Mr. Porter. I’ve got this.” Cindy bounced James in her arms.

“Are you sure?” he asked, looking at his phone. He wanted to answer before it went to voicemail.

“Yes.”

“Okay, call if you need.” He put the phone to his ear. “Hey, Kelsey, what’s going on?” She was frantic, shouting something about losing sheep and she didn’t know who else to call. Trevor didn’t understand what she was saying, but he knew he had to get to her. He rushed to grab his jacket and checked to make sure the video feed on his app was working. “I’ll be right over.”

*

How did they get out?

She had asked herself that question numerous times since coming out early that morning to feed the sheep. There were only three of them in the field and her two sheep dogs were missing and the door to the barn was unlocked. What she wasn’t sure of was whether one of the men she had fired had done this or if she had been so busy rehashing her hot kissing session with Trevor that she had forgotten to close the barn door before.

Heaving a long sigh, Kelsey had called Jax, but he didn’t pick up. He was probably out in the field tending to his own cattle. She’d left him a message and then jumped into her truck and drove the perimeter of her ranch but didn’t see them. Shielding her eyes against the rising sun, there’d been nothing but road and land in sight. Where on earth had they gotten off to? She tried reaching Priscilla next, but her cousin didn’t respond either.

So, out of options, she’d decided to call Trevor as a last resort.

Lord, she could just imagine if Young were still here, he would have blasted this all over social media. She would be a laughingstock once again. Truth was, she was horrified at her mistake.

But Trevor hadn’t laughed at her predicament. In fact, when she’d sent him an SOS, he’d simply said, “I’ll be right over,” and her knees had literally weakened with relief. 

After texting him the address for the ranch, she rushed into the main building and into the restroom to wash her face and hands. Next she dragged a brush through her tresses. A thought occurred and her eyes went wide. The triplets! If Trevor showed up with them, how would that work?

The main building had a small, stark reception area, her office, the bathroom and another office that doubled for storage. She didn’t have any space for the children to move about. This wasn’t a safe space for them, and even if Trevor had his wagon, Kelsey didn’t see them staying confined.

However, she needn’t have worried. Trevor came alone. When she opened the door and saw him in his red flannel shirt, blue jeans, boots and cowboy hat, her breath caught. This man was fine as all get-out. She avoided looking him in the eyes or he might see the want in hers. “Where’s the children?” she croaked out, her hand circling her neck. Gosh, she needed a drink of water.

He leaned against the doorjamb. “They’re at home. I have a new nanny I am trying out.” He held up his cell phone. “I have a security system and I can view them on my phone.” He crooked his head at the truck. “How about we go find some sheep?”

“Yes, I’d like that.” Trevor opened the passenger door to his truck.

“I’ve already circled the property, but I didn’t see or hear them anywhere.”

Starting up the truck and backing out one of the two spots in front of the main building, he asked, “Do you have water nearby?”

“A small creek, but it’s near the edge of my ranch. To be precise, it’s on the bordering property. There’s a shortcut.” She pointed to the patch of flattened earth, and Trevor turned in that direction.

“We’ll head there.”

“Okay, but I doubt we’ll find them there. It’s all fenced in.”

He shot her a quick glance. “Any chance that someone tampered with it?”

“No, I checked. Everything appears to be in order. I didn’t notice they were gone right away because I started my day in the other two barns.” 

She tensed, waiting for him to make some disparaging remark, but Trevor merely nodded.

“Hang on. Slow down for a minute. If you go too fast, we’ll miss the shortcut.” Squinting, she leaned forward. “There it is. Make a sharp turn there.”

The minute he cleared the brushes, she saw them. The dogs. And the sheep. Calmly lapping by the waters. Her cheeks warmed as relief flooded her body. “I didn’t think to check down here.”

“Always start with water.”

Between the two of them, they led the dogs and sheep back to her property. She checked the pregnant ewes, relieved to see that they were unharmed from their adventure. This time Kelsey made sure to secure the fence. Then Trevor helped her with the other chores. He was such a thoughtful man. And hardworking. He tossed the hay and feed like it was a bag of packing peanuts. Once the chores were done, they walked back to the main building. Kelsey found she wasn’t ready to part ways. Since the children were with a sitter, she could use this opportunity to get to know Trevor better. “Whew. Thank you so much for coming over. How about I make you breakfast as a thank you.”

“You don’t have to…”

“I have to eat anyway,” she insisted.

“Sure. If it isn’t too much trouble.” He patted his midriff. “My stomach is already thanking you in advance. I left without eating breakfast.” They caravanned the five miles back to the Emerald Ridge Fortune estates and pulled up to the main house. Her father’s usual parking spot was empty. Good. If he were there, he might suspect she was interested in Trevor and put the man through an inquisition. Trevor came around to open her door and helped her out of the truck. She appreciated the gentlemanly gesture. Of course, then her foot twisted slightly, and she ended up falling into his arms, her hand clutching his shirt against that strong, firm chest.

“Easy now,” he rumbled, his voice in her ear.

Tilting her head, she looked into those sultry brown eyes. Desire flowed in their depths, echoing the attraction swirling in her lower regions. She swallowed. Being close to this man was intoxicating.

Flustered, she righted herself. “I’m sorry about that. I’m not usually such a klutz.”

“No problem. I can scratch having a fine woman like yourself fall into my arms off my bucket list.”

She gave him the side-eye but couldn’t stop the smile tugging at her lips as she opened the door. While Trevor popped into the restroom, Kelsey grabbed six eggs—fresh from her farm—and a package of turkey bacon. She eyed the slices of sharp cheddar cheese before taking it out along with a tomato and some spinach. She would make omelets instead. There were still some of the breakfast potatoes that would be a nice accompaniment to her meal. 

After washing her hands, she placed the bacon in the air fryer and began whisking the eggs. Trevor came into the kitchen.

“What can I do?”

“How about you dice the tomato for me?” She told him where to find the chopping board and the knife.

She loved how at ease he was with her in her home. The handful of men she had dated before had been intimidated by her father’s wealth and her luxurious surroundings. She scoffed. Or maybe it was Sander’s questions about their lifelong plans that had scared them off. She reached for her cast-iron pan and turned the burner on low.

Just then, Trevor’s cell phone went off. He did a quick check, tightened his lips and then shoved his phone in his pocket. “Everything alright?” she asked.

“Yeah. Yeah.” Yet his body appeared rigid, and his brows had furrowed. The poor tomato—he was chopping away at it like it had done him something wrong. Apparently the man had some aggression to work out.

Was that another woman texting? If that were the case, well, that was none of her business. They weren’t dating, she reminded herself.  In fact, they hadn’t even passed the twenty-four-hour mark yet since they’d met. She gave the eggs another firm whisk until they fluffed.

Still, inexplicable jealousy furled in her gut. Quit it. She poured half of her egg mix into her pan and added salt and pepper, before adding the cheese and spinach.

“The tomato is ready.”

“Thanks.” She added it to the omelets. “Breakfast will be ready in a jiffy.” 

“Cool.” His phone rang again. This time he answered, putting the phone on speaker. “Hey, Cindy, is everything alright over there?”

“No, these babies are way too much for me! One of the boys grabbed my hair and Sasha bopped me on the nose. I have a serious nosebleed. I’m sorry, I can’t do this.”

“Can you give me about a half hour?”

“Is that the soonest you can get here?”

Oh, Lord. The sitter sounded frazzled. Kelsey tapped Trevor’s shoulder. “Go get them. Bring them here.”

“You sure?”

“Yes. Positive.”

Trevor gave Kelsey a thumbs-up and mouthed a thank-you, before telling Cindy, “I’m on my way.”

Order Your Copy

From the The Fortunes of Texas: Fortune's Hidden Treasures Series:

Book 1: His Family Fortune by Elizabeth Bevarly
Book 2: Fortune's Fake Marriage Plan by Tara Taylor Quinn
Book 3: Fortune for a Week by Nancy Robards Thompson
Book 4: Fortune on His Doorstep by Michelle Lindo-Rice