Jenna ignored the irritation in Dax’s voice as she tilted the child’s chin. Dried blood ringed his nostrils. “I think we need to wash your face a bit, too, and perhaps have a nice warm bath and change that shirt.”
“We were about to do that,” Dax said. “Go on, Gavin. I’ll be there directly.”
The boy lingered in front of Jenna. “Are you the new cooker?”
Jenna smiled. Obviously, Gavin was unfamiliar with the term chef. “I am indeed.”
The child gave an exaggerated sigh. “What a relief.”
Behind her Dax snorted. “Tired of pizza, sport?”
Jenna patted the boy’s narrow shoulder. “I shall prepare a dinner fit for two kings. Now head for that bath. Kings must be well-groomed.”
“You talk funny, but I like you,” Gavin said and surprised her with a quick hug before darting out of the room.
“That’s a first.”
She stood, turning to look at the rancher. He wore a bemused expression. “What is?”
“Gavin is bashful. I’ve never seen him hug a housekeeper before.”
“Then, I shall take that as a great compliment. He’s a darling boy.”
“And about that meal fit for two kings?”
“Yes?”
“It might have to wait until you go grocery shopping.”
When she laughed, Dax Coleman did a strange thing. He slapped his Stetson on his head, turned on his boot heel and stalked out.
CHAPTER SIX
DAX STOMPED HIS BOOTS at the back door and watched clumps of dirt and unmentionable debris fall away. He should have stayed in the house and made sure the new housekeeper did all right with Gavin. Rowdy could have seen to the cow with the bad foot.
Might as well face the truth, Coleman. The new housekeeper with her big innocent eyes and sexy laugh scared you off.
Jenna Garwood stirred feelings in him that he’d killed long ago. And he didn’t like it. Especially from her, a slip of a girl far too young for him to be noticing. Now she was going to be in his house and under his nose, smelling like flowers all the time.
What had he been thinking?
What kind of father was he that he’d leave his son alone with a stranger? He hadn’t even asked for references this morning, which showed just how stupid he was. He might have hired Jane the Ripper.
Yet, he wasn’t worried about his son in Jenna’s care. Not in the least. He’d watched from the doorway while she had filled the bathtub and tested the water with her delicate fingers. She’d told the boy he was brave and strong as Gavin related the bloody nose incident in a child’s convoluted manner. And she’d promised to read him a bedtime story.
None of those things kept her from being a serial killer, but Dax simply knew his son was safe with the new mother. Now, it was Dax’s job to make sure the new mother was safe from her employer.
As he pushed open the back door, the scent of cooking wafted from the kitchen. He had no idea what the new housekeeper had found to cook in those cereal-and macaroni-laden cupboards, but it sure smelled good.
He chuckled. Anything smelled good to a man who’d been eating his own very bad cooking.
As he entered the kitchen, Jenna shot him a tentative smile. She’d found an apron somewhere and pulled her hair back into a hair clip. She looked about sixteen.
That’s the way he needed to think about her. She looked sixteen. A kid. He had never lusted after teenagers.
His traitorous brain registered ample womanly breasts and curvy hips. Her new-mother’s body looked far older than sixteen.
Blast his eyes for noticing.
“Dinner in five minutes,” she said.
He wanted to tell her the food smelled good and he was starving. Instead, he grumbled, “Where’s Gavin?”
She pointed an oversize wooden spoon toward the living room. “Diligently practicing the letter A. A is for apple and ant and aaa-choo, you know.”
Again that smile that gave him belly flips.
“Gavin,” he hollered. “Come on. Wash up.”
His son appeared, toting a pencil and a piece of wide-lined paper. “I finished my A.”
Dax took the page in hand to admire the squiggly effort. “Looks good, sport.”
The smell of flowers and bacon assailed him as Jenna peered over his shoulder. “Lovely job, Gavin. Your teacher will be very impressed.”
Gavin beamed up at Jenna as if she’d given him a year’s supply of ice cream. Any fool could see the little dude craved a woman’s praise. Blast Reba for her abandonment. Leaving her husband was one thing. Abandoning her son was inexcusable.
“Put your work away and wash your hands for supper,” he told the boy.
“I took a bath already,” Gavin said as he stuffed the paper down into his schoolbag.