“Are you going to stay up late tonight and do the cooking then, because you know I suck at it.” She crossed her arms, and he tried not to notice the way her face was stern and disapproving when she looked his way. This was his idea after all, and he had to come up with something to make everyone happy.
“Um…probably not. I can do a casserole for dinner tomorrow if that will help, but that’s about my lot. I’m not that good at the fancy stuff. Bluey, can you help?” Blake looked beseechingly at his right hand man, knowing he won hands down in the cooking department.
Everyone rounded on the older man. He snorted and looked away, before sighing deeply. “Aw…hell! If it means that much to you, I’ll help. But you have to work with me.” He glared at Delilah, the corners of his lips twitching as he tried to look stern.
“Thank you, Bluey. I knew you were a real gentleman.” Del blew him a kiss and pushed the plate of sandwiches closer, much to his delight. “I guess I don’t have much choice then but to stand up and get involved.” She shook her head. “I can see this going all shades of wrong. What’s it for anyway?” She took a sip of her coffee and her shoulders relaxed enough for Blake to step back to his chair and sit down.
“The County Women’s Association have been around for years. They try to keep the community together and organize whatever needs to be done. After my wife was killed, they rallied their members and made sure I had help with the children and pre-cooked meals. There was always something in the biscuit tin and a casserole in the freezer to help me out. If something needs doing in the community, you can always rely on them to help. Backbone of the country these ladies, I tell you.”
“Well, it would be petty of me to refuse then, wouldn’t it?” Del glanced at him over her coffee mug, her eyes bright. “It’s just a shame I’m not that good in the kitchen.”
That is the least of my concerns, believe me. “I’m sure you will manage fine. Knock out some of those little fancy sandwiches and some cookies, and make sure you keep the kettle boiling. That and your wonderful personality should blow them away.”
Del snorted. “I think you’re being too kind. I don’t want you to be remembered as the poor farmer with the nanny who couldn’t feed you, and embarrassed you before the great women of the town.”
A small spark of heat worked its way down to Blake’s gut. Why would she care what the townspeople thought if she was going to leave and not come back? Have I missed something here? Is she thinking of staying now after all of the denials she’s spouted?
“I can take it if you can.”
He leaned back in his chair and sipped his coffee, the heat coming from the coy look she gave him, not the drink. The warm liquid rolled over his tongue, waking up his tastebuds as her words woke up his tortured senses. When Blake swallowed, he looked back at Del.
Her mind worked, ticking over the challenge ahead. He could see it in her eyes. The emotions rolled over her expressive face as she went from confident to wary, the scenes in her mind obvious as her face changed to reflect her visions. “Stop over-thinking it. It’s only morning tea and a chat with people I’ve known forever. They’ll love meeting you. It’s not often we get people of celebrity-like status out here and as our temporary nanny to boot. You’ll be a massive hit. Take my word for it.”
She gazed up at him and smiled, albeit a little sad now she had time to chew it over. “You are so confident, Blake. Just because you’ve known them for ages doesn’t mean they will act the same way with me. I, on the other hand, am a little warier of people I don’t know. You see, where I come from, people aren’t that friendly, and it’s more a case of what you can do for them than who you are, if you get my drift.” Del bit her bottom lip and tilted her head to one side, showing him the long slender neck that had shivered when he placed his lips ever so gently under her ear. “I wonder if they will overlook my total lack of skill in the kitchen, or will I end up in the society pages being slammed for not conforming?”
“Stop stressing out, girl. Hell’s bells, out here we don’t give a rats if you are good at something or not.” Bluey reached for another toasted sandwich. “Just be yourself and you’ll be fine. You’re not in the city now, you know, so the chances of anyone seeing you in the paper are pretty much zilch.” He took a bite and chewed, pointing a half-eaten toastie her way. “You might want to search the sideboard cupboard for cook books and decide what you want to bake. Give me a bit of heads up. Not that I want to be up all damned night baking or anything, but we may as well do the best we can so you don’t feel bad and all.”
“Sure.” Del rose from her chair, walked to the cluttered sideboard, and crouched down before she opened the door. Inside were photo albums side by
