Brian nodded and motioned to his men. They cleared out of Carter's living room and headed out the front door. Carter listened to them set up their posts outside, the sounds of their walkie-talkies never quite fading away.
Carter looked at the trophy on the mantel and wondered what the boys would have done with it after they showed it to their friends. The first thing that popped in his mind was that they would have returned it. Or, rather, the woman- their social worker, would have made them return it.
Mia. The name was short and sweet, like her. He usually liked his women leggy and blonde, which Mia was neither. But there was definitely something about her that attracted her to him. She was full of fire and passion. He could practically still smell the smoke from the flames coming out of her eyes as she protected those boys.
He rather hoped he'd be seeing more of her. He had a sneaking suspicion that she wouldn't let those boys out of her sight for a moment and the idea of her on his ranch made him smile. He was a little surprised at how the idea of having her around lightened his heart. There was just something about Mia that intrigued him.
He looked out the broken window at the mountains and his ranch. He hoped that working here would give the boys confidence to stand up for themselves. As a kid, he'd been scrawny and nerdy, so all the local bullies had pushed him around too. It had been someone taking a moment to teach him how to work with horses that had turned him into the man he was today, so it was time to pass that gift on.
Carter looked over at his trophy one last time before deciding to go to the barn. He wanted to do something with his hands, something that would keep his fingers busy and his mind off the threats hanging around him and his car company. He had the option of working on one of his cars or working with the horses of his ranch. He decided horses would be the better company.
With a shake of his head to clear his thoughts, he turned and headed to the barn. He let his mind drift to what he would have the boys and their sister do to earn back the cost of the window. He already had plans for them and their fiery guardian.
Chapter 3
Mia
“Maybe we'll get to ride the horses like cowboys,” Grayson shouted, bouncing around in the backseat. His seat belt was barely holding him down in his booster seat, and Mia had already asked him three times to remember to stay seated. He was just too excited to contain himself.
Mia pulled up to the big ranch house, this time invited rather than coming to rescue her boys. All three kids were in the car, and all three of them were jabbering ideas of what they thought they were going to do.
“I have a feeling it will be more like mucking stalls, or cleaning or something,” Mia said gently as she put the car in park. The kids all opened their doors and rushed out into the country air.
It smelled like clean air, grass, and... horses. Definitely, like horses. It wasn't a bad scent, but it wasn't something that Mia wanted to wear as perfume either.
Definitely doing something with cleaning the stalls.... she thought as she caught the main scent coming from the big barn to her left.
“Glad you all made it,” Carter called out, coming out of the barn to greet them. He was wearing perfectly worn jeans, a navy T-shirt, and a baseball cap. He looked good. Really good. Mia had to force her eyes away to stop looking him over, so she checked her watch once again, just to make sure they were on time. They had arrived five minutes early just in case. There was no way Mia was going to risk anything with these kids.
All three of the children ran over to stand in front of him. Alexander's foot tapped nervously, but otherwise, they all had big hopeful grins plastered across their faces. Carter appraised them for a moment.
“This is Laura,” Carter told them as a young woman came out to stand next to him. She was probably only a couple of years younger than Mia. Her dark red hair was pulled back into a ponytail, and her green eyes sparkled as she smiled at the kids.
“Hi,” she greeted them. She stepped forward and made sure to shake each of their hands as if they were adults. It made Mia like her instantly since she treated her kids with re
spect.
“Laura will be your boss,” Carter informed them. “If she says jump, you just jump. Don't even ask how high. That's how in charge she is.”
“Yes, sir,” all three children replied like miniature soldiers. Grayson even did a pretend salute. Mia could only imagine he'd seen it done like that in a movie.
Laura chuckled and knelt down in front of Grayson.
“I have a little brother and sister about your age,” Laura told him. Her green eyes met his, and her face went serious. “If you're going to help me, I need to see your muscles.”
Grayson frowned, not understanding. He looked over at Mia, but Mia just shrugged.
“Like this,” Alexander explained, flexing his arm and showing his bicep. Grayson copied the movement and made a growling noise as he made his muscles bigger.
Laura reached over and felt the muscle. “Whoa! You might be too strong,” she said, looking impressed.
Grayson grinned at her and puffed his chest out with pride.
“Okay, then.” Laura stood up and put her hand on Grayson's shoulder to guide him toward the large barn. “Let's head into the stables and get started. We have a lot to do today.”
All three children willingly followed Laura through the large double doors. Mia hung back for a moment.
“Mr. Carter?” Mia approached him, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. Now that they were alone, she was suddenly nervous. She wasn't good with very attractive men and never knew how to behave around them.