Finding Love (A Mill Creek Crossing Romance) (2 page)

“They are. This is Sophia and this is Riley,” he said pointing at each child.

“One of each. I have the same. My little girl, Lucia, just turned a year old in this month and my baby, Oliver, is only eight weeks old,” she said smiling.

“Already back at work?” he asked surprised.

“Stella needed the help here. She lost a couple of waitresses in the last few months, plus I needed a break from the craziness at home,” Gracie said laughing. “I love my kiddos, but momma needed a place to get away occasionally.”

“I can understand that…” Clay said softly.

“Oh, my goodness. What am I thinking? I forgot about your wife…”

“It’s okay. Really…” Clay started.

“I know it must be terribly hard to raise these kids on your own,” she said. “Hey, kids, do you like milkshakes?”

“Yeah!” they both yelled simultaneously.

“Do you mind if they go up to the bar and make their own? It’s a new thing we have,” Gracie asked as Clay nodded approval. “Kids, just go right over there and ask Miss Susan to show you all of the goodies you can mix in. We have chocolate bars and cherries and crushed up cookies… You’re going to love it!”

Clay couldn’t help but think that Gracie’s personality was contagious. She reminded him of Molly a lot, but he tried not to think about it. Thoughts of her still brought some sadness along with the happiness. She was the glue that had held their family together with her overzealous excitement about holidays and her knack for making every day special. Now, she was gone, and he’d spent the last eighteen months learning how to live again.

Once the kids were settled at the bar, Gracie slid into the booth across from Clay and looked at him. He gave her a half hearted smile, unsure of what she was about to say.

“I don’t mean to pry, but we’re a small town so you’d better get used to it now,” she started as he chuckled at her remark. “How on Earth are you going to raise those babies alone?”

“I ask myself that question every single day,” he said shaking his head.

“So what are you doing here in Mill Creek Crossing?” she asked.

“I needed to get out of the limelight and focus on raising my kids. Being a well-known TV chef had its perks, but it also meant traveling a lot, and I need to be there for my children. I’d seen a TV spot on this place awhile back, and it seemed perfect for the situation.”

“I think it’ll be great for your family,” Gracie said with a smile. “But, honey, you need some help. You look exhausted.”

“Well, I don’t have a makeup person anymore. I looked a lot younger on TV,” he said laughing.

“No, I can see it in your eyes. You’re tired. You need a break… someone to help you raise those babies.”

“I don’t see how that’s possible,” Clay said cocking his head. “No one is going to help me raise my kids, Gracie.”

“Are you going to be working?”

“Yes. I’ll be the new head chef at Mountainview Resort.”

“And who will keep your kids while you’re working?” she asked. Clay stared at her for a moment before realizing he hadn’t even considered the question yet. He was so involved in the move that he’d forgotten to think about his kids and who would keep them when he was working.

“Well, they’ll be in school during the day…” he started to say.

“What about the holidays coming up? And after school? And some weekends?” she asked.

“Boy, you’re a persistent one, aren’t you?” he asked smiling.

“Just trying to help you think through things. No offense to the male gender, but you guys aren’t the best at planning life things like this. We women are generally the multi-taskers, the planners of the family.”

“I can see that,” he said. “So, do you have a suggestion for me?”

“Of course I do, honey,” she said in that Southern voice that reminded him of Paula Deen. “You need a nanny. Someone who will always be there when you need her and someone who already knows how to take care of children.”

“And where do I find a woman like that?” he asked.

“Well, I happen to know the perfect person. Her name is Amelia Devin, and she’s already raised three kids on her own.”

“Really? Single mother?” he asked.

“Kind of. Amelia just turned thirty. She’s lived in Mill Creek her whole life, but her single mother died when Amelia was eighteen. She’d gone off to college, and she had to come home to care for three younger siblings. The youngest sibling just left for college, and Amelia is just getting started again in her own life.”

“Wow. But, I don’t understand something. Why on Earth would she want to take on my kids now? She just finished raising her siblings, and surely she wants a break.”

“That may be true, but it never hurts to ask. All I know is she’s a wonderful caregiver for kids, and she’s just starting her own business so she might need the extra income,” Gracie said as a bell rang on the front door. “I’d better get back up there. Here’s her address. It’s just off the square. Drop by and see if she’s interested, okay?” Gracie slid the napkin she’d written on to Clay and walked back up front.

Clay looked down at the address Gracie had written on the napkin and wondered about this Amelia person. Would she have any interest in helping him care for his kids?

Amelia sat at her desk looking out over the mountains as she pored over the real estate classifieds in Mill Creek Crossing and surrounding areas. Her goal was to find owners who wanted to sell their homes, but would be interested in listing with her. Starting her fledgling real estate business had been a lot harder than she anticipated, but she was determined to make a go of it. She’d already had one sale that was paying her bills for a few months, but she knew it was imperative for her to get more business ASAP.

Her staring session was interrupted by a knock at her door. She checked her watch and noticed it was around four o’clock, and she had no idea who would be dropping by unannounced in the middle of the day. She walked downstairs and peeked out a side window. A man, who looked vaguely familiar to her, was standing on her porch - alone. He had coal black hair with crystal clear blue eyes that she immediately noticed. As any red-blooded American woman would, she primped for a moment, pulling her blond ponytail tighter and licking her lips before reaching for the door.

“Can I help you?” she said as she cracked the door open enough so that she could slam it closed if he was an ax murderer.

“Hi. I know you don’t know me, but Gracie at the diner told me your name…” he started.

“Gracie?” Amelia said, furrowing her eyebrows in confusion.

“Yes. My name is Clay Barnes,” he said smiling as he held out his hand to her. She opened the door enough to shake his hand as she returned his smile. Wow, was he good looking, and she still had a weird feeling she’d seen him somewhere before. He was handsome and had the nicest smile she’d ever seen in her life.

“Amelia Devin. Please, come in. Any friend of Gracie’s is a friend of mine,” she said as she opened the door.

“Well, actually I just met Gracie about an hour ago,” he said as he walked inside. Amelia’s insides knotted up as she realized she’d just let a perfect stranger into her home.

“An hour ago?” she asked as she closed the door behind her and started running through a checklist in her mind of where she’d left her gun.

“Don’t worry, I’m not a stalker or crazy person,” he said laughing. “She said you might be just the woman I need to help me.”

“Pardon?” Amelia said with her mouth gaping open. She was in shock that this guy who stepped right off the cover of a magazine was standing in her foyer asking her to be the woman he needed.

“Wow, I really have a way with words today,” he smiled. “Let me start over. I just moved here this morning with my two kids. In fact, they’re at the diner with Gracie making milkshakes.”

Amelia smiled. “Ah, yes, the new milkshake bar is a big hit around here. But, I’m not sure how I can help you. Wait, did Gracie refer you to buy or rent a house?”

“You’re in real estate?” he asked with a surprised look on his face. Gracie obviously hadn’t mentioned it to him.

“Yes, but since you didn’t know that, I assume Gracie didn’t send you here for that reason. So, how can I help?”

“Well, I will be the new head chef at Mountainview…” he started.

“Wait! Clay Barnes. Now I know who you are!” she said, immediately realizing that the famed chef was standing in her house. She’d had a crush on him for years, but he was so much more handsome in person. “What are you doing in our small town?”

“My wife, Molly, passed away about a year and a half ago, so I just moved my kids here to get out of public life for awhile,” he said softly.

“I’m so sorry to hear about your wife,” Amelia said.

“Thanks. Anyway, because I will have this new job with some long hours, I’m looking for some help with my kids. Mainly after school and maybe some weekends…”

“And you want me to watch them?” she asked.

“Gracie told me you’re great with kids, raised your siblings…”

“Yes, and that’s exactly why I can’t help you, Mr. Barnes.”

“Please, call me Clay…”

“Okay. Clay then. I’m sorry you took time out of your day, but I cannot help you,” she said sharply, which wasn’t her intention.

“But Gracie said…”

“I know what Gracie said, but she was wrong. I just sent my youngest sibling off to college, and I’ve started a new business with Mill Creek Real Estate. I have a lot on my plate right now.”

“Oh. I see. I’m sorry I bothered you then,” he said as he backed toward the door. “But can I ask you something?”

“Certainly,” she said curtly.

“Don’t real estate agents work on one hundred percent commission?”

“Yes. Why?”

“If you’re new to the business, don’t you need some extra side income to make ends meet? I don’t mean to pry, but…”

“Well, you are prying actually. Not that it’s any of your business, but I’ve already made one sale.”

“Congratulations. But surely one sale won’t keep you afloat for very long?” he asked with a wry smile.

“I’m not discussing my finances with you, Clay. Now, if you don’t mind, you caught me right in the middle of working,” she said pointing toward the door.

After Amelia shut the door, she was left wondering how in the world this man she had only just me, had such an effect on her. Sure, she’d seen good-looking men before. That was nothing unusual, but to have such a strong reaction to someone that she just met at her door was unusual for Amelia. She had no plans to get involved with anyone anytime soon. After finally sending her last sibling off to college, Amelia's only plan was to build her business and find out who she was. She didn't need a man to help her with that.

She walked back upstairs to her desk and looked out over the north Georgia mountains. Wondering how many more times she’d probably have to say no to Clay, she smiled to herself. It was nice to be needed, but it was this wanting to be needed that had gotten her into a mess in the first place. Although she had been the only person who could have raised her brothers and sister, she had given up her own dreams along the way. She had given up everything to make sure her siblings had what they needed, and now Amelia felt like she only had scraps. Her life hadn't even begun yet and she was only thirty years old. How would she ever figure out what she was supposed to be doing with her own life?

***