A Home with the Rancher Read online

  “That’s enough.” The man shot a stern look at Nadine then glanced over his shoulder. “Ms. Ann, would you please answer the phone?”

  Ann held up her hands and blew out a breath. “Yes, I’m just all out of sorts. I’m sorry, Mac, but I’m not a babysitter. Your father never asked me to watch after children while I ran the front desk.”

  He grimaced. “I know and I apologize. It won’t happen again.”

  Dani pulled in a sharp breath and held it. So this was Mac Tenley. Twenty-nine, owner of Elk Valley Ranch and a...daddy. Her lungs burned. Definitely not what she’d expected. Or planned for. Deceiving a man was bad enough but lying to children? Her heart slammed against her ribs. There was no way she could go through with this. She’d just have to return to New York and come up with a new strategy.

  A bell rang and warm air wafted through the room. Dani turned, watching as one of the couples exited.

  “I’m sorry, were you waiting for a room?”

  Dani spun back to find Mac studying her. She opened her mouth, releasing the pent-up breath, and tried not to stare at his wide chest, broad shoulders and sensual lips.

  His strong jaw firmed. His gaze roved over her face then lingered on her mouth, heating her cheeks.

  “It’s a girl, Dad,” Nadine piped, tugging at his jeans.

  Mac started then jerked his eyes back up to meet hers.

  “I can see that.” He bent, set the second girl on her feet then nodded. “I’m Mac Tenley, owner. Sorry about the wait. Ms. Ann will check you in momentarily. If you’ll excuse me?”

  Dani sighed as he moved past her and made his way over to the sole couple still in the waiting area. Time to go. She tightened her grip on her bag and started toward the exit.

  “Are you gonna shovel the horse poop?” Nadine asked, skipping in front of her. “Cuz we hate when dad makes us shovel the poop. We usually have to do it when we get in trouble.”

  The other girl scooted to her sister’s side, tears gone and interest sparking in her eyes. “Who’s she?”

  “The new hand,” Nadine said.

  “But she’s not a cowboy like Mr. Tim.”

  “I know.” Nadine lifted her chin, a self-satisfied grin appearing. “She’s a girl.”

  The child looked Dani over then stepped forward and held out her hand. “Hello. I’m Maddie.”

  Unable to resist, Dani smiled and shook her hand. “Dani. It’s nice to meet you.”

  “Girls, I asked you to stay put in the game room,” Mac muttered as he walked by. He escorted the couple from the waiting area to the front desk and smiled. “I apologize for the wait. Ms. Ann will have you settled in no time and the first night will be free. I hope you enjoy your stay and if you need anything, please don’t hesitate to ask.”

  The couple thanked him and Ann began checking them in. Mac took both girls by the hand then started leading them down the hall.

  “But, Dad, wait.” Nadine jerked against Mac’s hold, halting him. “That’s the new hand you said was coming.”

  Dani bit her lip and headed for the door.

  “What?”

  Mac’s sexy voice echoed across the foyer. Dani quickened her step.

  “The new hand,” Nadine repeated. “Dani Jones.”

  Dani twisted the doorknob, goose bumps breaking out on her nape as Mac’s rumble drew closer.

  “Wait. Are you Dani Jones?”

  Dani’s hand froze around the doorknob. This was it. Time to end it. No more lies. She didn’t have to say she was Dani Jones. She’d just say she’d made a mistake. That after seeing the state of the place, she’d decided the job wasn’t for her and then she’d leave.

  And that’d be the end of it.

  She glanced over her shoulder as his intense gaze traveled from the top of her head to the tips of her shoes.

  “I don’t mean to be rude,” Mac said. “But you’re not what I was expecting.”

  Dani frowned. The disappointment in his dark eyes raised familiar hackles. Ones that stiffened her back and clenched her jaw every time her brother shut her out of a business meeting or her father asked her to file another stack of paperwork.

  Her mouth opened, the curt words jumping off her tongue before she had a chance to stop them. “Why? Because I’m a woman?”

  * * *

  DAMN. HE’D WALKED right into that one.

  Mac winced, taking in the angry flare of the woman’s mesmerizing blue eyes and tight set of her slim shoulders. He shook his head and held up a hand. “Now, that’s not what I meant.”

  Though it hit closer to the truth than he wanted to admit. He sure hadn’t pictured a woman when he’d finally received an email in response to his ad a week ago. And he’d assumed the odd spelling of Danny—with an i—had simply been unfamiliar to him. It’d never occurred to him that a woman was applying for the job.

  Of course, seeing as how he was strapped for cash and in desperate need of extra help, he’d had no problem overlooking the applicant’s lack of experience when he’d read the email. If this Dani was willing to accept the next-to-nothing pay balanced out with free lodging and meals, Mac was more than eager to hire him.

  Her. Mac shifted from one boot to the other and cleared his throat. He’d be more than eager to...

  She faced him, adjusted the strap on her shoulder then put her hands on her hips. The action pulled her thin T-shirt tight across her ample breasts and the firm tap of her sneaker on the hardwood floor drew his eyes to the shapely length of her jean-clad legs.

  “Well?” she asked, the soft curves of her mouth tightening into a hard line. “What did you mean?”

  Ah, hell. He tore his gaze away from the appealing curves of her hips, refocused on her face and ignored the latent heat stirring in his blood. Add ogling to employment discrimination.

  Figured the first woman in four years that sucker-punched him with lust would be a potential employee. He didn’t have time for women and kept his distance from them for a reason. He grimaced. Three reasons, actually. But it looked like fate was hell-bent on making his life difficult.

  “I just meant that I was expecting someone different.”

  Her eyes narrowed, her thick lashes obscuring those beautiful blues. “A man, I suppose?”

  Mac glanced down at his girls, each hugging one of his legs. They stared up at him. Innocent curiosity lifted Maddie’s expression. Nadine’s judgmental scowl—which she flashed him often lately—deepened.

  Cringing, he looked up. “You have to admit, your name can be misleading.”

  She flushed and the redness stamping her face spread down the graceful curve of her neck.

  “You are Dani Jones, aren’t you?” He placed a hand on the girls’ shoulders and hugged them closer.

  She’d never actually confirmed it and the heat in his blood cooled, slowing it in his veins and leading him to scrutinize her more closely. Her clothing had seen better days and the ragged shoes she sported wouldn’t last more than a week on the ranch. But her nails, which still pressed into her hips, were manicured to perfection. The soft shade of pink nail polish matched the lipstick accentuating her lush mouth and the stud gemstones in her delicate earlobes.

  Every bit of which screamed the exact opposite of a hard-living, nomadic ranch hand who’d applied for the position.

  “Look,” Mac scoffed. “If you’re not Dani Jones and some developer sent you out here to sweet-talk me into selling my land, you might as well sashay back to where you came from. I’ve had at least seven agents here this week already and I’m not in the mood for another debate. I’m not interested in selling my land. I’m interested in hiring help.”

  “But she is Dani Jones,” Nadine said, frowning up at him. “That’s what she said. And a girl can be a ranch hand if she wants to.” She released his leg, walked over to the woman and grabbed her hand. “Tell him. A girl can b
e a ranch hand, can’t she?”

  The redness marring the woman’s fair skin deepened as she looked down at Nadine. Hesitating, she licked her lips then smiled, saying softly, “Yes. A girl can do anything she sets her mind to.” She faced him head-on. “I’m not here to sweet-talk you and I’m not prone to sashaying anywhere. I’m here to work. And yes, I’m... Dani.”

  Mac sighed. Well. That eased one of his worries but it sure didn’t do much for the others.

  He reached out, tugged Nadine back to his side then nodded at Dani. “You might not like what I’ve got to say but I’m gonna be honest with you because that’s the only way I operate.” The wary look on her face caused his skin to prickle with unease. “I’d hire you as easily as I would any man so long as I knew you could get the job done.” He reassessed her slight build and slender arms. “The pay isn’t much and the hours are long. The work is also physically demanding. Anyone I hire would have to be able to lift at least fifty pounds without breaking a sweat.”

  She straightened. “I’m aware of all that. And I’m tougher than I look.”

  “Do you have any horseback-riding experience?”

  “A little.”

  “A little?” He frowned. “What’s that mean?”

  She looked away. “I’ve ridden once or twice.” A sheepish look crossed her face. “A few years ago.”

  Mac rubbed the tight knot at the back of his neck. “What about watering and feeding horses? Cleaning stalls?”

  She shook her head.

  “I suppose you have no experience haying or fencing, either?”

  More headshaking. Lord, help him. Forget inexperienced. She was the epitome of green.

  Nadine jerked on his jeans pocket and whispered, “I can teach her the scooping poop part, Dad.”

  Maddie pulled on his shirt, her pink hair ribbon falling over her cheek. “And I can show her the watering part.”

  Mac forced a smile, tugged the twins off his legs and nudged them toward the hallway. “Girls, I need to show Ms. Dani around. You’ll have to wait here.” Nadine grumbled under her breath and Maddie made a soft sound of disappointment. “Why don’t y’all stay with Ms. Ann...”

  A look of trepidation crossed Ann’s face. She eyed the girls then backed further behind the desk, her hands clutching papers and a stapler to her chest.

  “Well...” Hell. How was he supposed to watch his girls, school a new employee and finish the twelve hours of work already lined up for the day? Mac scraped a hand through his hair. “I guess you can come with us.”

  “Yes!” Nadine pumped a small fist in the air.

  Maddie smiled. “Okay, Daddy.”

  He shook his head as the girls pushed past him and ran to Dani’s side. “Now, look. There’ll be no misbehaving.” He pointed a finger at the girls and frowned. Man, he sounded just like an uptight, run-down dad. Which, he had to admit, was exactly how he felt. “No disobeying me. And no wandering off.”

  “Yes, sir.” Nadine’s angelic grin twitched devilishly at the corners.

  Warmth flooded Mac’s chest and he stifled a laugh. These pint-sized blondes had wrapped him around their little fingers the day they were born. And he didn’t mind it a bit. Though he didn’t spend a fraction of the amount of time he should with them nowadays.

  He frowned and studied the scuff marks on the hardwood floor. Or his son, for that matter. It’d been ages since he’d been able to spend a day with any of his three children. What kind of father did that make him?

  Mac tensed. A bad one. But this past week, he’d actually managed to get ahead of chores. And hiring an extra hand would ease some of his load, giving him a chance to be a decent father for a change.

  Clearing his throat, he reached around Dani and opened the door. “After you.”

  A soft breeze drifted in, ruffling through her long, brown hair and carrying the sweet scent of her shampoo to his nostrils. His fingers tingled. He balled his fist, shaking off the unwelcome urge to touch the shiny strands.

  She glanced up, that soft mouth parting on a swift intake of air. “Thank you.”

  He led her down the stairs and up the stone path to the driveway then across the grounds. She kept pace with him, listening and watching carefully as he pointed out the various sections of the lodge. Nadine and Maddie fell behind. They stopped by what he assumed was Dani’s pitiful-looking car then circled it, cupping their hands and peering into the windows.

  “Girls.”

  They jumped back from the car then scrambled over to his side.

  Hiding a smile, he pointed at a large structure adjoining the back of the lodge. “That’s the banquet hall. There’s enough room for a hundred people or so but we don’t use it very often because...” He shrugged, glancing over his shoulders at the empty fields and walkways. “I don’t have as many guests as I’d like right now. But if things turn around like I hope, we’ll be using it pretty regular.” He shook his head. “I’d offer you a waitress or receptionist position but we don’t need extra help in those areas.”

  “I didn’t apply for a waitress or receptionist position.” A hint of ice cooled the warm depths of her eyes and hardened her soft tone. “I’m here to work the grounds.”

  Nodding, he rolled his shoulders then motioned toward the graveled path behind them. “Then let’s get moving.”

  The rocks crunched under his boots and the familiar sounds of the valley rushed in, filling his veins with excitement and lifting his chest with pride. He studied her face and noted the appreciative gleam in her expression.

  “This land’s been in my family for generations.” He swept an arm toward the green fields, wooded landscape and hazy mountains in the distance. “We’ve got over thirty-six acres, twenty cabins and forty horses. There are hiking and horseback-riding trails. My lead hands are Tim Barnes and Cal McCoy. Tim leads two hiking groups each day and Cal heads up the riding excursions. They’re working on the fence at the entrance. I assume you met them on the way in?” She nodded jerkily and he stopped, gesturing toward the log building in front of them. “There’s the bunkhouse.”

  Dani adjusted her grip on her bag, her slim fingers tightening around it as she studied the bunkhouse.

  “That’s where the ranch hands stay,” Nadine said, grabbing at Dani’s bag. “You want me to help you put your stuff up?”

  “No, Nadine.” Mac gently brushed her hands aside. “I don’t think Ms. Dani would like it there.” He raised an eyebrow and smiled. “Unless, of course, you’d prefer to stay in the bunkhouse with the men? I think there’s an empty bunk below Cal’s.”

  Her cheeks reddened. “No, thank you.” She bit her lip. “Is there another option?”

  His smile widened. “Yep. That is, if I decide to hire you. I haven’t said one way or the other yet.”

  Her pretty blush deepened and Mac moved further up the winding path through a cluster of cedar trees to a cabin. The weathered wood and sun-bleached porch rails were littered with leaves.

  He grimaced. “Looks worse than it is. I haven’t had time to restore the exterior but I cleaned up inside last week.” The porch steps creaked as he ascended them. “There’s one bedroom, one bathroom and a small kitchen and den.”

  “I’m not picky.” The sweet sound of her voice sent thrills up his spine. “But won’t you need this for guests?”

  He glanced over his shoulder. She stood on the second step, Nadine and Maddie close at her side, and stared up at him.

  His jaw clenched. “Not until the lodge fills ups. And that hasn’t happened, yet.” He opened the door then crossed the threshold. “Come on in.”

  A flurry of movement from the other side of the room caught his eye. Two legs and a muddy pair of boots darted behind the worn couch in the center of the den. Streaks of mud and clumps of dirt dulled the shine he’d spent hours buffing into the ancient hardwood floor just days ago.

&n
bsp; Irritation sparked in his gut. “Jaxon.” He bit his tongue, trying to soften the hard edge of his tone. “Get your tail out here.”

  Grubby fingers gripped the back of the couch then brown hair and green eyes rose above them.

  “What are you doing in here? I asked you to stay in the game room with your sisters.” Mac stiffened, Dani’s light tread approaching behind him. He motioned toward the eyes peeping over the couch. “Dani, this is my son, Jaxon.”

  Jaxon stood then rounded the couch, his arms behind his back and his ten-year-old frame stiff. He studied Dani, the shaggy ends of his brown hair falling forward, brushing his eyebrows. The strands were the same shade as his mother’s.

  A stabbing pain shot thorough Mac. He hunched his shoulders and motioned toward Jaxon’s obscured arms. “What have you got there?”

  Jaxon scowled. “You said you were gonna take the day off and play baseball with me. I’m tired of babysitting.”

  Mac sighed. So was Ann. But he couldn’t afford to hire a babysitter on a permanent basis. Or take a day off work like he’d planned. Not if he expected to hold on to this place. “I just asked you to stay put for an hour—not babysit.”

  “We ain’t babies,” Nadine said.

  “Yeah,” Maddie added.

  “Aw, hush up.” Jaxon’s eyes flashed. “No one asked you two.”

  “That’s enough. All of you.” Mac dragged a hand over the back of his neck, the weight of Dani’s stare heating his face. “It took me hours to clean this place up, Jaxon. You’re going to spend the afternoon scrubbing this floor. Now, show me what you’ve got behind your back because I swear, if you’ve gotten into Tim’s tools again—”

  “I ain’t got any tools.” Jaxon stalked over and thrust a bundle against Mac’s gut. “You promised you were gonna play ball with me.”

  Mac looked down, catching the baseball glove before it fell. Deep croaks, muffled by the mitt, vibrated the material against his hand. He unfolded it and a muddy bullfrog sprang from the center then plopped onto the floor.

  Maddie squealed and hid her face against the back of his thigh. “Ew.”

  “Cool.” Nadine chased it through the door and down the front steps.