as a woman straightened, placed a pink comb on the counter and smiled. It was strained. “Good morning. Welcome to Elk Valley Ranch.” She smoothed a shaky hand over her disheveled hair and glanced at the ringing phone. “May I have your name, please?”
“Dani Jones. I’m here for an interview.”
The receptionist was jostled, fell against the counter then uttered a tsk. A small child—around seven years old?—darted out then skidded to a halt at the toes of Dani’s cheap sneakers.
“An interview?” The little girl blinked wide green eyes up at her, her tangled blond hair sticking out at odd angles. Her jeans and T-shirt were muddy and rumpled. “You the new hand my daddy’s gonna hire?”
Daddy? Dani frowned, mentally sifting through the facts she’d gathered on Mac Tenley. Twenty-nine, owner of Elk Valley Ranch and single. There’d been no mention of a wife or children. And certainly no mention of the cute spitfire in front of her.
“I—”
“Nadine, apologize to your sister right now.”
Dani stilled, the low rumble sending a delicious shiver over her skin. She glanced up...then up a smidge more. A tall, muscular man with rumpled blond hair and dark green eyes strode down a narrow side-hallway, carrying a young girl. He smoothed a big hand over the girl’s curls as she buried her face in his neck.
Nadine spun, propped her hands on her hips and raised her voice over the shrill clang of the phone. “What’d I do?”
The second girl lifted her head and rubbed at her tear-stained cheeks. “You know what you did.” She was a perfect replica of Nadine except for freshly combed hair, pink ribbons and a flowery sundress. “You called me a sissy.”
Nadine shrugged. “Well, you were kinda acting like one.”
“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.
