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.
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