“I’m Emma Clark.Your new housekeeper.”
“Mywhat?”
His forehead scrunches up, etching three vertical lines between his eyes.His beautiful violet eyes.He turns and gives a pointed look at Summer, who shrugs her shoulders in response.
“I answered the ad.I got an email.”My voice sounds squeaky and pathetic.
Summer shoves the printout into his chest.“This email.The one I just showed you.”
He reads through it a few times before he looks up again at me.
“I have no idea what this is.I didn’t place this ad or any ad.So if you’re some kind of con artist, I’ve got bad news for you—you’ve just rolled onto the wrong ranch.”
CHAPTER 5
Finn
All the blood drains from this girl’s face.And I mean that she goes sheet-white.Her deep brown eyes widen.Her body trembles.
She sinks further into the chair.
I’m convinced that somehow, some way, she’s trying to scam our family.But there’s no faking what I’m looking at.She’s pale.Terrified.Shaking.
So this Emma Clark person is either a highly skilled grifter or she’s for real and is need of help.
I stare at her.Unable to move.Unable to decide, which is not like me.
If she’s for real and faints on my watch, I couldn’t live with myself.Because that would mean it was my duty to help her and I failed.
I’m a MacLaine.We do what’s right.More specifically, I’m Finlay MacLaine, the dude who refuses to let history repeat itself.
Those huge dark eyes of hers are lassoing me in, begging me to take her under my wing, give her what she desperately needs.She starts to slide under the table.
Summer bumps into me.“Snap out of it, champ.”
Emma goes limp, scanning the tent, afraid she’s the center of attention.But nobody notices her.The wedding party is going strong, and everyone is tipsy or dancing or both.
Summer punches me in the shoulder.“You’ve seen the email.She’s telling you the truth.Be decent.”
I look at the wrinkled piece of paper again.I don’t recognize the sender’s email address.There seems to be a thread, but the printout is only one page, and it’s been cut off.I have no context for this message.I have no clue what’s going on.
“I was told to come here today,” Emma squeaks.“I was told you wanted me.That you needed me.”
“That’s for sure,” Summer says under her breath.
I give her some wicked side-eye.
“I don’t need a cleaning lady,” I say.
“Ahousekeeper,” Emma corrects me.
I rub the back of my neck.It’s the oddest scam I ever heard about.Not much of a con to insist that she’s been offered a job as a housekeeper.Still, I never advertised for one, and I’m not about to let a stranger in my house.
Around mydaughter.
But she doesn’t look like a con artist.The truth is, I don’t want to believe she’s a liar.So I opt for the kinder approach to putting an end to this bullshit.
“I think this is a mistake,” I tell her, making sure my voice is gentle.“Maybe someone’s playing a joke on you.All I know is that I didn’t place an ad for a housekeeper and I don’t want one.”
