“Hi, Dad.” She made her way toward him. “Where’s Mom?” The spacious kitchen to the side of the great room was tidy but empty, the dinner pans already washed and drying in a rack on the counter.
Dad had his feet up with his laptop open in front of him. His dark hair had more silver than it ever had before, but he was still a handsome McQuaid man. “Anson has the night off, so your mom took Wyatt to Cub Scouts.”
That accounted for why the old cowboy-turned-housekeeper was nowhere in sight, and why Tyler’s miniature-lookalike son was also not racing around the house like he usually was.
Emberly leaned down and gave her dad a hug, trying to ignore how bony his shoulders felt. Several Excel spreadsheets were open on his screen, which meant he was going over the ranch’s budget. Was he trying to figure out if they had enough yet to purchase the new land and expand the ranch’s operations?
“Don’t worry,” came Kinsey’s voice from down the hallway near Dad’s bedroom. “T.W.’s not alone. I’m here.”
Dad expelled a sigh. “I told her she didn’t have to come over, but she insisted.”
Tyler’s fiancée, Kinsey, was a nurse and had moved into her own apartment last fall. It was in Healing Springs so that she could oversee the new clinic she’d recently opened, giving their small town its own medical center. Their wedding was planned for July, and Tyler hoped to have their house finished by then. He was building it on a parcel of land only a mile or so away from the family home. Of course, Dad had offered to move out so that Tyler, Kinsey, and Wyatt could have the big home for themselves. But Tyler had wanted to give Kinsey a home of their own.
“I promise I won’t bother you guys,” Kinsey called.
“We don’t mind.” Emberly liked her future sister-in-law. She was not only the perfect match for Tyler, but she fit well into their family with her direct and no-nonsense personality.
Dad was peering over the rim of his reading glasses at Max, who’d stepped up beside Emberly. “And you must be Max.”
“I am.” Max held out a hand, looking as suave and gentlemanly as usual, even though he was decked out in Western gear. “I am pleased to meet you, sir.”
“Same here.” Dad accepted Max’s hand and exchanged a hearty handshake. “I’ve been hearing a lot about you this week.”
“I do hope it was not all bad.”
“Course not.” Dad leaned back and closed his laptop. “Besides, I know better than to believe everything my sons tell me when it comes to the men Emberly dates.”
“I’m not dating Max.”
“Darlin’, if what you’ve been doing this week isn’t dating, I don’t know what is.”
Emberly rolled her eyes. “Da-ad.”
“According to both Tyler and Kade, you’ve spent hours every day with your new man—”
“He’s also not mynew man.” Dad’s insinuations were mortifying. She should have listened to her internal warning that he would end up embarrassing her one way or another. “I’ve been Max’s concierge this week. That’s all.”
“That’s all?” Dad smiled up at her, his eyes twinkling. “I think I know what falling in love looks and sounds like.”
“Oh my.” Emberly buried her face in her hands, wishing the floor would swallow her up. If she protested, her dad would say something about how her objections only supported his claim. “You’re impossible. You know that, don’t you?”
Her dad chuckled.
She dropped her hands, but she didn’t dare look at Max and gauge his reaction to the conversation.
“Your daughter has been wonderful, Mr. McQuaid—”
“Call me T.W.”
“T.W.,” Max said smoothly. “Emberly is truly a special woman, and I am afraid I did monopolize her time.”
Wonderful? Special? Emberly wanted to savor his words, but now was not the time. Not with Dad watching her and assuming she was in love with Max.
“From what I’ve heard, Emberly enjoyed her time with you.”
Emberly shook her head. “I showed Max my favorite activities, so of course I enjoyed the time with him.”
Max arched a brow at her as though asking her to be honest if he’d been too demanding of her.
