“Four times the amount.”
She released an exasperated sigh. “My father owns the ranch.”
His thoughts came to an abrupt halt. That made sense. After all, she had introduced herself as a McQuaid. He didn’t know much about the McQuaids except that the famous country music star, Brock McQuaid, called the ranch home. Not that Max was particularly fond of country music or a fan of Brock. However, Brock’s engagement to supermodel Venus Vargas had recently been splashed across the front page of most major news outlets, and Max hadn’t been able to avoid seeing the pictures of the happy couple.
Maybe Emberly was being truthful that she didn’t need the money. The McQuaids likely were very wealthy. Even so, as a McQuaid, she probably knew the ranch better than almost anyone else and could do anything she wanted.
He couldn’t hold back a smile. “The matter is settled.”
She didn’t smile back.
For a reason he couldn’t decipher, he liked her attitude, liked her resistance. “That means you are the perfect one to accompany me this week. Since you have grown up on the ranch, who better than you to show me everything?”
“The trained guides are better.”
“I disagree. Family is always more passionate and invested than a paid employee.”
She narrowed her eyes upon him, but not before he saw that he’d hit on the truth. She needed this week with their group to go well. Even though she didn’t necessarily want to act as his personal tour guide and accompany him to the various activities, she would do it for the ranch.
“I shall make the effort worth your while,” he added. He wasn’t sure why he was pushing her so hard when she clearly didn’t want to do it. Perhaps because he was accustomed to getting his way. Perhaps because he appreciated a challenge and saw one in her. Perhaps because he already liked her for being so real.
She pressed her lips together.
The movement drew his attention there. She had a beautiful mouth with naturally full lips, the cupid’s bow adding a pucker in the middle that looked like it would be delectable.
One of her brows quirked. “You’re willing to strike a bargain?”
“Within reason.”
“I’d love your group to spread the word about our ranch to your friends and colleagues.”
“That will be no trouble.”
“Fine. I’ll go with you and be in charge of your activities.”
His smile widened. “Then let us be on our way.”
3
What had she gotten herself into?
Emberly’s boots crunched along the pathway as she returned to Max’s cabin. Through the snowy spruce branches, she spotted him already waiting outside, pushing back and forth in the log-framed porch swing, his laptop open in front of him.
She tugged at her beanie, pulling it so that it covered her ears. Then she zipped her black North Face parka higher.
Had she made a mistake in agreeing to this arrangement with Max? Essentially, she’d told him she would be exclusively available to accompany him wherever he wanted to go or assist him in whatever he wanted to do.
Did she want to be at his beck and call?
The good thing about it was that he had seemed reluctant to take time out of his work schedule to do activities. She’d seen men like him come to the ranch on business and then spend most of their time in a conference room. In reality, Max would probably do a couple of activities before getting busy with his work, and then her job entertaining him would be over.
He’d been right that she was proficient in all things having to do with the ranch. She knew this place better than most people, even her family. As the event manager, she had to stay on top of everything that went on. She not only hired and trained all the ambassadors and assigned them to incoming visitors but also arranged special events for businesses and oversaw reunions, weddings, celebrity stays, and more.
Even though she was a college dropout, she’d been trying to prove to her family that she could be successful without a degree. Here was her chance. All she had to do was play the role of tour guide to a prince for a week, and in exchange, he’d agreed to endorse the ranch on an international level. She hoped the KWB board members would also promote the ranch, but having a prince’s words of praise would help even more.
Although Max had been ready to get out and explore and hike around the ranch right away, she’d told him she needed an hour to wrap up some miscellaneous details of her job. She’d popped into the office and told Karen about her arrangement with Max. Emberly hadn’t mentioned Max was a prince, but she had indicated that the wealthy man had a great deal of influence, which would be a boost to the ranch.
After tidying up as many loose ends as she could, she’d gone to her cottage near the lodge to change into clothes more suitable for traipsing around.
