From the Heart: Romance, Mystery and Suspense a collection for everyone Read Online Free
Author: Lorhainne Eckhart
you yesterday on the phone about the job.”
He blinked before closing those exquisite eyes, as if he’d forgotten the reason she was here. When he opened them again, his hard judgmental expression seemed to have softened a bit.
Again h e extended his large hand, taking hers in a firm grip. Just the touch of his solid calloused hand and the secure squeeze was enough to teeter her nerves back to that awkward woman at the door. She wondered what it would be like to have a man like this run his hands over you. She snatched her hand back before her face burned any brighter. Finally, he introduced himself. “The name’s Brad Friessen.” Emily kept quiet. He didn’t run on with his words. He must be a deep thinker, a doer. She could relate to that… but not to him. Her sly eyes glanced down at his left hand: no gold band, no white line, no wife or significant other. Or maybe he was one of those arrogant guys who wouldn’t wear a ring, a lady’s man. He had the looks and the attitude. Now was the time to ask about the woman who answered the phone when she called. Who was she?
“This is a working ranch I run , and I need a woman to look after my son. I’m old fashioned in my values. Children should be at home, not stuck in daycare. I’m looking for someone who’s comfortable in a kitchen and looking after children: a role that should come natural to a woman. I don’t want someone who’s got the phone stuck to their ear half the day. It’s a decent job and good pay; $500 a week, room and board, and includes all your meals.”
Her heart sank about the same time the bottom dropped out of her stomach. It was too good to be true. She wanted to cry. “ But I… I have a little girl, I didn’t realize--”
His face hardened and he looked away. For some reason he was angry with her… no, furious. Emily didn’t know what to say when he let out a heavy sigh. He closed his eyes, rubbing his hand over the light brown shadow that appeared over his jaw. Then he faced her again, with those deep brown eyes now turned to steel. Emily saw that he could be a hard man.
“What, not enough money for you? I can’t stand the games you women play.” He lowered his voice. But it didn’t take the bite from his words. Holy crap , what kind of trip was this guy on? Was it just her he had a problem with… or all women? “Mr. Friessen…”
“Brad,” he cut her off , his palm held up flat, a man used to having his way.
“Sorry… Brad. It’s not about money. Your offer is quite generous. It’s just… I have a little girl and, the thing is, I guess I just assumed I would come here to work during the day and then go home. I rent a place in town. I’m recently separated, almost, and Katy lives with me. She’s two, so I’d be bringing her with me during the day to work and--” She was babbling and knew it when he cut her off.
“I need someone to be here all day. And there’s the matter of the cooking. It’s all three meals , and breakfast’s early.”
“Brad, I’m a little confused, are you still offering me a job , knowing I have a child who’ll be here with me?”
He leaned back looking much more relaxed than he had earlier, a man once more in control; his hand tapped the back of the sofa.
“There’s room in this house, lots of unused bedrooms upstairs. This is a big job. You’d be required to look after my son and do all the cooking. I have two hired hands who eat here, well, sometimes. They live in a small house I have on the property behind the barn. I have a woman who comes in twice a week to clean, so you’d only need to keep up the house in between. Still interested?”
Emily slid forward and raised her palms, only to press them onto her knees. “Yes, I’m interested. Are you offering me the job, I mean you haven’t even asked about my experience, references or if I’ve had a criminal record check.” Emily fumbled for the envelope and pulled out the sheet of handwritten references.
“I’d need
He blinked before closing those exquisite eyes, as if he’d forgotten the reason she was here. When he opened them again, his hard judgmental expression seemed to have softened a bit.
Again h e extended his large hand, taking hers in a firm grip. Just the touch of his solid calloused hand and the secure squeeze was enough to teeter her nerves back to that awkward woman at the door. She wondered what it would be like to have a man like this run his hands over you. She snatched her hand back before her face burned any brighter. Finally, he introduced himself. “The name’s Brad Friessen.” Emily kept quiet. He didn’t run on with his words. He must be a deep thinker, a doer. She could relate to that… but not to him. Her sly eyes glanced down at his left hand: no gold band, no white line, no wife or significant other. Or maybe he was one of those arrogant guys who wouldn’t wear a ring, a lady’s man. He had the looks and the attitude. Now was the time to ask about the woman who answered the phone when she called. Who was she?
“This is a working ranch I run , and I need a woman to look after my son. I’m old fashioned in my values. Children should be at home, not stuck in daycare. I’m looking for someone who’s comfortable in a kitchen and looking after children: a role that should come natural to a woman. I don’t want someone who’s got the phone stuck to their ear half the day. It’s a decent job and good pay; $500 a week, room and board, and includes all your meals.”
Her heart sank about the same time the bottom dropped out of her stomach. It was too good to be true. She wanted to cry. “ But I… I have a little girl, I didn’t realize--”
His face hardened and he looked away. For some reason he was angry with her… no, furious. Emily didn’t know what to say when he let out a heavy sigh. He closed his eyes, rubbing his hand over the light brown shadow that appeared over his jaw. Then he faced her again, with those deep brown eyes now turned to steel. Emily saw that he could be a hard man.
“What, not enough money for you? I can’t stand the games you women play.” He lowered his voice. But it didn’t take the bite from his words. Holy crap , what kind of trip was this guy on? Was it just her he had a problem with… or all women? “Mr. Friessen…”
“Brad,” he cut her off , his palm held up flat, a man used to having his way.
“Sorry… Brad. It’s not about money. Your offer is quite generous. It’s just… I have a little girl and, the thing is, I guess I just assumed I would come here to work during the day and then go home. I rent a place in town. I’m recently separated, almost, and Katy lives with me. She’s two, so I’d be bringing her with me during the day to work and--” She was babbling and knew it when he cut her off.
“I need someone to be here all day. And there’s the matter of the cooking. It’s all three meals , and breakfast’s early.”
“Brad, I’m a little confused, are you still offering me a job , knowing I have a child who’ll be here with me?”
He leaned back looking much more relaxed than he had earlier, a man once more in control; his hand tapped the back of the sofa.
“There’s room in this house, lots of unused bedrooms upstairs. This is a big job. You’d be required to look after my son and do all the cooking. I have two hired hands who eat here, well, sometimes. They live in a small house I have on the property behind the barn. I have a woman who comes in twice a week to clean, so you’d only need to keep up the house in between. Still interested?”
Emily slid forward and raised her palms, only to press them onto her knees. “Yes, I’m interested. Are you offering me the job, I mean you haven’t even asked about my experience, references or if I’ve had a criminal record check.” Emily fumbled for the envelope and pulled out the sheet of handwritten references.
“I’d need
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