Emerald Springs Legacy by Monica Tillery

Author:Monica Tillery
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: F+W Media
Published: 2014-02-02T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eight

For two grueling hours trapped behind the steering wheel, Jen thought about everything: a job interview, a call from her mother, a weekend with Chad. None of it mixed. Each one crashed off the other and made for such dissonance, her head pounded by the time she guided her car down the narrow gravel road toward her destination.

Eventually the leafy surroundings opened up a bit so she could see Chad standing on the steps of a big, white farmhouse with his hands in his jeans pockets and a welcoming smile on his face. Part of her wanted to lose herself in that smile, but the other part begged her to stay away—especially now with Mom wanting to visit and a faraway job possibility.

Jen smiled back—not at all feeling the expression—and reminded herself she was here for a paycheck … not for him. The party dress in the garment bag lying across her back seat was part of the weekend plan; seduction wasn’t. It didn’t matter what Mara thought. It didn’t matter what Jen thought three hours ago, either. She wasn’t going to sleep with him and strengthen this ridiculous, idealistic attachment. She was going to set her sights on something else—the job in Colorado. And she was going to figure out a way to handle Mom so this incessant heartburn would go away.

Bolstered by the reminder, Jen pushed out of the car.

“Did you have trouble finding it?” Chad asked, his strong, tan hand grabbing onto the top of her car door.

He was still smiling when she came to stand, stuck in between the air-conditioned chill of the car’s interior and the warmth of his body.

She nodded and used the motion as an excuse to look at her feet. “I took a wrong turn just past town but figured it out.”

“Good. It can be tricky.” He lingered there, making it hard for her to breathe with the close proximity. “Let me get your bags.” He released the door and walked to the back of the car.

Jen inhaled into the space where he’d been. Hints of him carried on the breeze, and she closed her eyes momentarily, sharply reprimanding herself to not be led astray. She exhaled as she bent over and popped the trunk.

“Are you nervous?” His voice was muffled.

She was nervous about a lot of things, with the headache and heartburn to prove it. “A little.”

“Don’t be.” He slammed the trunk and lifted the suitcase. “You’re going to do great. I have a good feeling about this.”

She was glad somebody did.

“Welcome to Emerald Springs Farm.” An unassuming woman wearing a warm smile and a floral apron wrapped around her waist waited on the porch. She waved. “I’m Patty. Richard sent me to welcome you. Come on in. We’ll get you settled.”

Jen waved back. When Chad moved closer, she stretched into the backseat for the garment bag and quietly asked “Is that your …”

“Housekeeper.”

He looked funny, like he was holding his breath or steeling against something. Either way, he wasn’t

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