“Did you hear me, sir?” Douglas repeated louder and knocked on the table.

“Huh? Oh, sorry, Douglas. What were we talking about?”

He smirked and laid the paper down in front of Walker. “You’ve been distracted the last few weeks.”

“I’m thinking about the grand opening and whether we’re ready,” he murmured, picking up the newspaper and staring at the date printed above a picture of the lodge and restaurant. “Three days. I can’t believe we’re finally here.”

“And that’s all that’s on your mind?” Douglas urged. “You’re certain?”

He sat up in his chair. “Yes, why?”

“Nothing. It’s just that Jaylyn has seemed distracted as of late as well, and it has nothing to do with her father.”

“And how do you know that? Are you psychic?”

Douglas shrugged. “I’ve been around a long time. I know these things.”

Walker shook the newspaper out hard. In the days following his kiss with Jaylyn, he found it difficult to suffer through his dates. Feigning interest grew difficult, and he sensed Helena was on the verge of giving up altogether when he spent the entire dinner darting into the kitchen for random items just to see Jaylyn cooking and baking, her hair back in a bright orange bandana and using the chopping knives like they were extensions of her hands. They acted as if nothing had happened, but the memory simmered immediately below the surface, along with the emotions it awoke in him. He wanted Jaylyn, and not only because she knew how to cook a steak better than anyone he knew.

He wanted her, but it couldn’t happen. He knew that almost better than she did.

So move past the kiss!

But he couldn’t. Every night when he passed her bedroom door, the urge to knock was so intense he found his hand raised to do it before stopping himself short.

“Well, in this instance, you’re wrong,” Walker finally said. “Sorry to disappoint you, old man.”

“Old man? That’s hitting below the belt,” he teased as the kitchen door swung inwards and Jaylyn joined them. Her nose was buried in a cooking magazine and she grunted in reply to their greetings.

Walker knew her routine perfectly now. Get up, get coffee, and flip through magazines and cookbooks for the first hour or two while making breakfast and planning the rest of the meals for the day. She frowned at something on the page and shook her head.

“Something you don’t like?” he asked as she joined them at the table.

“Sadly, but I’ll come up with something else.” The dogs circled her chair for their morning pats on the head, and she scratched their ears.

Walker was struck by the image of them at the table together, drinking coffee, enjoying the morning, but not as cook and employer.

“Walker? You okay?”

“Yes, perfectly, why?”

“You keep staring at me.”

He averted his gaze but not before catching the hint of a smile on her face. “I was lost in thought. It won’t happen again.”

“Hmm,” she replied as if knowing all too well it would.

He couldn’t seem to help himself lately. Every time they were in a room together, he saw the two of them in a different light, one where they were together.

The doorbell rang and all three dogs took off after Douglas. Walker checked the time. “That’s odd. I wasn’t expecting company. You?”

Jaylyn shrugged. “No one for me.”

They listened to the dogs barking, but the second the male voice answered Douglas, Jaylyn spurted coffee all over her magazine and Walker cursed. Both jumped to their feet, her looking in every direction.

“Pantry,” he whispered.

“Seriously?”

“Do you want to be seen by him?”

“No, but the pantry? I thought that was your hiding place?”

He didn’t argue with her. Instead, he bent down and kissed her until they were both breathless. She blinked, stunned by his action, but Leo’s voice grew closer and she ducked inside. Walker closed the door and stood in front of it when Leo entered the kitchen.

“Ah, there you are. I was hoping we could have a nice chat this morning.”

“Good morning to you, too, Father,” Walker said, stepping in front of the pantry door. “You could have called.”

“Why would I need to call?” he stated. “Do you mind grabbing me some coffee?”

Walker moved to do it, but Douglas shook his head. “Allow me, sir. Why don’t you adjourn to the patio? It’s a wonderful day outside.”

Leo grimaced. “No, I’d rather we stay inside. My allergies have been frightful this season.”

“Study it is then,” he suggested. If they were in there, he could close the doors and Jaylyn wouldn’t have to hide in the pantry until his father left.

“Fine. Douglas, you know how I take my coffee, I presume? And where is your cook? I was hoping to meet him.”

Walker nearly looked at the pantry. “He’s at the market right now, I’m afraid.”

“Pity. I’ll have to stop by another time for dinner.”

Walker hung his head, knowing that could never happen, and led Leo to the study. Leo took a seat behind the massive oak desk. Not wanting to start an argument over something as simple as his father feeling the need to take his seat, Walker took the chair before it and waited for Douglas to bring Leo’s coffee. Once he had it in hand, Douglas closed the doors to give them privacy and a chance for Jaylyn to move to a better hiding place.

“What did you want to talk about?” Walker asked.

“I wanted to double check everything was ready for the grand opening. You have a long list of clients with rooms already booked for the summer, and I’ve been told reservations for the restaurant stretch out for weeks as well.”

“Yes, it should be a successful opening,” he agreed.

“With that in mind, have you given any more thought to who you will marry?”

Jaylyn, he thought without meaning to and had to get up and walk around so Leo didn’t see the panic on his face he felt overwhelming him. “Sadly, no. This isn’t an easy decision.”

“As understandable as your situation is, you must have a bride by the holiday party, or our deal will not be valid. I’m certain I don’t need to continually repeat myself to make that clear.”

He drank his coffee as if they discussed the weather and not his son marrying a woman he didn’t like so he could prove—hell, he had no idea what he was supposed to prove anymore. The lodge and restaurant would open this week, and he had no lingering doubts that it would be a success. John, the chef, had consulted Jaylyn on the menu, and though she couldn’t take public credit for the food, it was all influenced by her.

“What if I found another woman?” he said without thinking and held his breath as Leo set his cup on its saucer. “Someone you don’t know.”

“I know everyone worth knowing in this state. To whom do you refer?”

“A new family,” he lied. “They moved here only a few weeks ago and I bumped into their daughter. She’s quite an intriguing woman. Very smart and classy, and I would like to add her to the list of potential women, but,” he said, holding up his hand, “I don’t want her knowing about you or the business.”

Leo’s brow knitted together as he removed his glasses to clean them. “You want to see if she falls for you as you are? A plain man?”

Walker bristled. “I don’t believe I’m a plain man without my money.”

“All men are plain without something of value to offer a future bride,” he sighed. “If that is what you wish, I will allow it, but when the time comes to pick your bride to be, I will do an in-depth check into her background so I know she is a good fit for this family.” He took another sip of coffee and stood. “I will not have our family name watered down.”

“No, of course not, Father,” Walker said with a smile, even though his insides twisted with disgust. How could he be so crass? “Shall I see you Thursday evening at the opening?”

“Yes. After all, this is only your project in name. I’m still the front of this company.”

Walker sucked back the words he wanted to yell at his father and merely bowed his head. “Then I will see you Thursday. Would you like Douglas to show you out?”

Leo’s eyes narrowed. “I can find my way to your front door, Walker.”

“Just trying to be helpful,” he whispered as Leo brusquely left his office. He walked around his desk and sat down, and a few seconds later, he heard the front door slam. “Nice of you to visit, Dad. So glad you stopped by to chat, Dad,” he grumbled under his breath as he checked his e-mails. “Yes, Dad, I’d love it if I didn’t have to marry some crazy floozy by December. Thanks for finally seeing me as a man.”

The creak of a floorboard made his eyes shoot to the doorway where Jaylyn stood, holding a plate with an omelet on it and trying not to laugh. “Need another moment alone?”

“I thought you were hiding,” he grumbled. “How did you find time to cook me breakfast?”

“It’s an omelet, pretty simple.” She set it on his desk. “Have a good talk with dear old Dad?”

He leaned back in his chair and smiled as what he’d just done sank in. “Actually, I did.”

“From your grumbling, I’d say it was a toss-up.” She fiddled with the bottom of her jacket. “Why are you staring at me funny?”

“No reason at all.”

“And that’s a load of bullshit,” she said, turning to leave. “Keep your secrets, that’s fine and dandy.”

“What are you doing tonight?”

She paused mid-step at the doorway. “Cooking dinner like always, why?”

Shit, that’s right. Georgette was over tonight.

“Tomorrow night?”

“Walker, what are you doing?” she asked, and he heard the hint of hope in her words that told him she knew exactly what he was trying to do even though he’d said nothing.

“I thought we could enjoy an evening of being friends. You know, hanging out, maybe watch a movie,” he said and wanted to smack himself. How horribly lame did that sound? You’re trying to ask her on an official date and that’s what you come up with?

Jaylyn’s shoulders sagged slightly but enough that he noticed. “Sure, why not? Maybe you can cook, too.”

“Ha, you don’t want me in there. I’ll set something on fire.”

“Maybe, maybe not. I could always teach you how to cook. Wouldn’t be a bad set of skills to know in case you ever own another restaurant. And it could impress your future wife instead of having someone else do it for you all the time.”

Walker felt the sting of her words from across the room. Jaylyn wouldn’t be there past the new year. She’d be back in her restaurant and he would be a married man, most likely to a woman he couldn’t stand and he doubted any of them would be appreciative of him in the kitchen, but he hated the notion of trying to hire another cook.

Unless he made this work with Jaylyn. He’d kissed her that morning, and it was hotter than the first kiss they’d shared. He’d wanted to disappear into the pantry with her for an hour or two or tote her up to his room and explore the new and confusing feelings he had for her. He cared for her, but it was so much more than that. He wanted to know everything about her and be a part of her life, and not as her employer.

“Yeah, you’re right,” he replied finally.

“Right. I should get back to the kitchen to figure out dinner,” she said and waved.

Walker opened his mouth to call her back, but she was gone. He was treading a very dangerous path with no plan, no idea of what he was actually doing. He convinced his father to let him date someone not on his approved list, but they couldn’t be seen together in Woodstock, not on a date. He would start taking the other women out, away from the house, so Jaylyn wouldn’t have to stress over them and their obnoxious attitudes. He shook his head, searching for the best way to do this, but he would now juggle three women he did not want to be with and the one woman he had to figure out how to have by his side.

If it works out, he reminded himself. Jaylyn and he might not fit together as he dreamed, but that’s not what his jittery hands and fluttering heart told him.

“Douglas!” he bellowed, and the old man hustled into his study, looking panicked.

“What’s wrong?”

“Close the door, would you? I’m in desperate need of your assistance.”

Douglas’ lips thinned as he closed the door. “May I suggest the next time you are simply in need of my assistance, do not bellow as if you’re dying? I thought I would have a stroke.”

“Sorry, but it’s rather urgent. Jaylyn—I want to treat her tomorrow night.”

“Oh?” Douglas’ brow arched and he gave a knowing smile. “And what did you have in mind?”

“I’ve done something that will probably come back to bite me in the ass,” he admitted, “but I’ve convinced my father to let me date a new woman, one he doesn’t know…if you catch my drift.”

Douglas’ eyes lit up and he clapped his hands together. “Yes, I believe I do, but sir, you understand how tricky this will be? What happens if she’s the one you decide to be with? Leo Allard will never allow his son to be with, let alone marry, a chef.”

“We’ll worry about that if and when the time comes.”

Douglas frowned, worried, but didn’t argue. “What do you need from me?”

“Tomorrow night, I need help cooking.”

“I beg your pardon?”

“Oh, come off it, I’m not that bad a cook,” Walker said, but Douglas scratched his nose, looking down and away from him. “Fine, you cook and I’ll get the house ready for a fun date night for once.”

“Have you told her this is a date?”

Walker cringed. “Not exactly. I said a night as friends.”

“And that is mistake number one,” Douglas whispered. “Sir—Walker—you are playing a very dangerous game with your emotions and hers. I’m not sure I see this ending well.”

“So you expect me not to try in case it doesn’t turn out the way I hope?”

Douglas paced the study, his hands clasped behind his back. “I want you to understand the risks you’re taking here, for you and for Jaylyn. She’s already in a fragile state because of her father. If you get her hopes up that she can have a life with you and it doesn’t happen, it could break her. I know you see, as I do, how she’s barely hanging on some days.”

Walker hadn’t thought of what any fallout from this could do to Jaylyn. “You’re right. You’re absolutely right.”

“What would you like to do?”

“Go along with what I told her, I guess,” he said, his gut clenching as he thought of their kiss that morning and how much more he wanted to have with her. For the moment, he would have to wait. They both would. “We’ll order pizza or something instead.”

“Sounds like a good night with a friend to me,” Douglas agreed and quietly left the study.

Walker couldn’t eat anything and pushed the omelet away. The only thing that mattered was Jaylyn getting her restaurant back. He reminded himself of that again and again throughout the morning. He’d told her that from the beginning. Trying to be with her would mess everything up worse. If Leo ever found out, he would not only keep the restaurant and lodge from Walker, but ensure Jaylyn never worked in this state again, believing she had seduced his son to get what she wanted. Leo would take it personally, as he did every action made by another, especially if he believed it damaged his family.

After she had her place back and after he was married and divorced, then maybe he would have his chance with Jaylyn—if they were both willing to wait that long. He stood and walked to the window, glaring out into the woods surrounding his home. When had his life become so bloody difficult?