“The dogs like her,” Walker mused as he readied for his date in the master bedroom.

“Yes, I noticed that the first day she stepped through the door,” Douglas replied. “A good sign that she belongs here.”

Walker finished pulling his sweater on over his head. “In a sense.”

“She seems very fond of them as well.”

“Why didn’t you tell me who she was?” he asked, pinning the man with a glare. He’d wanted to scold him earlier for it, but the story his father printed in the paper took precedence over being annoyed at Douglas.

“I saw no need. She’s an amazing cook, you said so yourself.”

“Yes, but I like to know who’s working for me.”

The moment she’d said her name, all he saw was his father’s cold face as he commanded Walker to go to Jaybird’s that day and inform the employees they were going to be let go. He couldn’t do it—refused to do it—and his father went and did it himself. Guilt was his constant companion now and seeing the daughter of the owner in his kitchen, working for him…he’d snapped.

“I came across as a spiteful bastard,” he grumbled.

“Yes, well. You’ll have to find a way to make up for it.”

“Me? She mouthed off to me first.”

“And you don’t think she has the right to do so?” Douglas challenged.

Walker clamped his mouth shut and turned back to the mirror, ruffling his messy hair. “She has all the right, but…I don’t want the woman in charge of my food hating me.”

“That woman has too much self-respect to risk her reputation by giving you food poisoning,” Douglas promised. “Your date will arrive shortly. Shall I put the dogs outside this evening? It is the perfect temperature for them, I think.”

Walker looked out the window as the yard lights popped on as the sun sank below the trees. “As long as it’s not too cold for them.”

“Sir, they each have ten pounds of fur. If they decide they want in, I will wrangle them upstairs.”

He wasn’t really worried about his furry beasts. He had to call them inside during the winter because they loved being outside in the snow for hours. He was worried about this date with Georgette and the woman cooking in the kitchen. The article his father put out didn’t help his emotions, but Leo had refused to take his calls all day long. Instead of waiting for Walker to inform him of the progress made on the property, he set a grand opening date, as well as letting everyone know that this new lodge, sitting on the outskirts of several small towns, would cater mostly to the wealthy. He was rubbing it in the locals’ faces, and Walker had to deal with the backlash. The town of Woodstock already hated him. He doubted he’d be able to show his face there anymore.

“Walker?”

“Yes, yes, I’m coming,” he said and flipped off his bedroom light.

The patio door was just closing when the doorbell rang. He answered it and Georgette frowned. “Answering your own door again? Walker, what is the point of having that old man around if he doesn’t even answer your front door for you?”

Walker offered a charming smile and let her inside. “He keeps me sane, what can I say?”

“Hmm.” She pulled off her long, black coat to reveal a blood-red dress beneath with a plunging neckline and very short skirt. She took a deep breath and smiled. “Dinner smells fantastic.”

He sniffed the air and had to agree. “Can I offer you a drink before dinner?”

Manners made him offer his arm, and she wrapped her hand around his elbow, her red nails practically digging into his sweater as if trying to get a hold on him so he couldn’t get away. They passed the living room windows and the dogs spotted them, barking instantly. Walker held back his sharp comment when Georgette cursed about them again.

“Appetizers? I’m impressed,” she commented as they entered the dining room.

“Yes, yes, of course. Only the best,” he said, trying to act like it was all part of the plan. The door to the kitchen was open a crack, but it swung closed when he took a step towards it. “Wine?”

Georgette nodded, too busy to answer as she had picked up a piece of bruschetta and ate it faster than Walker had seen her eat anything before. “This is amazing. I’ve never had it quite like this. You found a new cook?”

“I did, and I have a feeling you will truly enjoy dinner.” He handed her a glass of white and clinked his brandy glass against hers. “Cheers.”

She flashed her perfect, white-toothed smile at him, and he wished he had something stronger in his glass to make it through another evening with her. She wasn’t as terrible compared to the other two. Georgette had yet to feel him under the table as Brittany had, or insist on talking only about how mistreated she had been growing up as Helena did. To be fair, she wasn’t actually mistreated. In her mind, her daddy telling her no was mistreatment. Walker would never marry her. He almost went insane after spending an evening with her.

“You never said yes or no,” Georgette asked after the appetizer was cleared away by Douglas and he announced dinner would be served soon.

“About?” Walker asked, rattling his brain about the conversation they just had.

“About whether you mind me staying over tonight.” She trailed her fingers down the neckline of her dress, and Walker averted his gaze. “For a man who used to be considered a playboy amongst the rich, you act so shy around me.”

“I’ve long since put those days behind me,” he explained. “My life is different now. I’m different. Surely you can respect that, unless you want me to go back to my playboy ways.”

She giggled, a sound that did not suit her at all. “Only with me.”

“But as you know, I’m currently dating three women and falling into bed with one would cause problems.”

“Or you could simply choose me and be done with it.”

Walker couldn’t argue with that, if only to get rid of the other two, but Leo would expect a wedding within a month. He needed more time than that to get out of marrying a woman who would dig her claws in deep and make his life a living hell. “I’m afraid I have yet to make my decision.”

She sighed dramatically. “Have it your way then. Maybe I’ll change your mind once the new lodge is open. We could spend a romantic weekend there? Get away from the rest of the world? I had no idea it was so close to opening.”

Gritting his teeth as he tried not to lose his temper, he murmured. “Neither did I.”

The kitchen door swung open a second later and Douglas appeared with dinner. “Salmon for you, Ms. Tindal,” he announced, setting down her plate first and then Walker’s. “Enjoy.”

Walker watched Georgette move the food around on her plate, but when she took a bite, bliss overtook her face and she dug in. He breathed a sigh of relief and ate his fish, too. Each bite was as good as the first, and by the time he was finished, he was just the right amount of full. Georgette held up her glass when Douglas stepped back into the room and he helpfully poured her more without a word.

“That was the best dinner I’ve had here,” she told Walker. “Who is your new cook?”

“A well-kept secret,” Walker said, and Douglas smiled as he carried away the empty dinner plates. “I have a feeling dessert will be as good.”

She sipped her wine as she glanced around the dining room. “I’ve been meaning to ask if plan to update this sad, dark interior.”

Walker frowned. “I like the lodge look. You don’t?”

“It’s so dark and masculine. You are in desperate need of a womanly touch to brighten the place up.”

She started talking about different colors and curtains for the windows, but Walker hated curtains on the windows. He had no reason to block the view. No one lived within two miles of his home, and the only eyes out back were those of the animals living in the woods. He stared out the windows as she continued to talk about new styles of furniture and modernizing the dining room when he heard the scrabble of nails on the tile floor. Douglas yelled and a more feminine curse followed. Georgette turned around as the kitchen door slammed open and all three dogs rushed into the dining room.

They barked and growled as they surrounded Georgette in her chair. Douglas and Jaylyn ran out after them. Walker whistled for them to stop, but they refused to listen to him.

“Get these beasts away from me,” Georgette screamed.

Walker whistled again, but they continued to ignore him.

Jaylyn put her fingers to her lips and whistled, much louder than Walker had, and instantly, the dogs stopped, turning to face her. “Down,” she ordered, lowering her hand.

Walker was about to tell her they wouldn’t listen again, but all three plopped their butts down on the floor, eyeing her closely. He watched in stunned silence as she shook her head at the dogs and moved to the kitchen door.

“Good boys get cookies. Are you good boys?” Strider’s booming bark made Georgette jump and Jaylyn grinned behind her back. “Then let’s get a cookie. Come on, you lot. Into the kitchen.” She opened the door and the dogs ran into the kitchen. She followed without another word, leaving Douglas behind.

“I’m sorry. Strider, that rascal—I barely had the door open and he barreled inside,” Douglas explained apologetically to Georgette. “I’m sorry if I caused you any distress, Ms. Tindal.”

She glared at him and opened her mouth, but Walker cut her off. “No harm done, Douglas. Thank Jaylyn for me.”

“Of course, sir. Dessert will be brought out soon.”

“Tell her to hold dessert,” Georgette snapped, standing from her chair, her legs shaky. “I think I’ve had enough for one night.”

Walker nodded for Douglas to head back to the kitchen and held out his arm for Georgette. “I’m sorry if the dogs frightened you, but they are part of my family.”

“Yes, as you’ve told me numerous times.” She ignored his arm and glared towards the kitchen. “That woman, who is she?”

“Jaylyn? She’s my new cook.”

“Your new cook,” she repeated, her face blank.

Walker wasn’t sure where she was going with this. “Yes, we hired her a week ago.”

“You hired a woman who looks like she does to be your cook? Do you think I’m an idiot?”

“What the bloody hell are you talking about?”

Georgette laughed sharply and stomped towards the front door. “That woman is gorgeous. You can’t tell me she’s only your cook. No wonder you don’t want to have sex with any of us. What other hired help do you have around the house, huh? You… you’re just like all the other rich men.”

“I honestly have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Don’t lie to me. I saw the way you looked at her.”

“How did I look at her?” Walker demanded, his voice rising too. What was wrong with this woman? Was she intimidated by another beautiful woman in his house? Jaylyn was attractive, but she wanted nothing to do with him. She’d made that obvious that morning.

“Fascinated, amazed. You were struck dumb when she came out of the kitchen.”

Walker ran his hands through his hair and prayed for patience as he followed a raging Georgette to the door.

* * *

In the kitchen, Douglas and Jaylyn held plates of pie and ate it as they eavesdropped on the argument. The kitchen door was open a crack so they could hear better. When Georgette said her line about Jaylyn, her blood boiled with anger.

“Are they all like this?” she whispered to Douglas. His eyes widened as he nodded, his mouth full of pie. “Great. I’ll have a wonderful time working here.”

Georgette was still screaming about how Walker looked at Jaylyn when he yelled, “Because the dogs listened to her! They hardly listen to me, but they listened to her. Good Lord, woman, do you hear how crazy you sound right now?”

Jaylyn and Douglas exchanged surprised glances.

“You’re calling me crazy now?” Georgette shot back. “Is that what you’re doing?”

“Yes, I am because you’re acting like that. I hired Jaylyn because she is the best cook in the whole damned state, possibly the east coast. I do not sleep with the hired help.”

For some reason, those words hit Jaylyn hard and she stiffened. Not that she would ever dream of sleeping with Walker. He was handsome and adorable in those glasses, and that messy head of hair was hard to resist running her hands through, but he was the enemy in this scenario. Sleeping with him was way out of the question.

Then why are you so angry?

“You swear there’s nothing going on between you and that woman?”

“Nothing. She cooks for me and the dogs and that’s it,” Walker insisted.

More words were exchanged, but the yelling stopped and they couldn’t hear any more.

“Damn,” Jaylyn whispered and let the kitchen door close. “I was enjoying my dessert with a show. Please tell me the other two women are as entertaining.”

“More so, depending on what happens,” Douglas promised.

Jaylyn took another bite of the pie and set the plate down so she could start cleaning up. Douglas sat at the kitchen table and scratched Strider’s head as the other two happily ate the treats she baked that day. She wanted to ask more questions about the three women, but the kitchen door swung open and the dogs rushed to greet a very exhausted Walker.

“I calmed her down enough that I think she’ll make it home in one piece,” Walker announced.

“Good. Have a piece of pie,” Douglas insisted, offering him a plate.

Walker took it and sat down heavily at the kitchen table. Jaylyn kept washing dishes, not wanting to interrupt the two men. “By the way, before she blew up about the dogs, she said dinner was the best she’s ever had.”

“Was that before or after she freaked out because you have a woman cooking in your kitchen?”

“Before,” he replied sharply. “You were eavesdropping? Douglas, I don’t know why I expect better of you.”

“I’m an old man. I need something to keep me going.”

“And listening in on my conversations is what keeps you young and alive, is that it?”

Jaylyn turned around to warn him about talking to Douglas so rudely, but the two men were grinning at each other like teenagers. “Men,” she mumbled and went back to her washing.

“Thank you for what you did with the dogs,” Walker said, sounding sincerely grateful and surprised. “I can’t believe they listen to you so well.”

“It’s the food,” she informed him. “It’s always about the food.”

“You don’t have dogs of your own?”

“No, I’m not home enough to take care of one so never had one,” she explained, shutting off the water and drying her hands on a towel. Out of habit, she slung it over her shoulder and hopped up on the counter. Walker’s eyes narrowed for a moment then his face softened. Douglas glanced from Walker to her and back again, the gears in his mind turning so hard Jaylyn was surprised smoke didn’t pour out of the older man’s ears. Whatever he was thinking, her gut told her it was a bad idea. A very bad idea.

“You certainly act as though you’ve been around them your whole life.”

“Thanks, I think.”

“That was a compliment.”

She pulled the towel off her shoulder, twisting it around her hands. “I’m sure it was and I appreciate it, but I’m not sure why you keep them locked out at all.”

“My guests don’t particularly like dogs.”

“But this is your house, right?” she asked. “Your house, your rules.”

Walker set his fork down and glowered. “It’s not that simple.”

“Sure it is. The dogs would get used to these ‘guests,’” she said, holding up her fingers for air quotes, “if they were around them more. They need exposure, not being thrown in the backyard.”

He stood abruptly and took a step towards her. “You don’t understand why I have to do anything, so I would appreciate it if you kept your thoughts on the matter to yourself. It doesn’t concern you.”

“No, of course not, because I’m just the hired help.”

His neck strained and his fingers twitched at his sides as they stared each other down. Why had she said that? She wanted to be the hired help and nothing more.

“I’ll finish cleaning up and head home for the night,” she informed him casually.

“You don’t have to come in tomorrow.”

“Unless there’s a reason you don’t want me around, I’d prefer to be here working than at home.” She started drying off the pots and pans so she could put them away and not have to worry about them in the morning when she returned. Chair legs scraped across the floor and she caught sight of Douglas sneaking out of the kitchen, the rat. “Was there anything else?”

Walker seemed to flit from annoyance to guilt and back to annoyance as he shook his head. “No, but everyone needs a day off. You are free to take one when you need it.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.” She waited for him to leave, but he stayed. The tension in the room was thick and she shouldn’t have asked another question to make it worse, but curiosity got the better of her. “Why didn’t you let me go?”

“I beg your pardon?”

“When you found out my name—that I’m the daughter of Darien Wilson—why didn’t you fire me? Why would you want me cooking for you when you didn’t even want me in my own restaurant?”

The guilt came back tenfold for her own lying about her motives for having this job and she wanted to kick herself for asking.

“Business, I’m afraid.”

“Business, right.”

“And you are an impressive chef, the best I’ve seen in this kitchen since I moved out on my own. I’m not letting you go over a business matter.”

Jaylyn slammed the pot down on the counter she’d been drying. “Business to you, but that restaurant was my parents’ life. My life. My dream, and y’all…y’all trampled all over it like it was nothing. It might simply be business to you, but it was personal to a hell of a lot of people around here.”

Not sure if she could handle putting the dishes away without breaking them in the process, she lifted her keys and jacket from the hook by the back door.

“Wait,” he blurted.

“What for?”

“I just… I’m sorry for what happened,” he said lamely.

“You’re sorry. I’m glad to hear you’re sorry,” she said quietly. “But sorry doesn’t fix the problem and it doesn’t pay the bills. I’ll see you tomorrow, Walker.” She stepped outside before he could say anything else.

The nights were growing warmer as they moved into March, and she didn’t need her jacket. She climbed into her beat-up old truck parked around the back and started the engine. It sputtered and choked but wouldn’t turn over. She took a deep breath and tried again, but it barely made a sound.

“Damn it. Come on, you piece of shit,” she yelled, slamming her palms against the steering wheel. The truck died completely, and she rested her forehead on the wheel. “Please? I’m sorry, baby, but please start. A little longer, you only have to work a little longer…” She held her breath and turned the key and the engine roared to life. “Thank you.”

The drive home was longer than usual, her anger making it take forever. She pulled into the drive and considered going to see Hannah at the bar when she saw lights still on inside. Her parents knew she had a job, but she hadn’t told them who she worked for just yet. They really had no time to talk to her much. Mariah was exhausted from taking care of Darien, and he hardly left the bedroom anymore. One day, she’d tell them.

“How was your day?” Mariah asked as she stepped in the front door.

“Long, but not bad.” Her first check would be deposited tomorrow and she could help her parents pay some of their overdue bills. She needed a new truck, but that had to wait a little longer. “How’s Dad?”

“Sleeping, and I’m headed there, too. I wanted to see you, is all.”

“Mom? About yesterday,” Jaylyn started, but Mariah hugged her.

“No, I’m sorry. We should’ve told you sooner about everything, but your Dad wanted you to focus on the restaurant and yourself, not worry about bills.” She kissed her forehead, smoothing her hair back. “We’ll make it through, though, don’t you worry. We always find a way.”

Mariah had told her that all the time when she was a kid. Back then, she’d believed it wholeheartedly, but watching her mom walk tiredly upstairs to go to bed, she knew in her heart they wouldn’t make it out of this situation in one piece.

She walked to the kitchen and fixed herself a bag of popcorn. Stress gave her the munchies, and though she didn’t need to eat, she wanted to. She grabbed a can of pop from the fridge and walked down the short hall to her tiny bedroom on the first floor. She popped some cheesy movie into the DVD player and watched the actors move across the TV, not following the story at all. Two months ago, life had been close to perfect, and now…now they were taking a trip down a shitty path that left her questioning every decision she ever made. If she’d paid attention more, if she’d talked to her parents more, if she had taken a different path and found a job that wasn’t so risky…

Too many ifs, and they circled around and around as she sat on her bed and the negativity closed in.

Before she turned off the light to go to sleep, her cell dinged with a notification. “Hmm, looks like my money was—what the fuck?” She stared at the number deposited into her checking account, her mouth hanging open. It had to be a mistake. That was much more than the amount Douglas told her she would be paid on a weekly basis.

Two-thousand dollars. He’d paid her two-thousand dollars. For a week. It had to be an error. First thing in the morning, she’d track him down and show him the deposit.

Or you could not tell him and use it to pay bills, she told herself. But that didn’t sit well with her. If he did realize he paid her that much in error and asked for it back, she’d have to find a way to make it up to him. She wasn’t taking his money. That wasn’t who her parents raised her to be. She set her phone down and pulled the covers up over her head to drown out the world and get some sleep.