by Dani Wade
For some reason, she felt the need to defend her parent, even though Mason was right. “He hardly ever does anymore. Not like he used to. He had a heart episode about six years back that forcibly taught him the consequences of not controlling his temper.” She gave him a saccharine smile. “I guess you’re just special.” Or inspired a special kind of hatred maybe.
“Always have been,” he said. If he’d caught the insult, he let it roll off him.
His nonchalant handling of everything she said made her even angrier. Luckily, she was used to holding her emotions deep inside.
“Actually, I finished moving them to an assisted living facility yesterday.”
Mason’s raised eyebrow prompted her to explain. “I chose to put them there because at least I’ll know there’s someone to look out for them. Even though I feel that someone should be me.” The place had cost a small fortune, but she was hoping being out from under the crippling mortgage payments would help. Now, what did she do about herself? Well, she hadn’t figured that out yet.
Hopefully she’d find something soon, or she might just break down in a panic attack. She hadn’t been kidding when she said the first and last month’s rental deposits put most places out of her range. The fact that she didn’t even have friends she could call on to let her sleep on their couch made her feel lost and alone.
“Do you work?” Mason asked.
The change in conversation came from out of the blue. “What?”
“A job. Do you have one?”
His tone implied she didn’t even know what one was. She certainly wasn’t going to tell him about the new career she was building. He would probably think she was crazy or arrogant to believe she could make a living off her unique voice.
“Taking care of my parents and this place was my job,” she answered, even though most people didn’t view it that way. Mason probably wouldn’t either, even though it had been damn harder than a lot of things she could have done. And asking one of the families they knew in the area for a job would have meant exposing her parents’ failure to their world. She’d chosen not to go against their wishes.
True to form, Mason asked, “How’d that work out for you?”
“I did the best I could,” she said through gritted teeth.
“Think you could do better with a better boss and actual resources?”
Now she was really confused. “What?”
He turned away, once again inspecting the rooms. “My brother and I have plans—big plans. To establish our stables is a simple matter of quality stock, training and talent.” He turned back, giving her a glimpse of his passion for this project. Guess buying this estate wasn’t only about revenge.
“Establishing a reputation—that’s a whole different story,” he said, his gaze narrowing, “and we don’t have the breeding to back it up.”
She knew all too well how hard it was to keep and make contacts within society here—after all, her father had kept his illness a secret in order to protect his own social reputation. It took two things to break into the inner circle around here: breeding and money. Preferably both. But they’d accept just the money if someone was filthy rich.
“We can fast-track it—after all, money makes a big first impression.”
A surreal feeling swept through EvaMarie. Honestly, she couldn’t imagine she was talking to the same boy who’d held her so long ago. Sure, he’d talked horses and racing. She’d known he’d wanted to own his own stables one day—but money had never come up. Then.
They’d both been naïve to think it hadn’t mattered.
“Which means we will be turning this into a showplace,” Mason said, sweeping his hand to indicate the room.
“What does that have to do with me?”
He cocked his head to the side, a lock of his thick hair falling over his forehead. “You’ve lived here all your life?”
She nodded, afraid to speak. His sudden attention made her feel like a wild animal being lowered into a trap.
“I bet you know this place better than anyone.”
“The house and the land,” she said, feeling a pang of sadness she forced herself to ignore.
“So you could come to work for me. Help with the renovations. Prepare for the launch. I’ll even give you more time to move everything.”
Her heart started to pound as she studied him. “Why?” Revenge? Everything in her was saying to run. Why else could he possibly want this?
“I need a housekeeper. I’m assuming you need a job,” Mason said with a nonchalant shrug. “You need time to figure this all out. That’s what you were asking for, right?”
Regardless, working with him every day? Watching him take over her only home and never being able to show her true emotions for fear he would use them as a weapon against her? The last few encounters had been experience enough. No, thank you.
She shook her head. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“You don’t?” He stepped closer. “Seems to me you’re about to be out of a home, income... What’s the matter? Afraid your friends will find out you have to get your hands dirty for money?”
That was the least of her worries. Her parents had feared that—yes—but not her.
He moved even closer, giving her a quick whiff of a spicy aftershave. Why was he doing that? Suddenly she couldn’t breathe.
“I’ll give you a job and a place to live. Sounds a whole lot better than the alternative, don’t you think? And in return I get someone who can make this renovation move even faster.”
Looking into his bright blue eyes, she wasn’t so sure she agreed. There had to be a catch in there somewhere...but she truly wasn’t in a position to turn him down.
Four
EvaMarie smoothed down her hair, wishing she could calm her insides just as easily when she heard Mason come through the side door. From the sound of other voices, he wasn’t alone.
This time she was prepared.
Or so she thought. First she caught sight of Mason’s brother, Kane, who had filled out just as much as his brother. The two men were like solid bookends; carbon copies with broad shoulders and muscles everywhere. If only Mason’s shoulders were available for resting on. How incredible would it feel to have someone to rely on for a change? To lean against his back, feel his bare skin against hers, run her fingers down along those pecs—
Whoops. Not the direction she should let her mind wander down right now. Especially as the three men before her all turned their attention her way. The middle one—slighter than the brothers—looked vaguely familiar.
Kane stepped forward, intimidating in his size and intensity, until a smile split his serious look. “Hello, EvaMarie. I’m Kane.”
“I remember,” she murmured, and shook his hand. What a surprise. No smart remarks. No ultimatums. Looked like at least one brother could be reasonable. “Mason didn’t say when you’d be joining us.” She could sure use a buffer from his brother.
“Oh, I won’t be moving in right away. I’m still tying up some loose ends at our base camp, and we invested in a town house when we were scoping out the landscape.” He shared a glance with his brother. “But I’ll be here soon enough.”
The thought of being here alone with Mason set off a firestorm of nerves inside her.
“After I get the chance to work my magic on this place. I’ve been waiting years,” the slender man said as he moved forward. He didn’t have the bulk of the other two, but she could tell he made up for it with loads of personality. The good kind.
“Hello, EvaMarie,” he said, holding out his hand. “It’s been years since we’ve seen each other, so I don’t expect you to remember me. I’m Jeremy Blankenship.”
“Oh, yes. I thought you looked familiar. It’s good to see you again...”
Now that she had a name to go with t
he face, her memories clicked. Jeremy was a son of one of the active horse racing families who had decided to go completely against the grain and attend school for an interior design degree.
“Can we move past the pleasantries and get to work, please?” Mason groused.
“You’d better get used to pleasantries and small talk if you plan on socializing much in this town,” Kane warned.
Jeremy nodded his agreement before turning his gaze back to EvaMarie with questions in his soft brown eyes that had her tensing. “When I heard the Harringtons had bought the estate, I didn’t expect to find you still here.”
Before she could answer, Mason cut in. “EvaMarie will be overseeing a lot of the daily work and details for me.”
Jeremy looked between them for a moment. “Oh, so are y’all together?”
“No.” Mason’s voice was short, but EvaMarie wondered if that was a hint of satisfaction she heard. “When I say she’ll be working, I mean it literally. As in, for me.”
There it was... EvaMarie felt her face flame, blood rushing to the surface as she wondered how many other people he would find satisfaction in telling her new status to. Part of her wanted to crawl away in defeat, but she forced her shoulders back, projecting a confidence she was far from feeling. With any luck, this job would be a gateway to a new life for her. One that wasn’t going to be at the same level as she’d had growing up, but despite what a lot of people were probably gonna think, she was fine with that.
At least she’d be one step closer to this life being hers.
There was no point pouting over what she couldn’t change...yet. That was one thing life had taught her. The key was to simply put her head down and power through. “Jeremy, would you like a look around?” she asked, assuming that’s why he was here.
“Would love it. After all, I can’t interior design if I haven’t seen the interior, right?” He smiled big, as if to show her his approval, then linked his arm through hers and led her down the hallway.
She might just like having him here.
Most of the rooms were just going to need new wall treatments, updated lighting and furniture. Uncomfortable at first, EvaMarie soon put forth a few tentative ideas and received an accepting reaction from all but Mason, who remained aloof though not outwardly antagonistic. She directed the little party around the downstairs, then into the kitchen and family room.
“This would be a great place for a leather sofa and big screen television,” Kane said. “Right next to the kitchen. Perfect hang out space.”
The discussion devolved into name brands and types of electronic equipment that had EvaMarie yawning. Then Kane climbed the three steps to the main kitchen area. The rest of them followed. EvaMarie tried not to cringe. This room had been in desperate need of a makeover for years. Its mustard yellow appliances and farm motif dated it from the early eighties at the latest.
“I want more extensive work in here,” Kane said. “Stainless-steel appliances, new granite countertops, the whole shebang.”
“My brother,” Mason interrupted, “in this area, I give you free rein.”
“That’s because you don’t want to starve,” Kane teased.
Mason winked, pointing at his brother. “You are correct, sir.”
Without thought, EvaMarie said, “Well, looks like one of you learned to cook.”
The men glanced her way. Once more she felt that telltale heat in her cheeks. Maybe she’d gotten a little too comfortable—the last thing she should have alluded to was her one and only trip to the Harrington household when she was a teenager. That’s when she’d realized that the extent of Mason’s cooking skills included opening a box and the microwave door. Of course, hers weren’t comprehensive, but her mother had the housekeeper teach her the basics. She’d enjoyed it so much she’d taken home ec and some specialty classes once adulthood allowed her to pursue a small number of her own interests.
“Well, we will definitely coordinate these two spaces so they flow together,” Jeremy said, smoothly glossing over her sudden embarrassed silence. He gestured back toward the living area beyond the bar that served as a divider between the two spaces. “Do you gentlemen want a true man cave here or something more subtle?”
“Man, too bad there isn’t a place for a big game room,” Mason said. “We can at least watch the Super Bowl on a big screen here, but something more intense would be a great addition.”
Kane nodded. “Pinball machines, a poker table, a wine cellar. Wouldn’t that be awesome?”
“What are the odds of us getting something that’s awesome?” Mason asked Jeremy with a grin.
“Well, all of these first-floor rooms are open to the hallway. How true to the style of the house do you want to hold to?”
The guys bantered back and forth, Mason’s smile breaking through full throttle. For the first time, EvaMarie caught a true glimpse of the Mason she remembered. Oh, he was older, more ruggedly handsome. But that smile showcased the fun-loving, friendly resonance of his youth.
She’d missed it, as much as the thought scared her.
As they talked more and more about what would make a really cool splash in the house, EvaMarie could feel her stomachache growing. Ideas sparked in her brain...as did the voice of her father calling her a traitor. The push and pull of what should be clear family loyalties confused her. After all, her family had had a difficult time with what life had thrown at them. While losing their home was just part of that life, losing it to the Harringtons was unforgivable to her father.
She shouldn’t be helping them. But she needed to do a good job, right?
“What about the basement?” she asked, the words bursting forth before she’d actually made up her mind.
The three men shared a glance, then Jeremy asked, “What basement?”
EvaMarie offered the interior designer a tentative smile despite her guilt and led the way back out to the breezeway. On the far side of the stairwell was a regular door that opened to a fairly wide set of stairs. She could feel Kane as he leaned around the doorway. “Looks promising,” he said.
“What it’s gonna look is dusty,” she said as she started down, flicking the light switch on as she went. “I can’t even remember the last time anyone was down here.”
She’d actually forgotten about the space, which was currently used for storage. Probably a good thing. Thinking about packing and moving all the stuff down here too might have thrown her over the edge of what sanity she had left.
Funny the things you could block out to protect your mind in a precarious state, she thought.
“Wow. This is incredible,” Jeremy was saying as his dress shoes clicked on the concrete floor.
“The open space runs under this half of the house,” EvaMarie explained, relaxing a little in the face of his enthusiasm. “Since the house was built into the hill, they finished this portion for the square footage. But with only the three of us, there wasn’t any need for it.”
As Mason’s expression darkened, she decided it was time to keep her mouth shut again. The men explored, brainstorming all the cool things they would do down here, sparing no expense on Mexican tile and glass block room dividers and yes, a place for pinball machines. Her input was no longer needed. Not wanting to get in the way, EvaMarie wandered back the other way to the one room on the other side of the stairway. A large open entryway framed the room beyond like a picture.
The long-mirrored wall reflected the ballet bar attached at a child’s level. She could also see her elaborate doll house closed up in the corner. The few stuffed animals she’d kept were resting safely in the wooden toy chest. This had been her own space when she was a little girl—a safe haven from her father’s unreasonably high expectations and her mother’s silent pressure to conform.
A safe haven, until her mother had created the library on the third floor the year she turned twel
ve. It had been her birthday present.
“Havin’ fun?”
Mason’s voice right behind her head caused her to jump. Her heart thudded, even though there wasn’t any danger. Was there?
She glanced over her shoulder to meet his gaze. “Sure.”
“Just don’t have too much fun. You’re here to work, remember?”
I don’t think you’ll let me forget, will you? Probably not the most appropriate response to an employer...
Kane paused on his way to the stairs to pat Mason’s shoulder. EvaMarie could hear Jeremy’s shoes on the steps as he ascended.
“This is gonna be great,” Kane said with a grin before he headed up.
EvaMarie had marveled at the camaraderie between the brothers. After all, she hadn’t had a sibling in a long time. Certainly not as an adult. Would Chris have stood by her through thick and thin? He’d been extremely protective of her, so she had a feeling he would have.
Only he’d never gotten the chance.
“You’re lucky. It’s wonderful that you have a brother like that,” she said, her gaze trained on the stairs though her eyes remained unfocused, wishing for something she couldn’t have.
“Actually, it’s wonderful to have someone at your back when the world turns on you.”
The sharp tone penetrated her thoughts, the pain catching her attention. She glanced Mason’s way to find his glare trained on her, close and uncomfortable.
“Yes,” she whispered. “Yes, it is.”
As if he knew he’d made his point, Mason walked away, leaving EvaMarie with the uncomfortable knowledge that she’d reminded him exactly why he was here...and why she was here too.
For a few minutes she’d forgotten, and that could be detrimental in a lot of ways.
Then he glanced over his shoulder to deliver another dictum. “The furniture for my bedroom will be here tomorrow. You’ll set it up good for me, right?”
Sure. She had no problem performing what should be a perfectly normal task. So why did it feel so intimate to her?
* * *
