A bell rang and warm air wafted through the room. Dani turned, watching as one of the couples exited.
“I’m sorry, were you waiting for a room?”
Dani spun back to find Mac studying her. She opened her mouth, releasing the pent-up breath, and tried not to stare at his wide chest, broad shoulders and sensual lips.
His strong jaw firmed. His gaze roved over her face then lingered on her mouth, heating her cheeks.
“It’s a girl, Dad,” Nadine piped, tugging at his jeans.
Mac started then jerked his eyes back up to meet hers.
“I can see that.” He bent, set the second girl on her feet then nodded. “I’m Mac Tenley, owner. Sorry about the wait. Ms. Ann will check you in momentarily. If you’ll excuse me?”
Dani sighed as he moved past her and made his way over to the sole couple still in the waiting area. Time to go. She tightened her grip on her bag and started toward the exit.
“Are you gonna shovel the horse poop?” Nadine asked, skipping in front of her. “Cuz we hate when dad makes us shovel the poop. We usually have to do it when we get in trouble.”
The other girl scooted to her sister’s side, tears gone and interest sparking in her eyes. “Who’s she?”
“The new hand,” Nadine said.
“But she’s not a cowboy like Mr. Tim.”
“I know.” Nadine lifted her chin, a self-satisfied grin appearing. “She’s a girl.”
The child looked Dani over then stepped forward and held out her hand. “Hello. I’m Maddie.”
Unable to resist, Dani smiled and shook her hand. “Dani. It’s nice to meet you.”
“Girls, I asked you to stay put in the game room,” Mac muttered as he walked by. He escorted the couple from the waiting area to the front desk and smiled. “I apologize for the wait. Ms. Ann will have you settled in no time and the first night will be free. I hope you enjoy your stay and if you need anything, please don’t hesitate to ask.”
The couple thanked him and Ann began checking them in. Mac took both girls by the hand then started leading them down the hall.
“But, Dad, wait.” Nadine jerked against Mac’s hold, halting him. “That’s the new hand you said was coming.”
Dani bit her lip and headed for the door.
“What?”
Mac’s sexy voice echoed across the foyer. Dani quickened her step.
“The new hand,” Nadine repeated. “Dani Jones.”
Dani twisted the doorknob, goose bumps breaking out on her nape as Mac’s rumble drew closer.
“Wait. Are you Dani Jones?”
Dani’s hand froze around the doorknob. This was it. Time to end it. No more lies. She didn’t have to say she was Dani Jones. She’d just say she’d made a mistake. That after seeing the state of the place, she’d decided the job wasn’t for her and then she’d leave.
And that’d be the end of it.
She glanced over her shoulder as his intense gaze traveled from the top of her head to the tips of her shoes.
“I don’t mean to be rude,” Mac said. “But you’re not what I was expecting.”
Dani frowned. The disappointment in his dark eyes raised familiar hackles. Ones that stiffened her back and clenched her jaw every time her brother shut her out of a business meeting or her father asked her to file another stack of paperwork.
Her mouth opened, the curt words jumping off her tongue before she had a chance to stop them. “Why? Because I’m a woman?”
* * *
DAMN. HE’D WALKED right into that one.
Mac winced, taking in the angry flare of the woman’s mesmerizing blue eyes and tight set of her slim shoulders. He shook his head and held up a hand. “Now, that’s not what I meant.”
Though it hit closer to the truth than he wanted to admit. He sure hadn’t pictured a woman when he’d finally received an email in response to his ad a week ago. And he’d assumed the odd spelling of Danny—with an i—had simply been unfamiliar to him. It’d never occurred to him that a woman was applying for the job.
Of course, seeing as how he was strapped for cash and in desperate need of extra help, he’d had no problem overlooking the applicant’s lack of experience when he’d read the email. If this Dani was willing to accept the next-to-nothing pay balanced out with free lodging and meals, Mac was more than eager to hire him.
Her. Mac shifted from one boot to the other and cleared his throat. He’d be more than eager to...
She faced him, adjusted the strap on her shoulder then put her hands on her hips. The action pulled her thin T-shirt tight across her ample breasts and the firm tap of her sneaker on the hardwood floor drew his eyes to the shapely length of her jean-clad legs.
“Well?” she asked, the soft curves of her mouth tightening into a hard line. “What did you mean?”
Ah, hell. He tore his gaze away from the appealing curves of her hips, refocused on her face and ignored the latent heat stirring in his blood. Add ogling to employment discrimination.
Figured the first woman in four years that sucker-punched him with lust would be a potential employee. He didn’t have time for women and kept his distance from them for a reason. He grimaced. Three reasons, actually. But it looked like fate was hell-bent on making his life difficult.
“I just meant that I was expecting someone different.”
Her eyes narrowed, her thick lashes obscuring those beautiful blues. “A man, I suppose?”
Mac glanced down at his girls, each hugging one of his legs. They stared up at him. Innocent curiosity lifted Maddie’s expression. Nadine’s judgmental scowl—which she flashed him often lately—deepened.
Cringing, he looked up. “You have to admit, your name can be misleading.”
She flushed and the redness stamping her face spread down the graceful curve of her neck.
“You are Dani Jones, aren’t you?” He placed a hand on the girls’ shoulders and hugged them closer.
She’d never actually confirmed it and the heat in his blood cooled, slowing it in his veins and leading him to scrutinize her more closely. Her clothing had seen better days and the ragged shoes she sported wouldn’t last more than a week on the ranch. But her nails, which still pressed into her hips, were manicured to perfection. The soft shade of pink nail polish matched the lipstick accentuating her lush mouth and the stud gemstones in her delicate earlobes.
Every bit of which screamed the exact opposite of a hard-living, nomadic ranch hand who’d applied for the position.
“Look,” Mac scoffed. “If you’re not Dani Jones and some developer sent you out here to sweet-talk me into selling my land, you might as well sashay back to where you came from. I’ve had at least seven agents here this week already and I’m not in the mood for another debate. I’m not interested in selling my land. I’m interested in hiring help.”
“But she is Dani Jones,” Nadine said, frowning up at him. “That’s what she said. And a girl can be a ranch hand if she wants to.” She released his leg, walked over to the woman and grabbed her hand. “Tell him. A girl can be a ranch hand, can’t she?”
The redness marring the woman’s fair skin deepened as she looked down at Nadine. Hesitating, she licked her lips then smiled, saying softly, “Yes. A girl can do anything she sets her mind to.” She faced him head-on. “I’m not here to sweet-talk you and I’m