The Bachelor's Stand-In Wife
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She wouldn’t move back to that hellhole under any circumstances. She swallowed against the still roiling emotions. “It’s not necessary. I was going to look for a new place anyway.”
“All right. You’ll be living in a cottage behind the main house, and it’s fully furnished, including all the kitchen things. I’ll arrange for some movers and a storage unit for your belongings.”
A cottage? Their own space? “My apartment came furnished. I have very little to transport.” She and Hannah had moved so many times, they had the routine down pat.
“You’re making this very easy, Ms. Sinclair.”
“Valerie. It’s my job to make your life easy.”
“If you can pull that off, you’re a miracle worker.”
He stood; she did, as well. Apparently when he made up his mind, that was that.
“How soon can you start?” he asked.
“Where is your house?”
“In Chance City, close to Grass Valley and Nevada City. Are you familiar with the area?”
“Not much. I know it’s a Mother Lode location from the gold rush era.”
“Right. It’s beautiful country, but the house itself is a little isolated.”
“Isolation doesn’t bother me.” They would be about an hour north of Sacramento. Clean air, and stars at night. Trees. Their own cottage. “I can be there tonight.”
“I’ll send someone to help.”
“I can manage, thanks.” She smiled, hopefully diverting him from becoming insistent on helping her. She really didn’t want anyone associated with him to see where she lived.
The tiredness in his face smoothed out—his very handsome face, she finally realized, admiring his tall, athletic body.
“Whatever expenses you incur in moving out, I’ll pay. Just let me know how much.”
“Thank you.”
“And if everything works out, I’ll buy out your contract from At Your Service. Falcon Motorcars would become your employer, so you’d have benefits.”
Benefits. Valerie wished he would leave so that she could sit down. An internal earthquake had her trembling. She was surprised he couldn’t see it.
She’d been without health insurance for the year that she hadn’t been able to find permanent work. “Feel free to start putting through the new-employee paperwork,” she said.
“You’re very sure that things are going to work out.”
“Three things you’ll learn about me, Mr. Falcon. I’m competent, I’m reliable and I’m loyal. I also know I have to prove myself.”
“You can call me David.” He pulled a large envelope from his briefcase and handed it to her. “You’ll find a map to the house inside this envelope, and some general instructions. A few forms you need to fill out. A key to the cottage, in case I’m not there when you arrive.” He gestured toward the door. “I’ll walk you out.”
“I think we both probably have to talk to Denise.”
“Right. I’ll go first.” He shook her hand. “See you later.”
“Thank you for the opportunity,” she said. Now go away.
He walked out the door.
She sank into the chair, her knees giving out. He stuck his head back around the corner. “You like dogs?”
“Yes.” She tried to stand.
“Don’t get up,” he said, eyeing her intently. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. My foot got caught in the chair leg.”
He waited a couple of beats. “Is your daughter good with dogs?”
“She loves them, but she’s never had one of her own.”
“I have a great old-lady dog. I’ve had to foster her with my brother and his four kids because I’ve been gone so much. She looks at me with accusing eyes every time I leave their house without her. I’d like to bring her home.”
“By all means.”
He slapped the doorjamb and nodded. “Thanks.”
“You’re welcome.”
He disappeared, but she held herself together, in case he surprised her by returning—
“One more thing,” he said, again appearing in the doorway. “Can your daughter swim?”
“Yes.”
“Good. I have a pool. I don’t want to have to worry about her.”
“She’ll abide by the rules.”
“Okay.” Then he was off again.
She stared into space. He had no idea what having this job meant to her. None. She didn’t care if she had to work 24/7. Didn’t care if she lost sleep or weight or her mind. Well, maybe she would care if she lost her mind.
It was a good job, out of the city, working for a man Denise assured her was decent and successful. He’d have to sign a contract, the same as Valerie would, spelling out the details of the business arrangement, including that there would be no sexual contact between employer and employee. She could live with that.
All she wanted was to provide for her daughter.
Finally she could do that.
Chapter Two
“Over there, Mom.” Hannah pointed straight ahead. “See the mailbox? That’s the address. But where’s the house?”
Valerie braked, slowing, then came to a stop next to the mailbox. Ahead she spotted a break in the abundance of trees and shrubs and assumed it was a driveway. She nosed the car down the gravel road, past a small forest of wild oaks, fragrant pines and stately cedars. Then she came upon a wide firebreak clearing and an amazing house, all glass and logs and rocks, reaching toward the sky, the stark edges softened by clouds, the windows reflecting treetops.
“Awesome,” Hannah said reverently. “We’re gonna live here?”
Valerie was no less awed. She’d expected a nice house, but not one that should be profiled in Architectural Digest. “Remember we won’t be living in the house but in a cottage on the property.”
No one came out of the house to greet or question them, so Valerie continued on, following a gently curving path around the house, discovering several buildings—a four-car garage, what looked to be a stable and the building referred to as the cottage.