A Place for Family. Mia Ross

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СКАЧАТЬ handsome,” she cooed. “I was hoping to run into you.”

      Clearly not put off by the very obvious display, he flashed her a grin that could weaken the knees of any female on the planet. “Hey yourself, Ginger. What are you doing here?”

      “Interviewing for the nanny job. I think I’d be perfect for it, don’t you?”

      Her honey-pie drawl made Amanda want to gag, but John didn’t seem to notice. After making a show of thinking it over, he nodded. “Could be.”

      The woman might be perfect for something, Amanda mused, but domestic goddess wasn’t the first option that came to mind.

      “Could you put in a good word for me?” Ginger asked. “This would be a great job for me, since I just love your niece and nephew.”

      Her supposed affection for the kids was such a thinly veiled act, Amanda couldn’t help getting in on the fun. “Oh, that’s nice. What are their names again?”

      Ginger blinked at her as if she’d just noticed someone else standing in the kitchen. “Keith and Emma.”

      John’s barely suppressed grin told her the nanny hopeful had missed the mark. Satisfied that she’d correctly nailed Ginger’s intentions, Amanda called up a friendly smile. “I hope it goes well for you.”

      “Thanks!”

      After another adoring look at John, the clueless woman flounced down the steps and out to a sunny-yellow VW bug. It was the ideal car for John’s not-so-secret admirer, Amanda thought. It wasn’t like her to be so smug, but every once in a while she met someone so transparent, she just couldn’t help it.

      Grinning, John shook a finger at her. “That wasn’t very nice.”

      “What are the kids’ names?”

      “Kyle and Emily. It still wasn’t very nice.”

      Amanda recognized that he was trying to sound stern, but the twinkle in his eyes gave him away.

      “She’s an empty-headed moron obviously more interested in you than your sister’s children. I can’t imagine she’d have gotten the job even if I wasn’t here to point that out.” An idea popped up, and she sighed. “Is she your girlfriend?”

      “Nope. Just a friend.”

      “One of many, no doubt.”

      Her harsh tone surprised her. Evidently, John was still the fun, great-looking guy he’d always been, and it only made sense that he’d have his pick of the women around Harland. Who he chose to date—or not date—was none of her business.

      Her grumbly train of thought was interrupted by a question from the living room. “Is that Amanda Gardner I hear?”

      The fact that Marianne recognized her voice after all these years gave Amanda a warm, fuzzy feeling. She took the cue to step into the doorway and wave. “Hi, Marianne.”

      She groaned. “Oh, don’t stand out there in the kitchen. It’s such a mess.”

      The sink was stacked with soaking pans and dishes, and a jumble of boots and shoes were piled near the door. Some schoolbooks and a newspaper were strewn across the table, but it really wasn’t all that bad, and she said so.

      Marianne’s laughter plainly said she disagreed. “You’re so sweet. Come on in.”

      John moved aside and let Amanda go in first. A quick glance at him showed her no emotion on his face at all. She couldn’t tell if he was upset about her calling Ginger out or couldn’t possibly care less. The way things had been going for her lately, it was probably the second choice.

      When Marianne saw her, she recoiled with the same shocked reaction John had. Quickly, the expression shifted to the kind a Southern lady plastered on when she disapproved of something but would never dream of saying so.

      “Well, just look at you,” Marianne gushed in a motherly tone. “You’re so stylish, you could be on the cover of one of those Hollywood magazines.”

      She wasn’t criticizing exactly, but she wasn’t pleased, either. Trying not to take it personally, Amanda changed the focus from herself to Marianne. “That’s nothing compared to what you’ve been up to. A new husband wasn’t enough? You had to go for the jackpot with twins?”

      “I know, it’s crazy.” Marianne nodded toward the man sitting in a wing chair beside the bed. “This is my husband, Ridge Collins.”

      Standing, he offered his hand. “It’s great to meet you.”

      His clothes were covered in dust, and she asked, “Did Ginger interrupt your plowing?”

      “Something like that. I don’t think she’s the right one for us,” he added, giving John a very male grin.

      “She’s the fifth one we’ve interviewed, and none of them could find their way around a kitchen, much less keep up with the kids. The guys will only get busier over the summer, and I’ve got no idea what we’re going to do,” Marianne confided. “Things are getting out of hand around here, and we really need some help.”

      “I could do it.” When they all stared at her, Amanda backtracked. “At least until you find somebody permanent.”

      Understandably, Marianne looked confused. “I thought you were in advertising and PR.”

      “The company I worked for went out of business, and the market out there is terrible, so I’m moving back here.” Because she didn’t want to get into the humiliating details, she decided to skip over the worst of her recent experience. “I’m not finding a lot of advertising or PR jobs here, either. This could be the solution to both our problems.”

      The Collinses traded a long, dubious look, and Amanda held her breath. She could almost hear the wheels spinning in John’s head, but he didn’t say a word. Maybe he’d already guessed why she’d returned to Harland, or maybe he didn’t care. Whatever the reason, she knew her respite wouldn’t last.

      If she was around the farm every day, eventually he’d ask her why she’d come limping home in a car that was one step from the crusher. But right now, she kept her attention on her prospective new boss, who was studying her pensively.

      “Amanda,” Marianne finally said. “Why on earth would someone with an MBA and a promising career in PR want to be a housekeeper?”

      Several answers flashed into her head, all of them very grown-up and responsible sounding. But what came out was, “I’m ready for a fresh start, and Harland seems like the right place to do that. I’ve always loved this farm, and it would be great to work here.”

      John grunted. “Funny. After we graduated, you couldn’t wait to get away from it.”

      Turning to him, she explained. Again. “I was eighteen and had never been farther than Charlotte. When UCLA offered me that scholarship, I decided it was time to get out into the world and see what I could do.”

      “And how’s that working out for you?”

      His accusing tone sliced through СКАЧАТЬ