The Maid's Daughter

Devlyn picked up his spoon and dug in, polishing off his bowl of soup and three rolls before Gillian had barely started. It was hard to swallow anything past the constriction in her throat, even though Devlyn was correct about the delicious, hearty broth. Finally, the silence weighed too heavily for her to finish. She pushed back from the table and folded her hands in her lap.

The fire was warm—warm enough for her to discard her sweater. But she fancied she needed the extra layer of protection. “You left me a note,” she said bluntly. “Why am I here?”

“I could have guessed you were a teacher, even if you hadn’t told me.”

The odd segue baffled her. “What does that mean?”

“You’re uptight, bossy, no-nonsense …”

“And you’ve deduced all that in a mere twenty-four hours?”

“Less than that. I expect any moment to get my knuckles rapped with a ruler.”

His air of masculine superiority set her teeth on edge. “That’s an archaic reference.”

“You don’t know the tutors my father and uncle hired.”

“Poor little rich boy.” She regretted the words immediately. In many ways, the appellation was true … or at least had been in the past. Devlyn Wolff as a child and a teen had always seemed angry. And with good reason. He’d lost his mother violently. Been snatched away from the only home he had ever known and brought to this isolated mountain. Had not been allowed to attend school where he would have made friends. It was no wonder the six cousins were so close.

She didn’t know how to characterize him now … that would require spending time together, a notion that alarmed and intrigued her at the same time. “We’re getting off topic,” she said, her voice firm … the one she used for recalcitrant boys on the playground. “What do you want to talk to me about?”

“I want to hire you.”

Her hackles went up. “You apologized. I accepted. I don’t need your charity simply because I’m unemployed.”

“Before you ride that high horse off into the sunset, why don’t you listen for a minute? I need to employ a teacher. It might as well be you.”

Her stomach cramped. Did Devlyn have a child she hadn’t heard about? “There are no schools anywhere near Wolff Mountain.”

He grinned as if he had scored a hit. “My point exactly. Evidently you haven’t heard, but the Wolffs are establishing a school in Burton.”

“Thumbing your nose at the locals? No one around here can afford private tuition.”

“Gillian, Gillian …” He shook his head. “I’m talking about a public school. And that’s why I need you. It’s a sticky proposition to make sure all of the accreditation requirements are fulfilled. And we’ve had a hell of a time convincing the administration that we’ll stay out of the day-to-day running. But this is going to happen. The children of Burton have every right to attend school in their own community.”

Gillian was stunned. What he said made perfect sense, but although the Wolffs were active in a number of charities, this project took benevolence to another whole level. “Whose idea was this?”

“It was a family decision. Too many of our staff worry that if one of their children gets sick, or falls on the playground, it would be a good forty-five minutes before they could get to the school. That’s not acceptable. The economy is in the toilet. Money for new schools is scarce. We have the means to supply a need.”

Gillian cocked her head, studying his face. He seemed genuinely excited and proud. “And you’re spearheading the effort?”

“Mostly. Because I’m the one in charge. But all of us will step in at various points. Kieran’s wife is a children’s illustrator. She’s planning to paint murals on all the walls. Jacob will design and outfit a small in-school clinic and hire a nurse. Gareth wants to build custom shelving for the library. I could go on …”

She held up a hand, feeling ashamed of her suspicions. On occasion, that chip on her shoulder about the rich gained weight again. “It’s a lovely idea. I’m impressed. But I still don’t see where I come in. It will be a long time until you’re ready to hire teachers.”

“I need a liaison … someone who will work side by side with me, but who knows how to communicate with state and local officials.”

“But you work out of Atlanta.”

“I’m here at least one weekend a month, sometimes two. Dad and Uncle Vic like to feel as if they are still part of the decision-making process. And I value their experience. But in regard to this school project, you’ll be my point person. We’ll work very closely together.”

“I don’t know what to say.”

“Say you’ll do it.”

He named a salary that was over twice what she was making before the layoffs. Only a fool would turn down this opportunity, but then again, working with Devlyn Wolff would not be easy. He was charming and outrageously handsome and had a wicked sense of humor … all qualities that were destined to make a woman like Gillian fall into infatuation at the very least.

And she was pretty sure she wasn’t imagining the sexual vibe between them. What was alarming was that if she succumbed, not only did she endanger yet another good job, but she risked getting her heart broken. “Who would you have hired if I hadn’t come along?” It was hard to put her suspicions to rest.

“I hadn’t gotten that far yet, but I called your principal this morning, and she speaks very highly of you … told me you were named ‘Teacher of the Year’ in your school last year. She’s really upset about losing you.”

“You investigated me?” The words ended on a screech of outrage.

“Your ID badge was sticking out of the side pocket of your purse. I’m a businessman. And despite your weird hang-ups, I’m not offering you this job because of something that happened when we were kids.”

He could deny it all he wanted, but she was almost a hundred percent sure that Devlyn was the kind of man who needed to even the scales. This was his way of assuaging his guilt over the past.

Still, who was she to turn down a boon because of his screwed-up motives? She needed a job. And this would be a good one.

“I’ll do it,” she said. “When do I start?”

Five

Devlyn high-fived his inner self, but managed to maintain a neutral expression. This was exactly the same feeling he got when he outwitted a difficult opponent in a business deal. He didn’t probe too deeply at why it was so important to win over Gillian, but it was.

“You’ll need to move in here,” he said abruptly, thinking on his feet. The idea of having Gillian just down the hall made his pulse thud with anticipation.

She scowled, standing up and pacing with her arms wrapped around her waist. “That won’t be necessary. The commute is not inconvenient.”

“It’s not your convenience we’re talking about … it’s mine. I’m a very busy man. When I can snatch a few minutes to discuss the school project, I’d like for you to be available.”

Gillian’s spine straightened and her chin lifted. “So in essence, you’re hiring me to be at your beck and call.”

He wanted to chuckle aloud. She was pissed. And it was so much damned fun aggravating her. “Think of it more as a lawyer on retainer.”

Her eyes shot daggers at him. Fuming, frustrated, she seemed about to burst with aggravation. “I’m not sure I trust you.”

“You wound me.” He put his hand over his heart. “What exactly do you think I have up my sleeve?”

“I don’t know you well enough to tell.”

“I’d like to get to know you, Gillian.” He hadn’t meant to say that. The words tumbled out uncensored, but they were true. Something about her seemed so real, so honest. In his experience, those were qualities rarely found in female companionship. Gillian knew as much or more about him, warts and all, than most people did. And he had an inexplicable urge to win her approval.

But the devil in him couldn’t leave it alone. “I’ll have a driver out front in fifteen minutes to take you to your mother’s house so you can pack your things. I’d like you to be back on the mountain by five. I want to take you to see the property we’ve purchased … get your impressions.”

She sat back down abruptly and started eating soup. “I’m not finished with my lunch. Better make it forty-five.” She gave him a bland gaze that did little to disguise her intent. It was clear that she wouldn’t be pushed around.

The businessman in him applauded her chutzpah. The hungry male took it as a challenge. This give-and-take was foreplay whether she realized it or not. The circumstances weren’t ideal. He’d already made a list of “cons.” But if Gillian felt the same sexual pull he did, he’d figure a way around the difficulties. He wasn’t accustomed to denying himself when it came to women. Nothing permanent could come of this. He was not the pure, uncomplicated man Gillian needed for the long haul.