The Bachelor's Stand-In Wife

“You got it. I’ll cut the pizza into slices. There’s a salad in the refrigerator. Paper plates and napkins are in the cupboard next to the sink,” he said.

They settled around a table on the deck overlooking the backyard. Belle curled up at their feet.

“If you had the house built,” Valerie said, “then you also had the stables put in. Do you plan to get a horse?”

“It’s a dream. I’m not here enough.”

“Do you know how to ride?”

He grinned. “Nope.”

“Then why…?”

“Wide-open spaces.”

Valerie was beginning to understand him. He needed space but felt hemmed in by his work. He must feel handcuffed or something. And resentful? she wondered.

“What grade are you in?” David asked Hannah.

“Third.”

“Do you like school?”

“It’s okay.”

Valerie sympathized with her daughter. She’d attended three different schools in her short life. It was another reason for making sure she kept her job—she wanted Hannah to have the luxury of staying at one school and making long-term friends. Living a normal childhood, if Valerie could make that happen.

She wondered about David’s childhood, if, having different mothers, he and his brothers were raised together. Maybe they weren’t close in age. As an only child, Valerie had desperately wanted siblings, but her father had divorced her mother when Valerie was a toddler and had rarely contacted Valerie since. As far as she knew, he hadn’t fathered more children.

When they were done eating, Valerie stacked the paper plates and started to stand.

“I’ll take care of that later,” David said, then pointed toward the floor under the table. Hannah had joined Belle and was now asleep against the dog, who looked at David but didn’t make a move to get up.

“We might as well go over your duties,” he said. “I’ve written them up for you. Be right back.”

“What a good dog you are,” Valerie said to Belle, petting her. Belle closed her eyes, making a happy sound.

David returned, taking the seat next to instead of across from her. He set a piece of paper on the table between them so they both could read it. She was aware of him, of his arm almost touching hers. He hadn’t stepped over any line at any time, either with comments or looks, in fact had gone out of his way not to look at her at the pool until she’d wrapped the towel around her, covering her bathing suit. Not interested? She knew it was better that way, but—

“You’re probably worried about working at the house during the night, and leaving Hannah on her own at the cottage,” he said. “There’s an intercom system between the houses. You’ll be able to hear everything that happens in the cottage—or vice versa, if necessary. You just have to set the buttons. There’s also an alarm. I’ve never had problems here, but I know it’ll probably make a city girl like you feel more comfortable.”

“Okay, good.”

He went down his itemized list, explaining each of her duties. He would make his own breakfast but preferred she prepare his dinner. He was rarely home at lunchtime, so they would play that by ear on the occasions he stayed home. Valerie and Hannah could use the pool and patio anytime except when he was entertaining, and then he expected privacy, unless he asked for something.

Privacy for women friends? Valerie wondered. Probably.

“I know how to serve a household,” she said. “And Hannah will know to stay in the cottage.”

“She’s not to work in my house,” he said decisively. “I know your mother allowed it, but I think children should enjoy childhood. She’s welcome to have friends over when I’m not here, including to use the pool, as long as they’re supervised every second.”

Valerie’s throat closed. She blessed whatever fates had sent her to the At Your Service agency, which had led her here. “That’s very generous.”

“My childhood was one crisis after another. I don’t wish that on any child.” He cocked his head. “What about her father?”

“Not in the picture.”

A long pause followed. She figured he was waiting for her to expand on her answer, but she had no intention of doing so.

“Okay,” he said finally. “I’ve never had live-in help before, so we’ll both be feeling our way through the situation. You should speak up if you think something should be handled differently.”

“I will. You’ll do the same, right?”

“Of course. I’m sure we’ll spend a lot of time communicating, in person and by phone. There’s no purpose in holding back. The relationship depends on honesty and openness.”

“Like a marriage,” she said. Without sex, she reminded herself. Without any physical contact whatsoever. Without innuendo. They couldn’t even joke about it.

“I’ll take your word on that,” he said, flashing a quick grin. “Like a good marriage, maybe. But since I’ve never taken part in that institution, I wouldn’t know.”

“Neither would I.” She let that bit of information set in for a minute without explanation.

He glanced at Belle and Hannah. “And, as you know, I never expected a child to be part of the deal, so we’re especially going to have to feel our way through that, figure out what works for all of us.”

“Your needs and demands come first. You have to tell me if Hannah is bothering you. She’s obviously already made herself at home.”

He nodded. “We’ll talk more in the morning. You’ll have to come to the house for breakfast, since I know you haven’t had time to shop for groceries yet. I’ll be heading to the office for the day.”

He stood, so she did, as well. “Where is that?”

“In Roseville, just north of Sacramento.”

“What time do you want breakfast?”

“Eight.”

“Okay.” Valerie looked out over his property. Garden lights illuminated the pool and pathways, creating a beautiful picture. “Is the yard my responsibility?”

“I have a gardener.”

“You do?” She put a hand to her mouth, surprised that she’d blurted that out.

He grinned.

“You like the untamed look, I guess,” she said.

“I’ve pretty much just left it in his hands.” He walked to the railing, leaned on his elbows there and looked around. “I guess it’s not as nice as it could be.”

“It could be a showpiece, if that’s what you want.”

“Are you saying you want to add gardening to your many duties?”

“Maybe your gardener and I could work together on a new look. Would that be okay?”

“Sure, why not. I’ll give him a call and tell him you’re the boss.”

She’d never been the boss of anyone, unless she counted Hannah. “That would be great, thanks.” She knelt down to wake up her daughter, who made sleepy sounds of resistance as she snuggled against Belle. “Bedtime, sweetie.”