“Yeah, she did.”

“You don’t look very happy about it.” Abel scowled, his pale green eyes narrowing in anger.

“I’m not.”

Abel’s hands fisted at his sides. “We’d hoped you would be,” he all but growled.

“Umm, Abel.” Erin tried to get her husband’s attention, but he ignored her for the moment, all his attention focused on Jackson.

“How the hell would you feel if it were some strange woman coming into your home?” Jackson’s patience was at an end. He was already behind in his work and every minute he wasted with this foolishness was putting him further behind.

Abel stared at him like he had two heads. “What are you talking about?”

“The damn housekeeper that your wife hired for me. Without asking me, I might add. What the heck did you think we were talking about?”

Abel glanced over at Erin who just shrugged. “I haven’t had the chance to tell him yet.”

“Tell me what?” He propped his hands on his waist and glared at his younger sister. “I don’t have all day. If you have something to say to me, then just say it.”

“I’m pregnant,” she blurted out.

Jackson felt as if he’d taken a hit to his solar plexus. Staggering back, he hit the counter and knocked into a stack of dishes. They crashed to the floor, shattering into dozens of tiny pieces. He ignored them. “What did you say?”

A huge smile broke out on Erin’s face, making her appear absolutely radiant. As she stood, her husband went to her side and wrapped his arm around her waist. There was no mistaking the pride and love in his face as he stared down at her. “I’m pregnant.” She laughed as she leaned against her husband’s chest. “We’re pregnant.”

Jackson swallowed hard. His baby sister was going to have a baby. Jeez, he needed to sit down. He looked at her and could see the happiness in her eyes. This was what he’d always wanted for her, but it was still hard to take in. “When?”

“I’m three months along so it should be late January or early February.” He knew he had to say something, do something, but he was at a loss. Her smile slowly faded as she stared at him. “Jackson?” She left her husband’s arms and came toward him. “I’m going to be a mother. You’re going to be an uncle.”

He felt the corners of his mouth tipping upward. An uncle. He liked the sound of that. Giving a whoop, he lifted her off the floor and swung her around. When he realized what he was doing, he stopped immediately. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done that. Are you all right? Is the baby okay?”

Erin laughed. “I’m fine. I’m just tired is all and mornings aren’t the greatest these days.”

He scowled at Abel. “She’d been working too hard. She almost fainted this morning.”

Abel’s indulgent smile disappeared and was replaced by a scowl. “What happened?”

Erin pushed away from Jackson and went to her husband. “I’m fine. I just got up too quickly is all.”

“You need to rest more.”

“You’re damn right she does.” Jackson was still trying to wrap his brain around the fact that Erin was going to be a momma. “Does Nathan know yet?”

She shook her head. “I wanted to tell you first.”

He swallowed back the lump of emotion that welled within him. It meant the world to him that she’d told him first. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. But if you really want to make me happy, you’ll give the housekeeper I hired a chance.”

Oh, his sister was slick. She’d maneuvered him right into that one. There was no way he could refuse her now. She stared at him expectantly, a smug look on her face. “All right.” He raked his fingers through his hair. “A one-week trial run.”

“Two,” she countered.

“Ten days,” he fired back.

“Done.” They all heard the sound of a vehicle pulling up beside the house. “That should be her now. Her name is Emerald Jones.”

“What the hell kind of name is Emerald?” He envisioned a skinny, pampered blonde with cool green eyes and a ton of jewelry.

“A very pretty one,” his sister snapped. “Now be nice.”

“I’m always nice,” he muttered as he followed his sister and Abel out of the house. It was time to meet the stranger who would be sharing his home for the next ten days.

Emerald pulled the car to a stop and turned off the ignition. Since there was no one around, she took a deep breath. She could do this. Her stomach was doing flip-flops and had been all morning. She’d stayed at a quaint B&B last night and had shelled out sixty dollars to pay for it this morning. Her cash was quickly dwindling.

She hated the fact that she’d lied to the woman she’d talked to on the phone about her name. She’d started to give her real name, but at the last second had given the false surname, Jones. They probably wouldn’t recognize her name, but she hadn’t wanted to take any chances. Still, it left her feeling like a complete fraud.

“What’s done is done,” she muttered as she clicked off her seat belt, opened the door and slid out of her compact car, smoothing down her skirt. It was early morning, not yet seven o’clock, but it was already heating up outside. It was going to be another scorcher of a day. She looked around at the place that was to be her home for the foreseeable future. She’d been honest with Erin Garrett about not wanting a long-term job. But the other woman had assured her that the position of housekeeper and cook was only a temporary one, eight weeks tops.

The back door popped open and a tall redheaded woman stepped out onto the porch. “You must be Emerald.” She held out her hand as she strode forward. Emerald liked her on sight.

“I am. And you must be Mrs. Garrett.”

“Please call me Erin.” She turned to the massive man who was close on her heels. “And this is my husband, Abel.”

The guy was huge and very intimidating with his dark hair and piercing green eyes. Still, Emerald met his gaze squarely. “Pleasure to meet you.”

Abel nodded and said hello, but before he could say any more than that, the back door slammed open, drawing all their attention. Emerald froze on the spot. The world around her receded, narrowing to the man striding determinedly toward her. And what a man he was.

He looked to be at least a half a foot taller than her, if not a bit more, and she was five foot eight. It was hard to tell exactly how tall he was because he had a very muscular build. His gait was fluid as his long legs ate up the distance between them. The denim of his jeans outlined his thick thighs and she watched, fascinated by the play of muscles as he moved. The tight, faded material also cupped his male attributes. Emerald’s mouth went dry as her body began to tingle.

His wide shoulders were encased in a faded blue T-shirt that brought out the color of his incredible blue eyes. They were almost the same color as the summer sky and right now they were focused on her. She tried to swallow, but it was impossible. Her breasts felt heavy and, the closer he got to her, the more she could feel her nipples tightening. A low ache began between her thighs and she had to force herself not to fidget.

His face was too rugged to be called good-looking, but it had something even more important—character. His brown hair had reddish highlights that glinted under the morning sun. It was cut short in the back and brushed away from his forehead in the front, framing his face. His eyebrows were severe slashes that were the same color as his hair. Thin lines radiated from the corners of his eyes. Emerald imagined that they were a result of working outside in all weather his entire life. His skin was burnished a light gold from the sun and it emphasized the blue of his eyes. His eyelashes looked almost too long and thick for a man’s, but it was the only softness on his face. His cheekbones were high, his chin firm and stubborn and his nose hawkish.

At the moment, his full lips were pursed in a severe line. They looked soft though. Emerald wondered what they would feel like against her mouth. Or maybe lower as he nibbled on her breasts, teasing the tips. She barely swallowed back a groan. She had to get a grip on her wayward libido. Ignoring the fact that her panties were now damp, she plastered a smile on her face.

Uh-oh, Mr. Hottie wasn’t pleased about her being here. Emerald wondered who he was even as she turned back to Erin. The other woman was smiling at the man. Emerald got a sinking feeling in her stomach.

“Emerald, I’d like you to meet my brother, Jackson Connors. It’s him you’ll be working for.”

She’d just known that this wouldn’t be easy. Still, she needed this job worse than she’d ever needed anything in her life. She could bury her burgeoning desire for her new boss. Besides which, she wouldn’t be here long enough to really get involved with the man. His life was here and hers was back in New York. She was just tired, and like any woman, she could appreciate a fine male specimen. It didn’t mean anything.

“Pleased to meet you, Mr. Connors.” She held out her hand and his large, tanned one quickly swallowed it up.

“Might as well call me Jackson since you’re going to be living with me.” His voice was low and raspy, sending shivers running down all her nerve endings. His hand was strong, but he held hers gently. This was a man who knew his own strength and controlled it. Would he show that same control when he took a woman to bed? She suspected so. And she had to get her mind back on the business at hand. She had no time to indulge in sexual fantasies, no matter how much fun they might be.

“Jackson, then,” she agreed and tugged her hand away from his, needing to break the contact which felt very intimate in spite of the two other people standing next to them. She turned back to Erin. It was easier to talk to the other woman. “I assumed I would be working for you.”