Free Maid for the Single Dad by Susan Meier

tables. But the gazebo appeared to have been furnished with the kids in mind. Four-foot walls kept the little ones inside, but also hid the big gas grill and the practical plastic furniture more suitable to children’s needs. Comfortable dark-colored chaise lounges created a seating arrangement to the right of the eating area. A leather wet bar probably served the needs of both the gazebo and the patio.
    Ellie saw all that when she brought the macaroni and cheese to the table.
    â€œSet it here,” Mac said, pointing to one of the huge side arms of the grill, then he went back to tending the sizzling hot dogs, dismissing her.
    Ellie’s brain scrambled around for a reason to stay. Mac had secured Henry in a highchair and settled Lacy with a coloring book at the comfortable-looking heavy plastic table. There was nothing for her to do. No reason to stay.
    But she couldn’t leave. This relaxed atmosphere was the perfect place for her and Mac to begin to get to know each other so their relationship would be less strained. Yet she couldn’t think of a way to detain herself.
    â€œEverything okay?” Mac asked.
    Ellie looked over at him. Think, she told herself. But gazing into his blue eyes, her brain shut down and her hormones kicked in. She wanted to smile, to flirt, to put her arms around his neck and coax him into admitting there was something between them.
    Good grief! Why was her imagination so vivid with him? Especially when that was exactly the problem! She did want to flirt with him. They had to get to know each other in a more professional way, maybe even become friends, so these crazy feelings inspired by their chemistry would evaporate like the insubstantial vapor they were.
    She took a breath. “I thought maybe I could help with the grilling.”
    â€œI’m fine.”
    â€œThen maybe I could entertain Lacy and Henry while you’re busy.”
    He shot her a look of such distrust that Ellie actually stepped back.
    â€œNo.”
    â€œI’m really good with kids—”
    â€œYou’re dismissed, Miss Swanson. May I suggest you tend to your own duties while you have sufficient time to get the housecleaning end of your job in order.”
    She swallowed. She wanted to call him a pain in the butt, a grouch, a horrible father. But because she was an employee, she couldn’t say any of those. Plus, he wasn’t a horrible father. If anything, he tried too hard to be a good father and ended up being an overprotective father… She frowned. He’d said he was caring for Lacy and Henry because he was giving her and the kids time to get adjusted to each other. But what if he just plain didn’t trust her with his kids?
    The thought almost made her gasp. She’d actually considered this already, but had forgotten about it because their damned attraction was so strong it usually pushed every other thought aside.
    But she got it now. His secondary purpose for his caring for the kids truly might be to give her and Lacy and Henry time to get adjusted, but the main reason was that he didn’t trust her.
    Â 
    â€œHe’s a blooming control freak.”
    Ellie had gone over everything she’d done for Mac and the kids and knew, absolutely knew, the problem was not hers. She’d been helpful, patient, kind, honest, trustworthy. If he still didn’t trust her, then he had the problem. And because she wasn’t telling Ava anything about his kids, his preferences of underwear, even what he stocked in the fridge, she didn’t feel she was breaking a confidence.
    Particularly since she needed Ava’s help understanding him or she’d never last the entire month she’d promised to handle this assignment.
    Ava strolled to the weathered table, dropping a stack of files at a place in front of a chair. “Most rich men are control freaks. Cain can be pretty darned demanding himself.”
    Ellie shook her head, taking the seat beside Ava at