Free Dad's E-Mail Order Bride by Candy Halliday - Alaska Bound 01 - Dad's E-Mail Order Bride Page B

sure we know a lot of the same people. I guess it was our age difference that kept us out of sync.”
    “Ouch,” he said, pretending to clutch his heart. “My age is not something I want to think about today.”
    “Sorry.”
    “I did meet your mother once. Right after college, I hadn’t made my way to Wall Street yet, and I interviewed for a position with your agency. I expected to meet with some personnel assistant, not the legendary Lisa Woods herself. She completely intimidated me. Needless to say, I didn’t get the job.”
    “That’s my mother, the Queen of Intimidation,” Courtney said. “She’s so hands-on all of her employees have her handprint stamped permanently on their foreheads.”
    He leaned forward, pretending to examine Courtney’s forehead. “What happened to your handprint?”
    “Oh, it’s still there. It’s beginning to fade a little.”
    He looked at her thoughtfully. “I know what it’s like to have an overbearing parent. My father wrote the book on the subject. And I also know how hard it is to break that hold. But if it’s any consolation, Courtney, it’s worth it. So don’t give up on yourself.”
    “Thanks.”
    He turned to look out over the water the way she was doing. And as they silently watched the fog roll across the cove, Courtney realized all was right in her world—at least for the moment. She wasn’t sure if it was the setting, or the man standing beside her.
    Courtney suspected it was both.
    “So?” he said, breaking the silence. “Any idea what Rachel has planned for us today?”
    “Beyond me helping Rachel with the decorations for your party, no,” Courtney said. “But I don’t think we should let our guard down yet.”
    “My thoughts exactly,” he said. “Maybe we should think about…”
    His voice trailed off when Rachel walked out onto the deck in her pajamas, hugging herself against the chill of the morning. When she walked up beside them, she leaned over and gave her father a kiss on the cheek. “Happy birthday, Dad.”
    Then Rachel looked over at Courtney and said, “What’s up? What are you guys talking about?”
    “Just talking,” Courtney said.
    But Graham said, “We were wondering what other big plans you had in store for us so we could put the rescue squad on notice.”
    Courtney sent Rachel an apologetic look.
    Rachel put her hands on her hips and said, “You want to know my plans? Okay, I’ll tell you my plans. I’d hoped we could all go to your party tonight and have a good time. And tomorrow I thought Courtney might like to go out in one of the skiffs and take a tour of the island. And tomorrow night, I hoped you would fix Courtney one of your famous venison steaks you like to brag about. Is any of that too much to ask?”
    “No,” Graham said. “Those plans pass inspection.”
    “Good,” Rachel said, hugging herself as she shivered again. “Then maybe we can all go inside now that you don’t have to alert the rescue squad. It’s cold out here. I’m starving. And Courtney and I have a lot to do before your party.”
    “I make a mean omelet,” Courtney offered, trying to get back in Rachel’s good graces.
    Rachel’s face brightened.
    “Sorry, Courtney. But Rachel has been promoted to our new cook here at the lodge. She’ll be making breakfast for us this morning.”
    “Fine!” Rachel snapped. “I hope you both like stale cereal.”
    Rachel stomped off, slamming the door behind her.
    Courtney looked over at Graham. “Part of Rachel’s punishment, I assume?”
    “I might have to rethink that decision,” Graham said as they walked toward the front door together. “If stale cereal is all she’s serving, I’m the one who’s getting punished.”
    “Does that mean you won’t object if I show your new cook how to make an omelet?”
    Graham grinned as he opened the door for her. “What do you think?”

    C OURTNEY FINALLY FOUND a cell phone signal on top of the ridge overlooking Port Protection. But she’d made