Chapter One

      Mackenzie Wilder didn’t want to kill her brother in the true sense, just in the what-were-you-thinking, cartoon-wringing-of-the-neck sense. He’d gone and hired someone to help run the guest ranch for the summer—which meant the person would be completely involved in every aspect of her professional life—without asking for her input.

      Had Luc talked to Emma before hiring this person? Not that it mattered. Their sister’s head was so in-the-clouds in love right now that she’d say yes to anything and not even know what she was responding to.

      Mackenzie bounded down the lodge steps, the screen door giving a loud whine and snap behind her. One of the new college-aged girls on staff for the summer was heading inside.

      “Hey, Bea, have you seen Luc?”

      “Earlier this morning he was in his office.” Her face went dreamy, eyebrows bobbing. “He had some man candy with him, too.” Great. Her brother had hired some young buckaroo who would have all of the female staff members sighing, swooning and requiring fainting couches all summer.

      Maybe a what-were-you-thinking slug was in order.

      “I just checked there, so now I’m headed to the barn. If you run into him, would you let him know I’m looking for him?”

      If the man would just pick up his phone or respond to the texts she’d sent, Mackenzie wouldn’t be on this scavenger hunt.

      “Sure.” Bea’s short raven hair shifted with her perky nod.

      “Thanks.” Mackenzie’s boots crunched across the parched asparagus-colored grass, the short walk doing nothing to calm her frustration. When she stepped inside the barn, it took her a minute to adjust to the lack of light. She heard her brother before she saw him and followed his voice. He was talking to Boone, one of the new staff members—almost all of them could be labeled that this summer. And the timing for the turnover couldn’t be worse.

      Usually they had at least a few veteran staff return for the summer. Ones who could lead and train the more transitional summer help. But this year, everyone seasoned had moved on to greener pastures. Which was why she and Luc had hoped to hire someone to work with them—or at least closely under their direction. Especially with Luc and his wife, Cate, expecting twin girls in July.

      Luc finished his conversation, and Boone headed outside. Mackenzie waited for him to be out of hearing range before she laid into Luc.

      “Tell me your hey-I-hired-someone text that I missed earlier this morning was a joke.”

      Luc scrubbed a hand through his short light brown hair, a grimace taking over his face. She was two inches taller than him, but he had her in brawn. Tall and straight, with muscles and barely existent curves, Mackenzie had accepted her body—or lack thereof—long ago.

      “Nope. Not a joke. You know how much we need someone. And when I came across the right person yesterday, I snagged him.” His hands went up like he was placating a skittish horse. “I know you’re mad. Or I assume you are, but please trust me on this. Summer is completely stressing me out with the twins coming. We have no idea what that will look like, and I need to be available for them, for Cate.”

      “I get all of that.” Mackenzie’s rigid body kicked down a notch. “And of course we planned to hire someone, but I didn’t think you’d go and do it without me.”

      “It just...happened.” Luc leaned back against the workbench. “You know how hard it’s been to find someone who’s the right fit. And now summer season is here. We should have hired this person weeks ago. So, when I found a match, I jumped on it. I wasn’t trying to overstep. I just—” his arms shot up in a helpless gesture “—feel better knowing we’ve got extra enforcements. Another lead. Someone who can handle the shooting range and staff and guests.”

       And how do you know this person can do all of those things? Do they have any experience?

      But Mackenzie knew experience itself was overrated. What mattered was leadership and customer-service