August. The only people around now were the townies and the ranchers from the outlying area who came into town for supplies.
“How should I know?” He shrugged. “And what does it matter?”
I snuck another peek at the girl in question. Lila. Lila Baker. Something about her rubbed me the wrong way. No, that was putting it too mildly. Everything about her rubbed me wrong. The way she held herself right now, like she was posing on a runway. The way she wore heels and a dress better suited to a club opening than a hardware store. The way she’d met my stare unflinchingly and then had the gall to look down that perfect nose of hers as though I weren’t fit to shine her shoes, let alone shake her manicured hand.
She didn’t just seem out of place in this town and in this store, she looked like she belonged on a different planet. So, what on earth was she doing here?
Dad reached out and grabbed a mug with our store emblem on it and slapped it into my hand. “Housewarming present.” He gave my shoulder a little shove. “Go on. Don’t keep her waiting.”
“Oh, heaven forbid,” I muttered. But I did as he asked. I knew as well as anyone how much six months’ rent could help, especially during the off-season when business was slow. So, sure, fine. I could make nice with the city chick for my dad’s sake.
I walked past her and held the door open. “You ready?”
Her smile was as fake as her lashes, which framed big, baby blue eyes. The lashes had to be fake. No one seriously had lashes that long. “Lead the way,” she said.
The moment we were out of the store, she started in on her litany of complaints. "Are you aware that there is a smell in this apartment?"
Her breathy high-pitched voice followed me. Don't react. Do not be mean. We need her money.
It took everything in me not to verbally smack down this chick.
"No one has stayed there for a while," I said. "It probably just needs to be aired out." In all honesty, I was proud of myself for sounding so polite.
But then she had to go and keep talking. "Did you even have the place cleaned after the last people left?"
It wasn't the insulting question that had me fighting back a snide retort. It was the way she said it. Like she was auditioning for a role in Mean Girls.
I spun around to face her. "Yes, we cleaned it."
"Well… maybe you should consider hiring a new maid."
"New maid?" I repeated. "New maid?" I let out a short, humorless laugh because seriously, who was this girl? "I don't know where you think you are, Princess, but around here we don't have maids."
She arched her brows and pursed her lips. "So, no one cleaned the apartment?"
"I cleaned it.” I took a step closer and looked down at her same way she'd been looking down at me ever since we met. "I guess you could say I am the maid."
I saw her lips twitch with mirth. She really had some nerve.
With a haughty look, Lila waved me in front of her, gesturing for me to unlock the door that led to the stairwell up to her new apartment. When we were halfway up the stairs, I broke the silence. "What are you doing here in Pinedale?"
“Oh, you know,” she said. “Enjoying the sights.”
A grudging huff of amusement escaped at her barely veiled sarcasm. “Yeah, lots to see and do around here.” It didn’t escape my notice, however, that she hadn’t answered the question.
The door at the top of the stairs was already open, and someone was moving around. “Your parents are home?”
“My sister.” She sniffed as she walked past me on the landing, leading the way as though this was her home and not mine. Which, I supposed for now it was.
I followed her in and then hurried over to help the brunette who was currently struggling to put spices and baking supplies in the highest cabinets. I grabbed the flour from her outstretched hand and stuck it in the cabinet that was just out of her reach. She grinned over at me. “Thanks.”
“No problem.” I returned her smile, instantly relaxing around this girl who was so not like the spoiled princess I’d just been dealing with. Her look was all low-maintenance and casual, and her expression held none of Lila’s snobby condescension.
“Tess, this is the landlord’s son, Jack.” Lila’s tone was