Maid for the Single Dad Read Online Free PDF Page A

displayed a panoramic view of the canal. Sharp, contemporary accent chairs with chrome arms and legs and nubby yellow fabric backs and seats sat by tall, thin chrome lamps. The floor was a warm honey-colored hardwood. Once again she thought of a museum.
    â€œThese two doors,” Mac said, pointing to the right and then the left, “lead to two guest suites.”
    They turned a corner. Mac pointed at two doors on opposite sides of the hall. “Two more guest suites.”
    â€œOf course.”
    â€œI don’t have guests often,” Mac continued, leading her down the hall. Over his shoulder, blue-eyed Henry grinned toothlessly at Ellie.
    She smiled and waved.
    â€œAnd won’t be having any guests at all until I’ve hired a permanent maid.” He paused at a set of double doors. After shifting Henry on his forearm, he opened them, revealing a laundry room complete with a bright red washer and dryer, a folding table, carts, baskets and cherrywood cabinets that she assumed held laundry detergent and the like.
    Smiling her professional household employee smile, Ellie said, “Okay.”
    â€œYou can easily gather everyone’s laundry, wash it, dry it, press it in here and return it to the proper room.”
    With that he closed the doors and directed her back down another hall.
    â€œAs you can see, we’re making a full circle. These steps,” Mac said as they approached the set of back stairs, “are the same ones we used to get up here.”
    They started down the wooden steps and at the bottom turned left to enter the kitchen.
    â€œWe have a very simple floor plan.”
    Glancing around the kitchen, Ellie said, “Yes.”
    â€œOkay, now for the first floor.”
    Mac led her out of the kitchen, down a short hall and turned right into a room that had to be the playroom. The back wall held cherrywood bookcases and built-in cupboards, probably for storing toys, and a wide-screen TV. A thick brown-and-red print rug sat in the middle of the hardwood floor. Otherwise, the room was without furniture. Unless you counted the bright blue plastic table and chairs with accompanying yellow plastic dishes andcups where Lacy sat—probably having an imaginary tea party—and the beige plastic stove, refrigerator and sink that Ellie recognized from her last trip to a toy store.
    Looking up from her tea party, Lacy said, “Hi, Daddy.”
    â€œHi, sweetie. You remember Ellie.”
    She nodded enthusiastically, her fine blond hair bobbed around her.
    â€œHi, Lacy. I like your playroom.”
    Lacy only grinned and nodded again.
    Mac walked over to his daughter, who tugged on his pant leg to get his attention.
    â€œDaddy, I’m hungry.”
    Though Lacy tried to whisper, her voice came out loud and clear.
    â€œOkay.” Mac faced Ellie. “Can we finish our tour later?”
    She nodded. “Sure.”
    Mac said, “Great,” and headed for the doorway on the right. “Let’s go make something for lunch.”
    Lacy’s face brightened as Ellie’s stomach fell to the floor. She hadn’t had time to get the cookbook yet! What would she do if Mac asked for something Ellie had no idea how to prepare?
    Before she could panic Lacy said, “Can we have peanut butter sandwiches and ice cream?”
    Walking into the hall, Mac laughed. “We’ll negotiate the ice cream after you’ve eaten the sandwich.”
    Still carrying Henry, Mac left the room with happy Lacy skipping behind him. Ellie took a minute to breathe a sigh of relief before she bounded out of the room. She caught up with them in the kitchen.
    Sliding Henry into a highchair, Mac said, “Now that I think about it, Ellie, you could actually finish the tour ofthe rest of the house by yourself. Dining room and living room are at the front of the house. Over there is the family room.” He pointed at the area beside the kitchen with the leather furniture and