Jake's Biggest Risk (Those Hollister Boys) by Julianna Morris Page B

tell that her primary goal was to get out of Huckleberry Lodge as quickly as possible. After dusting and straightening the library, she finished by mopping the kitchen and bundling up the linens.
    “That’s all. I’ll do these over at my place.”
    “Is there any way I could interest you in doing my personal laundry, as well?”
    She smiled sweetly. “I’m afraid not. You have a top-of-the-line washing machine and dryer in the laundry room for that—I realize it probably doesn’t measure up to pounding clothes on rocks and rinsing them in a cold river, but it will have to do. I’ll see you on Friday.”
    As the door closed behind her, Jake began to laugh.
    * * *
    H ANNAH DUMPED J AKE Hollister’s sheets and towels on the floor of her laundry room and gave them a kick.
Jackass
. He’d baited her, but that wasn’t the problem. It was his attitude about the Cascades she found truly infuriating.
    If he acted that way in other parts of the world, he’d probably start a war one day. Actually, she was surprised he hadn’t started one already.
    Hadn’t anyone ever told him he shouldn’t insult someone’s home? It was akin to telling somebody their baby was ugly, or that they were an idiot for choosing to live in a certain place.
    She loved Mahalaton Lake and having her parents a few miles away. It was great to know people on the street and be a part of their lives. She felt connected here. As a teenager she’d thought about leaving, but not any longer. Yet apparently Jake Hollister was always thinking about the next place he was going.
    Hannah loaded the towels into the washer. It was a good thing she was getting so much for renting the lodge. When Lillian had told her what Jake had offered, it had seemed absurdly high, but it made more sense now. With his appalling manners, greasing the wheels with money was probably the only way he could survive.
    At least she wouldn’t have to send Danny to her parents the next time she cleaned. It had hurt seeing the crushed expression on his face when he’d learned he wouldn’t be “helping” in the big house. In the way children could instantly form a liking for someone, he had decided Jake Hollister was a kindred spirit. Even Jake’s rudeness hadn’t changed how he felt.
    Hannah put detergent in the washing machine and started it. Her parents would soon be back with Danny and she wanted to fix them a meal.
    Determinedly putting obnoxious photographers out of her mind, she began chopping vegetables.
    Two hours later the scent of garlic and other spices filled the air and she was in better sprits. The front door opened and she heard Danny call, “Hi, Mommy!”
    “Hi. Did you have a good time?”
    “The best! We went to the zoo and saw the polar bears, just like the ones Mr. Hollister takes pictures of.”
    Her dad kissed her forehead. “Smells wonderful, sweetheart.”
    “It’s Thai chicken. You and I will have to spice it up with chili garlic sauce since I made it mild for the wimps.”
    “I heard that,” her mom called from the other room.
    Hannah grinned.
    “How was Mr. Hollister?” her father asked.
    Her grin faded. “Fine, as far as I could tell. But he’s a slob. No wonder he wanted someone to clean house. What a mess—jam dripping onto the kitchen floor, things thrown about, Great-Aunt Elkie’s books all over the living room.”
    Hannah’s mother hurried in, frowning. “Has he done any damage to the lodge or furnishings?”
    “Not as far as I could tell. Honestly, though, I think the only things he’s eaten since getting here are Luigi’s pizza and peanut butter. Cold pizza, most of the time.”
    “Pizza is yummy,” Danny said.
    “I know, darling. But once a week is enough. That way it stays a treat. And we like it nice and hot, not cold and stale.”
    “Uh-huh. Poor Mr. Hollister.”
    Hannah nearly choked.
    She did
not
feel sorry for Jake Hollister. He seemed to delight in annoying her and she’d be lucky to get through a month without him