Read Online The Black Sheep and the Princess by Donna Kauffman - Free Book Online

in—” She glanced at him in time to see his lips curve.
    â€œYes,” he admitted, “as in Unholy Trinity.”
    â€œI can’t believe you guys stuck together all these years.”
    Mac didn’t respond to that; instead, he shifted the focus back to her. “So, where do you live? I mean, normally.”
    â€œI live in that cabin back at camp.” She knew what he was getting after, but she wanted to let him hang himself on his own narrow-minded preconceptions of her. It wouldn’t be the first time.
    â€œOkay,” he said with the same exaggerated patience. “And this winter?”
    â€œI’ll still be living in the cabin. It is my sole residence now.”
    â€œWhere were you before moving up here?”
    â€œNot that it has anything to do with the situation at hand, but before moving here I lived in university-funded housing just off campus from where I was teaching.”
    â€œYou’re a teacher?”
    She did look at him then. “I’m opening up a camp to help disabled kids learn new methods to help them cope with their limitations. What did you think I did?”
    â€œI—I don’t know. I hadn’t really thought about it.”
    She liked that little momentary catch in his voice. She doubted he was often caught off guard. Unreasonably cheered by having the upper hand, even if it was likely short-lived, she took advantage. “I’m not my mother, Donovan,” she said, purposely using his given name. And maybe he’d just have to get used to it. He simply wasn’t Mac to her. “I’m not here to play camp owner to the offspring of the wealthy as a way to springboard myself into the realms of high society. This will be a working camp dedicated to helping those who need it, whether they can afford it or not. I am already working with several nonprofits and other charitable foundations in hopes of raising money to fund scholarships or something similar for kids who can’t otherwise attend. And I won’t be handing off the day-to-day management to someone else. I will be running this place from the ground up. It is my dream to see this camp realized, and I’ll do whatever it takes to make it a reality.”
    He didn’t say anything at first, then, finally, “I’m sorry.”
    â€œFor?” she said archly, still revved up from her little speech and not quite ready to abdicate her temporary throne.
    â€œIt’s been a long time. We really don’t know each other. I shouldn’t have made assumptions.”
    It wasn’t the best apology she’d ever gotten, or even the most heartfelt, but coming from him, it was more than she’d expected.
    She shifted her attention back to the road. “As for winter, I don’t plan for this to be a summer-only camp, though that will be when we’ll do the most work. Spring and fall will be heavily utilized and, if I can make it happen, I’m hoping to use the winter months as a teachers retreat where instructors can come and study and learn more about the alternative methods I plan to implement here.”
    â€œAn impressive agenda.” He paused for a moment, then said, “Not that it’s any of my business, but—”
    She barked out a laugh. “Not that it’s stopped you so far.”
    They both smiled a little. “True,” he said. “But what I was going to ask doesn’t really pertain to the case; it’s personal. I’m just curious.” So, she was just a case. She’d felt as though a lot of what was transpiring between them was personal. Being all business would certainly be smarter. Only she wasn’t feeling all that smart at the moment. “What are you curious about?”
    â€œWhy you gave up the fortune Louisa left you for a rundown camp. You could have helped a lot of kids with that money, opened up a camp anywhere.”
    She smiled. “Oh, that.”
    â€œWell,