Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 73928 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 370(@200wpm)___ 296(@250wpm)___ 246(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 73928 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 370(@200wpm)___ 296(@250wpm)___ 246(@300wpm)
She’s either ignoring me or she doesn’t hear me.
I refuse to call her Pest. That’s my son’s odd nickname for her, though I find myself at a loss for her actual name. I haven’t been told it yet, likely because I haven’t asked. I really should read those emails.
I click my fingers by her ear and she jolts, her faraway eyes suddenly zone back in.
“Your dinner is ready,” I state.
“Oh.” She smiles warmly and tucks her escaping hair behind her ear. “Thank you, Sarge.”
“It’s Sargent.”
“Sorry. I keep doing that.”
“I’m aware. I really hate it.”
She grins tiredly. “I know.” Little Minx. “I’m actually glad you’re here. What do you want from me in return for my stay?”
“Sorry?” I stiffen, and not just my cock, at her words.
“Money, dollars, coins, etcetera.” She smirks, making her red lips crinkle at the corners in a way I can’t ignore. “I don’t expect to stay here for free.”
Tempest
“I don’t need your money,” he replies and turns away from me without going further into detail. “Dinner is ready.”
“So what can I do instead? You have a cleaner so I can hardly help there, you have a pool boy.” I follow him, careful not to slip on the tiles. “Does somebody iron for you? I could iron?”
“We’ll think of something,” he replies flippantly and me, being the dirty-minded woman that I am, reads into that in so many ways I shouldn’t. “For now, just settle in and keep your things together, in your room and your own bathroom.”
That is something I can definitely do.
He isn’t done. “I hate clutter, especially that of a woman’s. Just keep it all in your room.”
“You got it.” I inhale deeply and step inside after Sarge. “Smells great.”
Maddox grins at me. I set the table, resting the placemats on the black glass surface as Sargent makes the drinks.
Sargent, such a funny name but surprisingly sexy. I feel like I’m in the army. So many unrealized fantasies are coming to mind.
“Hey, Dad,” Maddox says as he brings two of the plates over.
I take my seat without thinking about it, not realizing how close my seat is to the end of the table where a certain man will be sitting. I feel my face heat with anxiety and just general shyness. I’m not typically shy but when sitting beside an attractive man who clearly hates me, it can be awkward.
I sip the white wine that has been poured for me and wonder if the bottle it came from cost more than I earned in ten hours today.
“What time do you start work tomorrow?” Maddox asks.
I cringe as I reply, “Five thirty. They want to show me how to open.”
“I’ll drive you,” Maddox offers but I shake my head, not wanting to further burden him.
“It’s not even a forty-minute walk.”
“Then I’ll walk you.” He smiles, winking at me. “If I give you a ride, you’ll get an extra hour in bed.”
“When you put it that way.”
“You’re not insured,” Sargent cuts in and Maddox winces, likely because he knows that’s the truth.
“It’s fine, I’ll be fine…”
“I’ll take you,” he interrupts.
“Really.” I look at the man to my left, catching his blue eyes that could freeze the earth. “I’ll be fine.”
“Be ready at five,” he responds, and Maddox looks so happy I can’t even try to say no now.
“Thank you, Mr. Wolf,” I mumble, casting my eyes down on my plate.
“Are you working Monday?” Maddox asks, tapping my knee with his foot under the table.
I shrug. “I have no idea. I’m just going to say yes to whatever they offer so it’s a possibility.”
“Work hard and they’ll never stop offering,” Sargent puts in, sipping his drink softly. The way his throat bobs… why is that so appealing?
Maddox nods his agreement. “She’ll have no problems there, never known somebody to not have any quit in them. Pest can go for hours.”
I close my eyes and bring my fingers to the bridge of my nose. I can’t believe he just said that.
“I meant while working. Not… I mean…”
“Son,” Sargent warns. “Perhaps saying nothing would be prudent at this juncture.”
“Right,” Maddox whispers and starts laughing, quietly at first while I gulp my wine, then louder and it has me choking on the sweet fluid in my throat.
Soon we’re both laughing so hard I have tears streaming down my face.
“You’re such an idiot.” I kick him under the table and he kicks me back, making me yelp.
We finally sober but not before I kick him again, unfortunately, as I’m pulling back my foot, it grazes across Sargent’s shin and we both startle.
“Sorry,” I say quietly but he doesn’t reply, just finishes his dinner while Maddox and I have our banter and regale him with tales of our travels.
Tempest
Morning comes and I leave my room in my blue and white striped dress, knee-high white socks, black shoes, and white, frilly apron. I look a bit like Alice from Wonderland except my hair is darker. It’s a little bit tight on my waist but otherwise fits me comfortably.