Total pages in book: 143
Estimated words: 132834 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 664(@200wpm)___ 531(@250wpm)___ 443(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 132834 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 664(@200wpm)___ 531(@250wpm)___ 443(@300wpm)
I crossed my arms over my chest, trying to think through the annoyance clouding my mind. Eventually, I nodded. “I’ve never been good at guessing what’s going through Finn’s head, but I thought there’d be more pushback.” Good. More diplomatic than saying I expected he’d throw a raging tantrum.
I found myself asking, “Do we know he can handle it?” It had been bothering me ever since Griffen had threatened him with the job if he ran off another cook. Griffen raised an eyebrow, and I continued, “He said once that he went to culinary school and that he’d worked as a cook, but—” I shrugged, a little embarrassed to admit the truth to Griffen. “I assumed he was lying. It was back when everyone first came home. He was arguing with the cook, and I figured he made it up to get under her skin.”
“Fuck. Hope told me about that. I meant to ask Finn about it, but then someone shot at me. Twice. And we had that car accident, and Hope was pregnant—” Griffen shook his head. “I completely forgot.”
Sitting back, he considered the problem. “The way he talks about food when he’s complaining, I have a feeling he knows what he’s doing. The few things he’s made that I’ve tasted have been great.”
“Very true,” I agreed. “But making a plate of cookies or a pot of chili doesn’t mean he can handle the planning and cooking for the entire household three times a day.”
Griffen let out a murmur of agreement. “We’ll see how it goes. I’m sorry, Savannah. I meant what I said. If he gives you any trouble, let me know.”
“I will,” I said, knowing I wouldn’t. Not unless I had to.
His gaze lingering on the door Finn had left open behind him, Griffen let out a sigh. “He’s never been easy, but I’m not going to give up on him.”
“I’ll keep him in line,” I promised, mentally kicking myself. How exactly was I planning to keep Finn Sawyer in line? I had no idea. He was going to be underfoot, working steps from my door, all day and into the night. I wanted to squeeze my eyes shut and cry. I was going to have to get over it.
Finn Sawyer had screwed up my life when we were kids, and he’d been irritating me nonstop since he came home, but I would not let him run me off the job I loved. Griffen’s next words only strengthened my convictions.
“Before you go, you should know Hope and I are looking for a nanny. Someone who can help with the baby, as well as pick up the slack on child care. Between Nicky and August, we could use an extra adult around here running herd on the kids. While we’re interviewing people, your mother agreed to step in.”
“Really? She didn’t say.” A genuine smile spread across my face. I’d missed my mom since Nicky and I moved into the Manor. I loved my job, but the days were long, and I rarely found myself in town, too busy with my list of never-ending projects at Heartstone.
“We called her this morning. She’s going to come by after school gets out, and she’ll stay through dinner.”
“I don’t mind keeping an eye on the boys during dinner,” I said truthfully. Nicky was mine, and August was rarely trouble.
“I know, but it’s not your job to watch the kids.”
“It’s too much,” I said in a rush. “On top of school—”
A flush hit my cheeks. Griffen had surprised me with the news that he was paying the tuition for Nicky to attend Laurel Country Day along with Scarlett’s boys. I could have said no, but I hadn’t. I wouldn’t deny Nicky the chance for a stellar education out of pride. But a nanny? That was too much. I was the housekeeper, not a member of the family.
“It isn’t too much,” Griffen countered. “And we’ve missed having Miss Martha around. She said she didn’t want the job full time, but she’ll step in until Hope and I find someone.”
I only nodded in agreement, my throat tight. Clearing it, I asked, “Is there anything else?”
Griffen looked like he wanted to add something, but after a moment he just shook his head. “Hope wanted to talk to you.” His lips quirked in a smile, eyes warming at the mention of his wife. “She wants to decorate for Halloween.”
“It was on my list,” I assured him. “I’ll go find her now.” With that excuse, I escaped, trying not to think about Finn downstairs taking charge of the kitchens, stamping his presence all over my domain.
The rest of the day was filled with an unending list of tasks, some fun, some not so much. I helped Kitty and April with a guest bathroom we were hoping to put to use again sometime this century. Scrubbing a bathtub wasn’t my favorite way to spend the afternoon, but it let me check in with Kitty and April about taking over the dinner service. It turned out they were both happy to work a few hours longer for an appropriate raise in salary, and I was thrilled to cross serving dinner off my list of responsibilities. I owed Finn a thank you, even knowing it would burn as it crossed my lips.