by J. S. Cooper
“Sorry, what was that?” Wade’s deep voice sounded from behind me.
I turned around to see him standing at the edge of the kitchen, his hair dripping wet and a large white towel wrapped around his waist.
“I was talking to myself.” I turned back to the eggs and scrambled them in the pan. I could hear him walking toward me and I looked up to his face with a pleasant smile on my face. “Breakfast will be ready in about five minutes. Would you like one or two slices of toast, sir?”
“Two.” He grinned, his eyes close to mine as he stopped next to me. I could see how light the inner irises were compared to the outer circle. I’d never seen so many brilliant shades of green in one pair of eyes. “I see you found your uniform.”
“Yes, I did.” I pressed my lips together before I said something else.
“So, you like it?”
“Do I like being dressed up as a maid?” I cocked my head to the side. “What do you think?”
“I don’t know. That’s why I’m asking.”
“Is this some sort of bad joke?” I rolled my eyes.
“Am I laughing?”
“Who knows? Maybe you’re laughing inside at how ridiculous I look.”
“I think you look quite stylish and pretty.” His eyes surveyed my legs. “If you want to wear this all day, I have no problems with it.”
“Why don’t I wear it into town as well, while I do the shopping?”
“If you want.” He laughed and I just shook my head. “I’m hungry. When will the food be ready?”
“I already told you it will be done in about five minutes. Why don’t you go and change into some dry clothes and stop dripping water on the kitchen floor? By the time you’re done, breakfast will be ready.”
“Sounds like a good plan.” He smiled and lightly touched me on the shoulder. “And to answer your question, you should fry the bacon, always fry the bacon.” He winked and then walked out of the kitchen.
I couldn’t stop myself from staring at his strong back as he walked out, then I took a deep breath as I walked to the fridge to get the bacon. Wade Hart was a lot of things, annoying, cocky, and self-centered, but more than anything, he was sexy as hell.
“Thank you for breakfast. That was delicious.” Wade finished his last piece of toast and smiled. “If you want to create a menu for the week today and present it to me, I can go over it and make any changes I see fit.”
“Sure, I can do that.” I continued eating my toast and reached for my cup of coffee. “So, am I going to be spending most of my time as your housekeeper, then?” I sipped on my coffee and studied his face. “That’s fine. You can pay me for whatever you want, but I just want to be clear about my duties as I feel like I may have had a different understanding of what this job was going to be.”
“I thought I made it quite clear that you would be splitting chores between the office as my assistant and the kitchen as my cook.”
“Just checking you weren’t also going to be adding bedroom duties like your whore as well, or something.”
“Like my whore?” He tilted his head to the side and laughed. “What would give you that idea?”
“Nothing gave me that idea, I just wanted to check is all.”
“I don’t need to pay for sex. I don’t need whores. So no, I won’t be needing you in my bedroom performing any duties.” He stood up and laughed. I looked up at him and swallowed hard. He was right, of course, a man as hot as him could have any woman he wanted, even if he was poor. Given that he was also rich as hell, I was sure he had no issues. “But if you want to pay me a visit at night so that I can fulfill any needs you may have, be sure to let me know.” He winked. “It seems like you might need training in many different ways.”
“What the hell is that supposed to mean?” Did he know I was a virgin? Was I that obvious? My face grew red as I stared at him as he towered over me.
“Just saying if you want a more intimate piece of The Wade Hart, you only need to ask.”
“Let’s just say that anyone that has The in front of their name is not someone I want to be intimate with.” I stood up, and while I still had to crook my neck to look up at him, I didn’t feel like he was overpowering me like I had while I’d been sitting down. “So don’t bother trying to come to my room for any fun. I’m not interested.”
“Really?” He took a step closer. “You’re telling me you could resist a piece of this.” He held his T-shirt out and then bent down so that his lips were close to mine. A part of me thought he was going to kiss me, right here, right now and all I could think about was if I had any bacon caught between my front teeth. “Savannah …”
I could feel his breath against my lips as he said my name and if my heart had beat any faster, it could have given Usain Bolt a run for his money.
“Yes, Wade?”
This was the moment, he was going to kiss me, I could feel it. I would allow him to kiss me for five, ten seconds max, and then I would push him away.
“You can work in the library today, while we wait on your desk,” he said, a teasing expression in his eyes. “Do the dishes, and then you can change if you want, and you can start on the menus. I’ll come into the office later, and we can discuss some of your other duties. I want you to make a database of all the US, UK, and Canadian charities that are doing work in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania, and I’ll tell you what info I will need for each charity.”
“Okay.” I blinked as he pulled away from me, disappointed that he hadn’t kissed me. I tried to ignore the fact that the air between us smelled like him, a manly scent of body wash and cologne that made me want to pull him over to me so that I could bury my face in his chest. What was wrong with me? Why was I acting and feeling so desperate to touch this man?
“Good.” He nodded and smiled. “Also, I was just joking earlier. Obviously, you wouldn’t want anything with me. You have your boyfriend to think about, don’t you?”
“Oh, yeah.” My face went beet red. I’d already forgotten I’d told him I had a boyfriend. This was why it was bad to lie. It was inevitable that a liar would forget their lies at some point. I just hadn’t realized that it would be so quickly for me. I cleaned up the kitchen quickly and then hurried to my room, where I changed into a pair of faded jeans and my Columbia sweater. I wasn’t exactly wearing office attire, but I didn’t care. If I had to wear a maid’s uniform part of the day, I was going to wear whatever I wanted during the other part.
The library was exactly what I’d expected to find in a huge house like this. It was grand and contained hundreds of books. There was a large oak table in the center of the room that looked out to a bay window that showcased what appeared to be multiple rose bushes of different colors. I took a seat at the table, opened the laptop, and sat back. As I waited for the screen to load, I stood up and walked over to one of the bookshelves and ran my fingers across a stack of red leather-bound books on birds. I pulled one out and opened it up to a random page and read out loud, “The eastern bluebird is a small migratory thrush found in open woodlands, farmlands, and orchards ...”
The text was accompanied by a beautiful watercolor picture of the bluebird. I flicked through the book to look at more photos of birds before closing it and walking to the other side of the room and gazing at a different set of books. I found two black-bound volumes that looked out of place and pulled one off of the shelf. It was slightly padded and I opened it to see a stack of photos and handwritten letters. I looked toward the door wondering if Wade would be upset if he knew I was going through the books but quickly pulled the stack out anyway. The top photo showed a handsome man who looked almost identical to Wade, all tall and dark and strong. He was standing next to a beautiful petite blonde with a beguiling smile and flowery pink dress. He had his arm around her waist, and he was staring down at her lovingly while she looked directly into the camera. Was she Wade’s mom? Whoever she was, she was beautiful. I picked up one of the letters and opened it up. A pressed rose fell out and I bent down to pick i
t up. I scanned the letter, wondering if I was overstepping my bounds.
* * *
“To my darling Louisa,
Has it really been four weeks since I have seen you? I feel like my heart will be forever broken if I don’t get to see you soon. Papa has told me that he wants us to go sailing in Europe next summer, and all I can think is that I couldn’t bear to live another summer without you. Say you will marry me, my love. I know you wanted me to propose in a romantic fashion and I still will, but I cannot hold back. I feel as if I were a man off at war with his true love back home. I think about you always. Be true to me, my dear.
Yours always and forever,
Joseph Hart
* * *
I grabbed for the next letter, feeling emotional as I finished reading the first one and eager to read more of their love story. I was about to open it when Wade walked into the library. I jumped back in surprise.
“Hey.” Wade’s eyes narrowed as he stared at me with the black book in my hand, but he didn’t say anything about it. “I thought we could go into town, grab lunch, and then I could go over some of the charity database information I needed you to gather.”
“Go into town for lunch? We just ate.”
“I need to pick up a package that’s at the post office, and I figured you could do some grocery shopping.”
“But we haven’t discussed the menus for the week yet.”
“Why don’t you surprise me?”
“I didn’t think you were the sort of guy who liked to be surprised.” Which was an understatement. Wade seemed like the most type A person I’d ever met in my life. I bet he was a Taurus as well, bullheaded as could be, or maybe he was a Scorpio. Scorpios always seemed to think they knew everything. Not that I was going to ask him, though. I didn’t want him to think I was crazy. What sort of person lived their life by star signs? Not that I lived my life by them, of course, but I did think that people of the same sign were generally alike.
“Wow, I didn’t know I was that transparent. You’ve barely known me forty-eight hours and yet you seem to know all about me.”
“I wouldn’t even pretend to guess I knew even one-tenth of the man you are, Wade.” I shook my head and realized that his eyes were now on the book in my hand. “I was just looking.” I couldn’t keep a note of defensiveness out of my voice.
“Okay.’ He shrugged. “You can look at whatever books you want to.”
“I found a letter and some photos in this one.” I held the letter up. “I think they were your parents’. Do you want them?”
“Do I want what?” He frowned. “My parents?”
“No, their letters and the photographs.”
“No.” His voice was stilted. “My dad is dead, and my mom, well, she’s in France.”
“I’m sorry.” My heart softened for him. “Your mom must have been devastated when he died.”
He laughed, but it was a dark sound that expressed more anger than happiness. “She’s the one who killed him.” He took in my shocked expression. “Not physically, of course. My mother can barely lift her hand for a manicure, let alone a gun or a knife to kill anyone.”
“Oh, okay.” I wanted to ask him what he’d meant, but he’d already started walking to the door.
“Check your email. I sent you some files you need to print out. Open the cupboard to the right and you’ll see a printer. The laptop is already connected to the network. I’ll meet you downstairs in thirty minutes.”
“Okay.” I walked back to the table. I took a seat, but Wade didn’t leave. “Did you need anything else?”
“No.” He shook his head as he stood in the doorway and studied me. His eyes took in my attire and I wondered if he was going to ask where the maid’s uniform was, but he didn’t. “I’ll see you downstairs.”
And with that he was gone, leaving me to wonder what his comment about his mom had meant. His parents had been so in love. At least his dad had. His dad was the one gazing at the mom lovingly, and it was the dad that had written the letter. Had it been a one-sided love affair then? Was that what Wade had meant? I wanted to read the rest of the letters, but I had to get some work done first. I needed to print out the attachments he’d sent me, and I also needed to Google some recipes because I had absolutely no idea what I was going to be cooking for the rest of the week.
The sweet Southern drawl of a country singer spilled through the speakers in the cute little café we sat in. I had the menu in my hands, and Wade was texting someone on his phone. The tablecloth was a bright pink and orange paisley design. A small jar of sunflowers sat in a unique glass vase in the center of the table. Big prints of old movie posters hung on the wall, and in one corner sat a jukebox that looked like it had come right out of the ’60s.
“Welcome to Herne Hill Café, where the food is good and the coffee’s better. How can I help you today?” An older lady wearing a pale pink uniform that clashed with her purple hair walked up to the table. “Why, Wade Hart, is that you?”
“Hello, Beryl, how are you doing today?” Wade put his phone on the table and smiled at the lady. “This is my new assistant, Savannah. I’m sure you’ll be seeing a lot of her around here.”
“Hey there, Savannah, you from Georgia?” She asked with an eager smile. “I’m from Duluth.”
“No, I live in the city, but I’m originally from Florida.”
“You’ll like working for Mr. Hart.” She beamed at me and then batted her eyelashes at Wade. “I saw Henry in here two weeks ago. He said he’s visiting.”
“He is.” Wade nodded.
“He’s not staying at the manor?”
“You know he never stays at the manor.” Wade laughed and Beryl raised an eyebrow. I stared at them for two seconds trying to figure out why Beryl’s face looked so taken aback. “Now will you give us a few moments to discuss your menu?”
“Yes, Mr. Hart.” Beryl blushed, glanced at me, and stepped back. I watched as she hurried to the kitchen and my eyes moved to Wade.
“Why doesn’t Henry stay with you when he visits?”
“He can’t comment on what he doesn’t see and vice versa.”
“What?” I blinked. “Are you talking in code or trying to rhyme?”
“Did I rhyme?” He grinned. “And if I did, is that a crime?”
I groaned at his comment. “I’m just trying to understand why Henry doesn’t stay with you. You have a huge house.”
“I have a huge house, but I like things a certain way. And so does Henry. It’s healthier for our relationship to live apart.”
“What about family holidays?”
“What are those?” He raised an eyebrow. “We didn’t all grow up in a nuclear family that followed traditional customs, you know, Savannah.”
“You didn’t celebrate Christmas or Thanksgiving or Easter?”
“My family wasn’t big on holidays.” He shook his head. “Have you decided what you want to eat?”
I wasn’t going to let him change the subject. “Did you and Henry not grow up together, then?” I’d been under the impression that they were close, but maybe I’d been incorrect.
“We grew up together.”
“Are you close?”
“You’re nosey.”
“I prefer curious.”
“You know that curiosity—”
“Killed the cat.” I interrupted him. “Yes, I know, and I’m lucky I’m not a cat.”
“Funny.” He pointed to my menu. “What do you want to eat?”
“What’s the deal with you and Henry?”
“Henry is my best friend.” He shrugged. “There’s no story. We both just like to keep our nocturnal and other activities private, that’s all.”
“Nocturnal activities?” I frowned.
“Do I really need to spell it out?” He licked his lips and winked. “I think you know what I mean.”
“Oh.” I blushed. “So, do you have a girlfriend then? Does Henry?”
“You’re awfully interested in Henry’s l
ife for someone that insists she doesn’t care about him.”
“I don’t care about him. I’m just curious.”
“We’re both single.” He grinned. “And I don’t see that changing anytime soon. We both like our freedom too much.”
“You think being in a relationship would take away your freedom?”
“I don’t think. I know.” He waved Beryl back over to the table. “I hope you’re ready to order because I’m hungry.”
“Liar,” I muttered under my breath.
He chuckled, his green eyes lighting up as he threw his head back. I looked back down at my menu and put the rest of my questions to the back of my mind.
“You guys ready?” Beryl pulled out her notepad from the front of her apron and a pen from behind her ear. “What do you want?”
Wade nodded toward me. I glanced at the menu again quickly. “I’ll have the lasagna, please.”
“Maybe not, dear.” Beryl shook her head and I stared at her in confusion.
“Do you not have it today?”
“Oh, we have it.”
“So, then I’d like to order the lasagna, please?”
“Is she slow?” Beryl looked over at Wade and then made a face. “Or is that one of those words we’re not meant to use anymore?”
“What?” I said. I could see that Wade was trying not to laugh. “I’m not sure what’s going on.”
“My dear,” Beryl sounded out each word slowly. “I don’t know if you’re some sort of dummy, but what would you like to eat?”
“I said lasagna.” I bit down on my lower lip to stop myself from adding bitch! And to think that I’d thought she’d been such a sweet older lady just seconds ago.
“And I said I think not.”
“Okay.” I shook my head. Obviously, this was going nowhere. “I’ll have the chicken fried steak, then.”
“Hmmm.” She made a face. “I don’t think so.”