by Zoe Reid
“You get a tree delivered?” Sean asked.
It was the perfect opening to turn those dark eyes to mine. “The one in the living room is usually around fifteen feet.”
His eyebrows raised at that figure.
I had to look away for a moment as heat started to crawl up my neck. “Then we have a bunch delivered for outside.”
“Sounds impressive,” he said.
“It is,” Mom added with a smile.
I rolled my eyes. She loved showing off the house for Christmas. Every year it was bigger than the last. I hoped Sean was up for the challenge.
Though from the roughness of his hands and the muscles almost bursting from his sleeves, I knew he’d at least be capable of it.
“In addition to the tree, all of the first floor main rooms have their own sets of decorations.”
Sean scooped the remainder of his eggs onto his fork and finished off his meal. “Sounds good to me. I should probably get started then.”
He turned to me and smiled, revealing a set of straight white teeth from behind his beard. “It was nice meeting you.”
I swiped at my chin and raised my eyebrows.
He cocked his head to the side, and I handed him his napkin which was still on the table. It was obvious he didn’t grow up in the same environment as I did.
He wiped at his chin, and his eyes lit up, eliciting another shiver to roll down my back. “Thanks.”
Right after Sean left the room, I turned back to my meal, unable to hide the smile on my face.
Mom opened her mouth to say something when the door opened again.
I whipped my head around to see Sean, but instead, Gavin walked in.
I let out a sigh and returned to my food, pushing it around my plate. I wasn’t hungry at all anymore. My stomach filled with jitters.
“Gavin, I’ll have Mary prepare something for you,” Mom said.
“No need,” he said, adjusting the grip on his briefcase. “I’m headed to the office.”
Mom pulled a face. “You know how much I enjoy breakfast with my children.”
“Another time,” he said and then patted my head like a dog.
I swatted him away.
He laughed. “Just wanted to say good morning.”
And with that, he left. Mom started talking about some event. I tuned her out as my mind wandered to the sexy new handyman that would be in my house for the next thirty days.
Chapter 3
Sean
“Folks are encouraged to stay home if at all possible,” the news anchor said over the radio. I turned up the volume to listen to the weather report for tomorrow. It was all anyone could talk about on the news so far that morning.
“The snow isn’t going to let up for a least twenty-four hours once it starts. Six-foot snow drifts are expected in some areas so be sure to have all provisions necessary for a long day ahead of us. And now onto the school cancellations…”
I flipped the station to music. My old truck didn’t have Bluetooth, so I was stuck with listening to the radio. Normally, I didn’t mind, but the traffic was terrible this morning. The commuters and I were at a dead stop after someone careened a deer.
The flashing police lights lit up the distance acted like a beacon. It was a good thing I left for work early. It wouldn’t help me get the full-time position if I was late on my second day.
The traffic started to crawl, and I kept close to the car in front of me as if that would help get me there quicker.
I grabbed my travel mug of coffee and sipped from it. I wasn’t a stranger to early hours, but I was happy that I packed an overnight bag. If the weather was going to be that bad, I knew I’d be up a few times throughout the night to plow to keep the property manageable. I hoped that the Turner’s wouldn’t mind.
At least it would show them how dedicated I was to the job.
My phone rang, and I picked it up, pressing the speaker button. I didn’t need one of the cops to pull me over for talking on the phone.
“Hi, Mom,” I said. She was an early bird too and usually called me while she had her tea.
“Sean, you sound chipper.”
“Already on my third cup of coffee,” I said.
“You on your way to work?”
“I’m trying to.”
“What do you mean?”
“It’s not a big deal. There’s just some traffic on the highway.”
“This early?”
“Some accident.”
“Oh dear, I hope everyone is okay.”
“I’m sure they are. There’s no ambulance.”
“I’ll have to watch the news to see if they are,” she said.
The sound of a newscaster appeared in the background.
I smirked. Without much to care about other than Dad, she always obsessed over the smallest things.
“Did you hear about this snow storm?” she asked.
I dropped my head to my chin. “Yes, Mom.”
“Are you going to stay there tonight?” she asked.
I glanced at my bag. “Yes, Mom.”
“Don’t ‘yes, Mom’ me,” she said.
I laughed. “I’m twenty-eight years old and am capable of listening to the weather. Mr. Turner gave me a key to the guest house so I will stay the night.”
“I wish you would just stay there until the job is over,” Mom said. “You won’t have to deal with traffic, and you can sleep in. I hate that you drink all this caffeine in the morning.”
“I can send you the blood report from my recent physical. I’m as fit as a fiddle.”
She laughed. “You sound like your father.”
A moment of silence stretched over the line. Even with an old-fashioned saying, I wasn’t like him. I was perfectly healthy while he wasn’t. It was a reminder of what I was working for.
“Well, it would make your mom feel better if you just stayed put. Mr. Turner seems like a lovely man. He gave you the key for a reason. Think of it as a vacation.”
A vacation that paid me. Maybe she was right.
“I’ll think about it.”
“Okay, honey. I’ll let you get on with your day. I love you.”
“Love ya too, Mom.”
I hung up the phone and put both hands on the wheel as I passed the police car. Neither of the cops looked at me, but I still felt better without talking on the phone.
Surprisingly, I arrived at the estate with two minutes to spare.
The day before, Mary mentioned that there were several parts of the back fence that needed mending. I was happy she showed me yesterday or else I would have had to search for them in the darkness. I’d flagged them so I could get started right away.
I was far away from the house so I wouldn’t disturb the family inside. While I worked, my mind wandered to Brooklynn.
She was exactly what I thought she’d be. A beautiful daughter of an oil tycoon. All day she didn’t fall far from my mind. I wasn’t sure if she had a job, though with her being that young, she was probably in college or something. I was out of touch so much that I had no idea if it was already the start of winter break or not. It seemed early but what did I know?
Thinking about her was the closest I was going to get to her.
I was the hired help, and I needed this job. It paid way more than I needed thankfully, and it was a great opportunity for me. I’d kick myself if I messed it up by chatting up the boss’s daughter.
We were in different leagues altogether.
***
Once the fences were mended, the sun was already shining through the trees, warming me up a bit.
After putting away my supplies, I went back into the garage and checked out the decorations I sorted through the day before.
With the incoming storm, it made sense that I worked outside while I could. The snow wasn’t going to slow me down, and if the drifts were as bad as predicted, I could work on the indoor decorations if we were stuck inside.
The thought of being that close to Brooklynn made m
e smile. But I quickly shoved that thought away.
I really needed to get laid. And not by the bosses daughter.
I worked too hard to go out, and the town was small enough that I knew the entire families of most everyone who lived there. Most of the girls were married or ready to get married and settle down. As lovely as they were, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to include anyone else in my life while Dad’s condition worsened.
As I untangled the outdoor lights, I worked through my thoughts.
Time got away from me until Mary came out of the house and asked me to come inside.
Mary had a kind smile as she closed the door behind me. She shivered even though she wore a long sleeve shirt and pants.
“There’s coffee in through the dining room. Mrs. Turner insisted you warm up for a little while. I’m sure you’re hungry.”
“How can I say no? Your breakfast was delicious yesterday.”
She grinned and fixed her short black hair, tucking it behind her ears. “Thank you, Mr. Wade.”
“Please, call me Sean.”
She cleared her throat. “Okay, Sean. But not in front of the missus.”
“I won’t tell if you don’t,” I said.
Mary smiled and ushered me inside.
I took off my coat and hung it on the rack near the door. I cleaned off my boots as much as I could before making my way to the dining room. Giving Mary more work to do wouldn’t keep me in her favor.
Without Mrs. Turner next to me, I was able to take stock of my surroundings. The ceilings were high and the entire place completely spotless while keeping its rustic feel.
I hoped that Mr. Turner was proud when he came into his house each day. I knew I would be.
I couldn’t help but hope that Brooklynn would be at breakfast again but was sorely disappointed when I arrived and it was only Mrs. Turner in the room.
“Good morning, Sean,” she said, not looking up from her phone.
“Good morning,” I said, heading over to the coffee pot on the side table. I poured myself a mug and sat down in the same chair as I did yesterday. I wasn’t sure of etiquette, but Mrs. Turner didn’t say anything.
“What is on your agenda today?” she asked, finally looking at me. In between the few lines on her face, I saw Brooklynn. Their similarities broke through the longer I spoke with her.
“I’m going to work on the outdoor decorations,” I said, holding the hot mug in my frigid hands. “A big storm is coming in so I can work inside tomorrow, so we don’t fall behind.”
“Good,” she said with a nod.
The door to my side opened, and Mary came out with two plates. She placed one in front of me and one next to me.
My heart leaped as the main door opened and Brooklynn walked into the room.
Yesterday she looked comfortable, yet pretty in her sweater dress. I had to keep my jaw from dropping as today she wore a long-sleeved black dress with no leggings this time. Her short heels clicked across the floor as she neared. Her hair was down, and her curls bounced with each step. Her makeup made her skin look like she were an airbrushed model.
“Hi, Sean,” she said, her bright red lips forming my name.
Her eyes captured mine, and there was no doubt in my mind that I was in big trouble.
Chapter 4
Brooklynn
The breakfast with Sean was a little less awkward than it had been yesterday. I dominated the conversation, wanting to know everything I could about the handyman. And it kept Mom from interjecting anything. I knew she didn’t mean to be such a snob, but she tended to treat the staff as only the staff.
I grew up with Mary, and I appreciated her much more than Mom did. She was almost like a second mother.
Getting to know Sean, was my top priority. For some reason, I needed to understand my feelings for him. They were so strong and so fast that I didn’t know if I was missing something.
He grew up not far from my home, but he was seven years older than me, so we wouldn’t have run in the same circles even if our social status were the same.
I could tell I made him feel uncomfortable with my questions about his past, but that only made me want him more. His adorable shy grin forces waves upon waves of tingles to erupt inside of me.
“I should get to work again,” Sean said, placing his napkin on the table.
I leaned closer. I wanted him to stay. But I thought better of saying something. Asking him to would hint to Mom that something else was going on with me. If I wanted him to stick around, I’d have to be more clever.
“Thank you for breakfast, Mrs. Turner,” he said and then left the room.
“What a nice guy,” I said to Mom.
She shrugged one shoulder. “What are you doing today?”
I sighed. “A little of this and that.” Little did she know I planned on going wherever Sean was.
“You can help me with some planning for the charity,” Mom suggested.
It took all my effort not to stick out my tongue. She was always trying to get me to do something with her organizations. Didn’t she understand that I wasn’t interested? At. All.
Ugh.
“Maybe another time,” I said quickly and then got up from my chair before she could ask again.
I gave Sean some time to get started on the outdoor decorations before I went outside. I came out onto the back patio so it wouldn’t be completely obvious what I was doing. The afternoon sun warmed my face, but the air was still cold. I could almost smell the incoming storm.
A thrill coursed through my veins and I rounded the house and saw him on the top of a ladder leaning against one of the front peaks of the house.
I watched him for a minute before he glanced over his shoulder at me.
I straightened the hem of my puffy jacket and walked toward him. “What are you doing?”
“Hanging lights,” he said.
Well, duh. I lifted my shoulders and dropped them, trying to relax. Why was this harder when Mom wasn’t in the room? Maybe there was no reason for him to be extra polite with his boss around. Though, technically I was his boss too. I could tell him to do anything I wanted.
Sean, there’s a squeak in my bedpost, can you check it out for me?
“What’s so funny?” he asked.
I hadn’t realized I was grinning like an idiot. I shook away the deviant thought and pursed my lips. “Nothing. I was wondering if I could help.”
“I’m good. I’m nearly halfway done.” He climbed down the ladder. It was the first time we stood face to face with each other. I wasn’t short by any means, but he was at least a foot taller than me. His chest was so broad that I had the urge to press my hands against it to see how strong he was.
He grabbed another section of lights and went for the ladder again.
“I want to help,” I said.
He glanced over his shoulder at me. “Isn’t it a bit cold out?”
I pressed my lips together. “I live here, remember? I’m not freaked out by a little cold weather.” Truthfully, I wanted nothing more than to go inside my warm house, but I wanted to be around Sean more.
“If you want,” he said. “You can hold up the end of this string, keeping the lights from tangling as I go.”
That seemed simple enough. I picked up the lights and wished I would have grabbed a pair of gloves from inside before I asked if I could help. The idea came to me when it was already too late. I was sure I could manage for a little while.
We were silent for a few minutes as he strung the lights. Looking up at him made my head spin. I wasn’t sure if it was because of the height or the fact that I was with the hottest man I’d ever seen outside of a magazine or movie.
When we finished with that string, I dug my hands into my pockets to try and get some feeling back.
Sean came down the ladder again and grabbed another string.
I chewed on my lip and glanced at the front door. Would he think I was a baby if I went inside? I really wanted to warm up.
“He
re,” he said, taking off his gloves. “Put these on.”
“Won’t you get cold?” I asked, peering up at him through my eyelashes. I’d applied false ones this morning in preparation for his arrival.
He grinned and stepped closer to me. His breath puffed out in a white cloud, swirling around us. “I’m sure I’ll be fine for a little while.”
He knew I wasn’t going to be able to last. That thought made me want to prove him wrong.
Our fingers brushed when he handed me the gloves, and I shivered. This time I knew it wasn’t from the cold.
As if he felt it too, he dropped his gaze to the ground and picked up another string.
I shoved my fingers into the gloves that were way too big for me, but they were warm. Very warm. I imagined his warm body wrapped around mine and I bit my lip to keep from smiling. Why did he have such an effect on me?
“Ready for the next one?” he asked.
“Yes.” I took the next string from him and followed him as he moved the ladder to the left.
We did two more strings together, and then the shivering started. The gloves lost all of Sean’s warmth, and my teeth chattered.
Sean came down the ladder for the last string and cocked his head to the side. “Brooklynn, please go inside. You look freezing.”
“That’s b-b-ecause I a-a-m,” I said through my chattering teeth.
He stepped forward, holding his hands out on either side of me. For a split second, I thought he was going to touch me, and I leaned closer, wanting him to.
He inhaled sharply and moved to the side, grabbing the next set of lights.
I took off the gloves and handed them to him. “Thanks for these.”
“Sure,” he said curtly and took them.
Had I done something wrong? We were getting along so well.
Dejected, I headed inside. Before I opened the front door, I heard the crunching of snow under tires. I turned to see a car pulling up.
I was torn between warming up and seeing who it was. Though I had a good guess it was Dad since he always had a car when he traveled to and from the airport.