Total pages in book: 37
Estimated words: 35207 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 176(@200wpm)___ 141(@250wpm)___ 117(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 35207 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 176(@200wpm)___ 141(@250wpm)___ 117(@300wpm)
She jumps. Colby ducks behind her.
“W-who is there?” she stammers out, craning her neck to see the person behind the disembodied voice.
“Put. The. Box. Down.” I snap out each word with careful precision so there is no misunderstanding. The infernal woman is going to break her toe or the contents of the box or both.
Summer’s eyes narrow and her back straightens. “I will when I get inside. I’m the new housekeeper and I was told to come to the side entrance.”
“The instructions did not say to unload your damn car so put the box down. I’ll unlock the door when you do.”
“I’d like to carry my own boxes in and who are you anyway?”
“I’m the owner and if you can’t follow a simple order like the one I just issued then you can take your kid and leave.”
She tilts her head and tightens her jaw, not liking what she’s hearing and for a hot, terrifying second, I think she’s going to flee, but I don’t back down because if I lose this battle, I’m not going to last a day with her inside my house. I have to be tough and mean and a complete bastard so that she both hates me and fears me. I can’t have any of that summer sweetness directed toward me. Like a true asshole, I’m banking on the hope I’m her last ditch opportunity. Who else would move to this tiny town in the middle of nowhere to work for a man with a specific set of rules? Stay out of the East wing at all times except on Tuesdays when you are allowed to clean all parts of it except for the bedroom. That’s off limits. No venturing into the warehouse in the back. That’s also off limits. Don’t look directly at the owner of the house. Don’t speak to him without being spoken to first. Don’t be shocked if he has no lights on even at the dinner table. Learn to enjoy candlelight at all times.
Those are weird fucking rules, and only the truly desperate would agree to abide by them. When she heaves a deep sigh and pastes a plastic smile on her face, I see the truth. She is desperate. Just how desperate is she? My cock swells in eagerness. Hopefully, it thinks, really fucking desperate.
I’m a degenerate and an asshole. I slam the unlock button and the door slides open. Come into my web, says the spider to the fly.
4
Summer
Colby stares at me with wide eyes. I soften my features so that he doesn’t worry.
“Come on. Don’t you want to see the castle?”
He’s been going on about it since we pulled up and he got his first real look at it. The place really is breathtaking. It always has been, but since the new owner took it over and gave the place some attention it looks like it is coming back to life. If they added some colorful flowers out front, I might even call it welcoming.
Colby‘s eyes flick back to the box where the angry man’s voice came from. He’s not looking so sure about all this since that jerk scared him.
“I don’t think he wants us to come in.” He takes a small step back.
Shit. If I wouldn't lose my job I’d march inside that house and wring that man’s neck with my bare hands. Colby has had enough instability in his life. This is supposed to be a fresh start, and I refuse to let the man behind the box ruin it.
“The box,” I remind him with a gentle whisper. “Don’t you think we should take it inside?” He nods his head, suddenly remembering. I adjust the box against my hip so I can hold my other hand out for Colby to take and he steps inside with me.
I suck in a sharp breath when the door closes shuts behind us on its own. As though we are being locked inside some sort of prison. I’m thankful that Colby is looking forward and misses it. Thank God. I almost peed myself. He would have nightmares. I think that jerk did that on purpose. I’m not so sure I’m doing the right thing anymore but I don’t really have another option.
I did this to keep Colby safe. That’s not going to work if he’s scared of this place. “Here. Let’s get some light in here.” I set the box down next to Colby’s feet, letting his hand go. I don’t see a light switch, but there is a small amount of it still coming from outside through both sides of the door. I walk over, grabbing the curtain and giving it a pull. The room floods with warm light.
“Wow,” Colby says. I walk to the other side and do the same with that window.
“Yeah, wow,” I agree with him, coming back to his side. The whole entryway is a beautiful white marble. Right in the center is a staircase that leads up to the next floor, but it stops midway and parts so you can go up either side and then meet again at the top landing. I drop my head back to look up at the giant chandelier that sparkles when the light hits it just right. I’m sure it’s more breathtaking when you actually turn the light on.