Total pages in book: 53
Estimated words: 49458 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 247(@200wpm)___ 198(@250wpm)___ 165(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 49458 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 247(@200wpm)___ 198(@250wpm)___ 165(@300wpm)
“Yeah.” She nodded to make Zander believe that was even possible. Marmalade couldn’t flush a toilet, right? He was a cat. And what feline brain would grasp that old pipes and filling the tank with cold water would cause the person showering to get blasted with hot spray? “Sorry?”
Zander shook his head in disbelief and stalked back into his room. Before he slammed the door, Essie was able to appreciate that his rounded butt looked very toned. Stop ogling the man. He’s not interested in you!
She turned to continue her path to the kitchen and found herself whistling with merriment as she replayed that conversation with Zander. At least the cat was in her corner and was making Zander pay for invading her house. What a great day! “Come on, Marmalade. I owe you kitty treats.”
With a roar of approval, the miniature orange tiger dashed down the hall in front of her. In the kitchen, she fixed herself a double coffee with an extra shot of espresso. The instant zing of alertness that followed was almost as appealing as Zander in a towel.
“Okay, it’s nowhere close,” she muttered.
“Are you planning a trip?” Sara asked, appearing in the doorway.
“Yikes! Could you make some noise to clue me in that you’re coming?” Essie asked. “By the way, what happened to choosing another room for Zander?”
“The green room really is the best place for him. That one has the largest shower,” Sara said, grabbing a skillet from the drawer.
Instantly, the view of Zander in that towel rebounded into her brain. He might actually need a big shower for that….
“What?” Sara had asked her a question, but Essie didn’t have a clue what the housekeeper had said.
“Scrambled eggs or French toast for breakfast?”
“Scrambled eggs,” Zander answered from the doorway. “Could I have some coffee?”
“We’re feeding you now?” popped out of Essie's mouth before she could stop herself.
Sara sent her a look of reproach that hinted at bad manners. “Of course, I told Zander he was welcome to join us for meals.”
She would have a serious talk with Sara. The housekeeper was killing her. Absolutely flaying her alive.
“Of course. Sorry, I wasn’t part of that conversation.” Essie stepped into the pantry and grabbed a couple of granola bars. She’d just eat those as she did some research. “If you’ll excuse me, I’ve got a ton of work to do.”
She dropped off her coffee and breakfast on the desk before dashing upstairs to grab her laptop. A small elevator allowed the staff to transport trays of food and supplies to the upper floors. It would hold up to two people, but Essie avoided it like the plague. She could see herself getting trapped inside and never risked it. Besides, running up the stairs gave her some exercise.
Back in the office, she drank several swallows of coffee to bolster herself before scanning the room. If she was going to set up in here, she needed the desk in the middle of the bay window so her guests could take in the lovely landscaping outside. She’d only have to move the massive walnut piece a few feet into the perfect spot. The sitting area with the comfortable chairs and the old-fashioned settee could remain around the coffee table in the center of the room. That would be a great place to hold team meetings with the staff or simply relax.
With her assessment done, Essie was ready to get organized. Setting her cup down, she pushed against the solid wood desk. It didn’t budge a fraction of an inch. She stepped back several inches and leaned into the furniture, using her body weight as leverage. Nothing. Frustrated, Essie glared at it.
“Crap! Are you nailed to the floor?” she accused the desk and tried again. This time, two masculine hands appeared on the outer sides of hers, and warmth surrounded her.
“On the count of three. One, two, three.”
Enveloped in the delicious scent of Zander’s cologne and his underlying fresh scent, Essie froze. His powerful arms on either side of her bulged, distracting her further.
“Are you pushing, Little girl?”
Why had he called her that? Instantly, she sprang into motion and poured her frustrations into the task. His torso pressed against her as the desk moved by small increments. Essie stood up after a few minutes, ready to call the placement perfect, but Zander said, “A couple more inches, and we’ll have it centered in the space.”
She leaned against the wooden surface, and finally the desk slid into place. “That’s great. Thank you.”
Expecting him to move away, Essie turned in the circle of his arms and found herself pressed against Zander’s hard frame. She pushed firmly on his shoulders. “You can step back. We’ve got the desk set perfectly now.”
Zander didn’t move an inch. “Your hair looks great this morning. What did you do to it?”