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)
“Nothing stays the same, Essie. I adore everything you’re doing. The sound of children’s laughter in the garden was so enjoyable. I’d forgotten how much I loved that. And the fairy ball next. This old house needed some life breathed back into it.”
“It was fun this afternoon, wasn’t it?”
“The best. I couldn’t help comparing the activities happening now to what I imagined serving Nelson would have been like.” Sara grimaced. “Your aunt was a wise woman. She knew who would take care of the home she loved so much.”
Warmth filled Essie. Sara’s words meant everything. Essie had hoped her aunt would have approved of her efforts.
Sara patted Essie’s hand lightly. “I’ll be off to check on how the cleaners are handling the ballroom.” She walked to the doorway and stopped to look back at Essie. “You go earn another sticker.” Sara disappeared before Essie could react.
Chapter Eight
Essie paced back and forth in the library. She should be working on the fairy ball, but all she could think about were the heavy keys lying on her desk. Something had told her to wait until Zander could go check out the rooms with her.
A warm, furry creature brushed against her ankle.
“Ahh!” she shrieked. Marmalade let out an annoyed yowl before bestowing another caress.
“Marmalade! You scared me,” Essie told him and leaned over to scratch behind the tomcat’s ears. “You always show up at the weirdest times.”
Marmalade meowed again, giving Essie the impression he agreed with her completely. Did he plan his arrivals that way?
“Do I have competition for your affection, Little girl?” a sexy voice asked from the doorway. He looked absolutely yummy in his battered jeans and boots.
“Zander! I’m so glad to see you. How is everything at your house?”
“They sealed the place up completely. I don’t think they’ve missed a single hairline crack. The contractor explained the heating phase has almost peaked. I pretended I could hear the tiny screams of the bedbugs as they vaporized.”
His sound effects made Essie giggle and helped disperse her anxiety. “Thanks, I needed that.”
“Are you worrying about the next event?” Zander asked, walking forward to wrap his arms around her.
“The ball? No, not really. I’m excited by it. The organizer is already talking about making the dance an annual event. I can’t wait to see everyone’s outfits. I bet you’ll look hot as a centaur.”
“I get to be a centaur? That’s exciting. Why do I have a mental picture of hoofed feet and a tail?”
“I hadn’t thought of that, but we need to make that happen now,” she said with a laugh. “Or I bet you’d be equally amazing in a tuxedo.” Her mouth watered at that thought. Those wide shoulders were a tailor’s dream.
“I’ll put my thinking cap on to see what I can come up with,” Zander said, “if I can get a kiss.”
Closing her eyes, Essie raised her lips for him. When his mouth didn’t press against hers, she peeked up at him. “Aren’t you going to kiss me?” she asked.
“Oh, no, Little girl. I asked you for a kiss.”
Essie raised up on her tiptoes to deliver a steamy smooch. His arms tightened around her, and when she leaned back to end the exchange, he hugged her against him. “Uh-uh, Little girl. That’s only enough for one hoof. I’ll be lopsided if you don’t kiss me again.”
Of course, she wasn’t going to argue with that logic. Pressing her mouth to his, Essie lost herself in the passion that welled between them. Zander cupped her jaw as he took control. She curled her fingertips around his broad shoulders and held on to the heat building inside her. Rubbing her pelvis against him, Essie allowed herself to show him how much she wanted him. When he lifted his head, she could only stare at him.
“Little girl, I thought you moving in with your aunt was the best day of my life.”
“It’s not?” she asked, worried that she’d done something wrong.
Zander shook his head. “No. Every hour I get to spend with you is better than the hour before.”
“I agree.” Essie pressed a hand to her stomach and took a deep breath. She turned to her desk and grabbed the keys. “Sara gave me the keys to the master suite today. She cleaned the rooms and suggested we might like to stay on the third floor. Together.”
“Are you ready for us to take that big step, Little girl?” he asked, studying her face closely.
“Yes.”
That simple answer made him smile. “Let’s go check out the space. Have you been up there before?”
“Never. That level has been closed off for as long as I remember.” Curious by nature, Essie couldn’t wait to see Esther’s old rooms. The prospect of sharing a dedicated space with Zander excited her in an entirely different way.
“Let me make a quick stop in my room.”