Total pages in book: 40
Estimated words: 40942 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 205(@200wpm)___ 164(@250wpm)___ 136(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 40942 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 205(@200wpm)___ 164(@250wpm)___ 136(@300wpm)
“I don’t want to know,” she added. “What I can tell you is that I was not coming on to you. I was just commenting on your eyes. They’re amazing and I know it was inappropriate and I apologize for that. But you were rude!”
He found himself holding back a smile. He wouldn’t have been shocked if she’d started to stomp her foot to emphasize her point. She had spirit. And a bit of a temper. But those things didn’t put him off.
She was going to need some grit if she was going to go head to head with Grandpa Jack.
“Now, if you’ll just get out of my way, I’ll leave.”
Yep, definitely some temper there. And pride, he was guessing too. Because it was more than obvious that she needed this job. Her car had seen better days. So had her clothes.
“No,” he stated.
“Move aside.”
“Nope.”
“Well, why not?” She put her hands on her hips, then grimaced and lowered them.
“What’s wrong with your hands?” he demanded.
“Nothing is wrong with them,” she replied.
Clearly a lie.
He narrowed his gaze. “I don’t like being lied to.”
“Well, I don’t like being held against my will.”
Shit. What was he doing? He stepped away from the door of her car and a hint of relief filled her face.
Fuck. He was being a complete asshole. Not only had he accused her of coming on to him for commenting on his eyes, and he knew his eyes were unusual, so it wasn’t like he hadn’t had those remarks from strangers before, but now he was basically holding her here against her will.
“I didn’t mean to scare you,” he said gruffly.
She was reaching for the car door handle when she paused and glanced up at him. “What?”
“Sorry if I scared you. I didn’t mean to. It’s just . . . one of the housekeepers I hired started paying me more attention than my grandfather and one night I walked into my bed to find her in it. Naked.”
“Whoa. Seriously?” she asked.
“Yes. So when you mentioned my eyes —”
“You thought I wanted to climb naked into your bed? I told the lady at the coffee shop yesterday that she had beautiful hair, but I didn’t end up in her bed.”
He ran a hand over his face. “Yeah, I might have overreacted. I apologize. I’m Stafford Hill, by the way.”
“Um, it’s okay. I guess. I’m Blakely Ellis.”
“Will you stay? Meet my grandfather?”
“I suppose I could.”
3
Relief flooded Blakely as Stafford turned away and headed back to the house.
She’d nearly lost this job without even being given a chance.
“Uh, here’s the thing, Blakely.” Stafford stopped at the bottom of the porch stairs and turned to face her.
“Yes?”
“This job isn’t just about housekeeping.”
“I know, you also want someone to help with your grandfather. How much help does he need? The ad didn’t really specify. I have some experience with looking after someone elderly. After my parents died, I lived with my grandfather for several years. But I’m not qualified in aged care.”
“Uh.” He looked slightly taken aback.
Probably because of your big info dump, idiot.
Right. She should probably keep her personal information to herself. He didn’t want to know about her grandfather.
“Well, he doesn’t need a lot of help. It’s more about having someone here with him in case anything happens. We need someone to make meals and keep the house clean, but I also want him to have company. My grandmother died a few years ago and he sort of retreated into himself. And then about a year ago, he fell and broke his hip. He had to go into the hospital and then to a rehab center. Since coming home, he’s rarely left. Sometimes he’ll come out onto the porch, but it’s not that safe out here for him and he won’t let me do any repairs or changes to the house or surrounding grounds.”
Oh. That was really sad.
“All right. Well, I can do all of that,” she said optimistically.
“Yeah, the thing is, he thinks you’re only here to take care of the house. He won’t have you here if he thinks otherwise. Okay?”
“Got it!”
“All right. Come meet Grandpa Jack, then.”
Following Stafford into the house, she was glad to see that it looked like it was in slightly better shape inside than out. Although it was a bit messy and dusty.
But she’d get everything whipped into shape soon enough.
He led her out into the huge farmhouse kitchen. It had dark wooden cabinets and granite countertops. In the middle of the kitchen was a square dining table where a scowling older man sat.
“This another one?” he barked.
Stafford sighed. “Be nice, Grandpa. This is Blakely. Blakely, my grandfather, Jack. And yes, she’s here about the housekeeping job.”
“Don’t need no housekeeper.”
“No? Have you seen how much dust is collecting on the furniture?” Stafford asked. “We’re living on microwave meals. And the fridge hasn’t been cleaned out in weeks. Sorry.” He grimaced as he glanced over at Blakely.