Total pages in book: 24
Estimated words: 22371 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 112(@200wpm)___ 89(@250wpm)___ 75(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 22371 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 112(@200wpm)___ 89(@250wpm)___ 75(@300wpm)
All her life, she’d been told she was nothing more than a burden. It was only a matter of time before Massimo grew bored with her.
Staring at him, she wanted to slap the smug smile off his face, but she didn’t believe in violence, so she shook her head and then stepped out to the main corridor. She didn’t even bother going for the front door. Knowing Massimo, he would have locked it and he was the only one that had the key.
Instead, she went straight to the kitchen and grabbed a mug out of the cupboard. Unlike his precious mistress and other women, Elsie knew her way around the kitchen. She knew her way around surviving. She didn’t need personal assistants or any of the other crap. She could do this.
Massimo had kidnapped her, but by the end of it, she knew he would grant her a divorce.
She looked toward Massimo, and she was tempted to give him the silent treatment, but instead she held a second mug out. “Do you want one?”
“You’re not going to try and play hard to get?” he asked.
“Although that is tempting, and trust me, it is, I’m not interested in playing games. Do you want a drink?”
“I’d love one, and you know how I like it.”
“Can’t forget.” She added two sugars to his cup, and she had no choice but to grab the luxury espresso.
With her back to him, she couldn’t help but smile as she recalled the first time he tried cheap granulated coffee. He had told her it was like someone had taken a shit in his mouth. Elsie had been shocked, but she had then splurged on better coffee just for him. She couldn’t afford a fancy machine, and she refused to accept one bought by him. Coffee was coffee.
They had so many memories together, and right now she wished she had never created any with him.
****
Elsie never failed to surprise him.
Massimo expected her to freeze him out, but instead she continued to act as if they were friends. He watched as she finished their drinks and then placed his on the counter before him, before blowing across the surface of her own mug and walking to the sitting room.
He knew exactly where she was going—to the window seat overlooking the garden. A fresh layer of snow had fallen, and he knew how much she loved the snow. Winter was her favorite time of year, as she loved wearing sweaters and thick clothing. She hated summer more than anything.
He’d gotten to know her over the months. He listened to her, because what she said mattered to him.
Picking up his coffee, he took a sip, not caring that it was hot. He couldn’t stand iced coffee. To him, there was no point in even having a cup. Coffee was meant to be hot, not freaking iced.
As always, Elsie made him amazing coffee. She didn’t even need fancy equipment. She always liked to show him she could do anything a pricey bit of equipment could do.
He had no doubt about her skills. She’d always been adept at surviving. He hated that she had grown up in a life where she had no choice but to survive, which was strange. He’d grown up willing to fight for his survival.
“Do you think it will snow again?” Elsie asked.
“Yes. It is forecast.”
“Christmas is around the corner,” she said.
“Yeah, I’ve already gotten your present.”
“You don’t need to get me anything.”
Massimo wasn’t offended. Once she learned of his wealth, it made her uncomfortable. She hated having to deal with the term “gold digger.” She didn’t care about his money. He knew that. His present to her was something he knew she was going to love, something she had always wanted.
They’d been making love underneath the stars at this very cabin on their honeymoon, and she had told him she always wanted to have a home to call her own, something no one could take from her. After talking with his lawyer, this cabin now belonged to Elsie. She had a home that under no circumstances could be taken back.
He knew there was not a lot he could get Elsie. She wanted a family, but only time would grant him the ability to give her that. He’d been trying. He’d never worn condoms with her. Not that he wanted to spoil their fun by adding children to the mix.
He wanted time alone with her, but having children was another way of cementing her life to his. He didn’t want to give her a chance to leave him. This life wasn’t for everyone, and he wanted Elsie, no, he fucking needed her. She made him want to be a better man.
Knowing Elsie was waiting at home for him, he worked fucking hard to get back to her. There was no one else he wanted. He loved Elsie more than anything in the world.