Total pages in book: 161
Estimated words: 154882 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 774(@200wpm)___ 620(@250wpm)___ 516(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 154882 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 774(@200wpm)___ 620(@250wpm)___ 516(@300wpm)
“Nadine doesn’t have to trouble herself over us. I’ll pour us a bowl of cereal.”
“Cereal for one,” Sienna announced. “I’ll have an avocado and bacon omelet. I’ll help if she allows outsiders in her kitchen.”
“She does.”
Sienna went into the kitchen, hopefully to make me an omelet too. Fuller was still staring at me, so I gave sitting a try.
“Ms. Fuller, what exactly does a house manager do?”
“Everything,” she stated. “I handle the day-to-day operations of the Fairfield. Supervising and hiring staff, keeping inventory, paying the bills, and looking after Tricky when both her father and uncle are called away for business.”
“You call her Tricky too?”
“She’s quite insistent that I do.”
“I don’t want us to add to your load. I’m sure you have your hands full with Sunny.”
I didn’t expect a full-belly laugh and I didn’t get one. Though, Fuller did crack a smile.
“You two are no trouble at all. Adeline hired me to look after her family while she’s away, and right now, you’re doing a much better job at it. Whatever you need, I’m at your disposal.” Fuller picked a tablet off the end table and handed it to me.
“To start, choose your wardrobe. The family has an account with Caddell House. Send in your measurements, preferences, and needs, your outfits will be here in two weeks at the most. Until then, take this credit card and go shopping. Fashion Ave. is a block down. It’s best to walk or take a cab for the time being.”
“Hold on,” I cut in. “I can’t take Sunny’s credit card or leave him footing a Caddell House bill. They charge three hundred dollars for a scarf.”
“What you can’t do is walk around in this”—she pinched my jacket lapel—“for a second longer. One of Sole’s fathers invested in Camden Caddell years ago, granting him the start-up to launch his own line. As a thank-you, his company designs exclusively for the family at a heavy discount. Take it.” She closed my hand over the card. “Feeling well is a human right, and you deserve to be comfortable in your skin, Miss Blaine.”
“Thank you.” I held the card to my chest, pushing back overwhelm. No wonder Adeline left Fuller to be the mother in her stead. “I will buy some new clothes, but not from Caddell House. I’m not quite ready to wear my past.”
Sunny came in—fully dressed and fit to knock the unsuspecting on their ass with one look, even from his wheelchair. Fuller went to check on breakfast while he parked next to me.
Warmth pulsed beneath my skin thinking of that kiss. “How long do you need the chair?” I asked, straining to sound normal.
“Not for much longer. I’m healing well. Hendrix gave me this ’cause walking tugs on the sutures. Once that stops being as painful as it sounds, I can ditch the chair.”
“You shouldn’t be on your feet at all, then. Wait till you’re one hundred percent.”
The corner of his mouth tugged up. “How else was I supposed to reach?”
I shoved away. Laughing, Sunny tugged me back down, then tangled my legs with his to prevent another escape.
“Storm off after we talk about last night, Angel. In the restaurant, did you notice anything or anyone suspicious? Someone watching you?”
I sobered quickly. “No, nothing like that. But Liam asked for a semiprivate table. There were two tables in my line of sight, and those couples never looked at us.”
“What about outside before the car blew? Think,” he said when I opened my mouth. “Close your eyes, and picture it.”
I did as he said. Scene unfolding in my mind, I went back to the four of us stepping out of the restaurant. Liam holding the door. Elizabeth taking my hand. After she did, my gaze was down and my attention on her. The world and people in it were blurs on the edge of my periphery, but before I dropped my head...
I frowned, causing Sunny to speak up.
“What? What did you think of right then?”
“There— There was no one at the valet stand.” As I said it, the vision solidified, showing me the empty area under the awning, where the lone stand waited for the young gentleman we drove past. “When we arrived, there was a guy there and a line of cars waiting for him. When we came out, no guy. Maybe he was on a break or—”
“Or maybe someone lured, killed, or paid him to leave a present in the car,” Sunny said. “I can guarantee that bomb wasn’t there when you guys left the compound, so it was put there while you were inside. He was either a witness to get rid of, or he was an accomplice.”
I shuddered, hugging myself tight. “It must be terrible having to look at people in terms of bystander or enemy.”
He mouth-shrugged. “This is my every day, love. You’ve got another reality to compare it to. You tell me if it’s terrible.”