Total pages in book: 71
Estimated words: 67843 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 339(@200wpm)___ 271(@250wpm)___ 226(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 67843 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 339(@200wpm)___ 271(@250wpm)___ 226(@300wpm)
"Good morning, Ava. You didn't have to make breakfast."
"I thought I should repay your kindness. It's your own food."
"Still, we were up late, and this smells so good. I'll start some coffee. Do you like coffee?"
"Yes, but everyone has their favorite strength, so I didn't want to mess up your preference.” My father would lose his shit if his coffee weren’t perfect.
“These men work hard, so the stronger the better, but John's off today. He'll be picking up our boys later." She flits around the kitchen effortlessly. It reminds me of my mother. I was only seven when she died. Those days seemed so long ago, but the emotion takes ahold of me.
"Oh no, dear. Are you okay?"
"Oh, yes. I'm sorry. I just had a flashback of my mother. She would make us breakfast and moved like she floated gracefully as she did it."
"You lost your mother? I'm sorry. That's an awfully hard thing. My mother has our children, and I can't imagine living without her."
"What the hell smells so good in here?" John says, coming into the room. He nods to me, but then walks up to Louisa. "Good morning, beautiful," he growls, sliding his arms around his wife, and kisses her hard and fast, pulling away with a smirk. I smile, loving the scene in front of me.
“Our guest cooked us breakfast. It smells good, doesn’t it?”
“It does. Sit down, ladies. I’ll serve.” We sit at the kitchen table and he makes each of us a plate, bringing them together like a fancy server.
“Thank you, Mr. Morrison.”
“It’s John Morrison, but you can call me John.” We eat our food in companionable silence, and then he says, “You know, Ava. You mentioned a job yesterday. I think I have the perfect position.”
“For Tobias,” Louisa says, clapping her hands together with such enthusiasm that I’m curious about the job.
“Exactly. You’re reading my mind again, woman.” He bends down and steals another kiss.
“It’s a gift.” She tosses him a wink before sipping her coffee. “Besides, he could use someone cooking for him.”
“So who is this Tobias?”
“He’s my boss out at the Reynolds Ranch. The main house is about three miles from here. He’s visiting family for Christmas, but he’s a curmudgeon who could use a great cook. He can’t find anyone, but we know he’d love you. Besides, if he gives you shit, give it back. He’s all bark.”
“So you want me to work for a man with a bad temper?” I arch my brow and point to my eye.
“Sorry—Tobias is an asshole, but he’s never put his hands on a woman. He’s just grumpy about having things done at a decent time. The last one he fired hadn’t bothered cooking dinner one night. He got home late with nothing to eat.”
“Oh, was she sick or something?”
“Don’t feel sorry for the woman. She got fired for a good reason. I can take you over there today and show you around.”
“Isn’t he going to be upset that you are hiring me without his permission?”
“He’ll be happy the second he tastes your cooking. You can cook other things than this, right?”
“Yes, I worked at a diner in college and learned a lot.”
“Great. So he’ll be happy and that’s all that matters. He has a cleaning service, but he only needs them once a month now.”
“This sounds too good to be true.”
“Well, you haven’t met him yet.”
“I can’t really look a gift horse in the mouth. As long as my name isn’t being run in any system, I’ll do it.”
“Of course. I’ll handle all that information.”
“Thank you.”
After breakfast, Louisa and I head out to the grocery store, then to the ranch while John goes to get the boys. Thankfully she helps me with my makeup to hide the bruising.
“Oh wow. It’s beautiful.” The large double RR on the main gate opens and we drive down the main road to the house. The gate goes for a short distance and then there’s another that connects the barn and a few other buildings. After that, there’s nothing but open space in the distance covered in snow.
I come to a stop in front of a gorgeous farmhouse that has had renovations recently. A large swing sits on one side of the porch and then on the other side must be where Tobias sits. It’s a lone rocking chair and small table perfect for your coffee or beer. I should feel intimidated as I enter his home, but a sense of peace overcomes me.
“It’s a great house. I think you’ll like it here.” We leave the groceries in her SUV so I can properly tour my temporary home and job. She unlocks the door and leads me into an expansive foyer. Although in the country, this house has no rustic look to it. Everything seems more modern with a classical twist. The foyer has dark hardwood floors and a matching bench for putting on shoes.