Total pages in book: 113
Estimated words: 104820 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 524(@200wpm)___ 419(@250wpm)___ 349(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 104820 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 524(@200wpm)___ 419(@250wpm)___ 349(@300wpm)
The two women were in Margaret’s kitchen, stubbornly facing each other across the oak table. Between them, a pot of steaming black coffee and a plate of bagels and cream cheese lay untouched. When Tessa’s agency had called to say she’d been requested for work elsewhere in Carmel, she’d been surprised, having been scheduled for another week with Margaret. Margaret must have encouraged one of her many male admirers to put in the call. It was just the kind of devious plan her mind was capable of conjuring.
Over the weeks they’d been working together, Tessa had grown genuinely fond of Margaret. Not only did she admire her whip-smart mind and zest for life, but she’s also seen her softer side. The marshmallow in all of us, Tessa liked to call it. Some people were better at disguising it than others, but deep down, everyone had something soft and squishy about them. Margaret was no different. But she also knew how to put up a fight. She was an inimitable sparring partner.
But then they’d told Tessa the client was Archer Davenport, who had broken his leg while filming. She couldn’t have been more surprised, couldn’t imagine such a strong, vital man wounded. Her first instinct had been to rush to his side, but then her sense of self-preservation kicked in. Given that she clearly hadn’t overcome her embarrassingly big schoolgirl crush on the man, was it really a good idea for her to work with him? Especially given that she wouldn’t just be making meals for him. Heck, just getting him up the stairs to his bedroom would involve more touching than she could imagine without feeling hot all over.
Margaret leaned across the table, lifted the coffeepot, and poured them both a cup. She was dressed as impeccably as ever—chunky silver jewelry around her throat and wrists, white hair swept back off her face. She was fully made up and dressed for the day, no matter if it was only ten o’clock. Tessa had forced her patient through her morning exercises, and a leisurely late breakfast was supposed to be their reward. But now the plate of sliced bagels couldn’t have looked less appetizing.
Margaret took a long sip of her coffee, eyeing Tessa the whole time. “I’m so much better now. That horrid cast is off, and I’m doing my exercises. I’m already looking online at walking tours of Ireland.”
Tessa let out a great sigh. Would she ever be able to get through to Margaret? One step at a time was Tessa’s tried and tested motto, but Margaret took that one step and ran with it to a hundred. There was no way she was ready for a walking tour of Ireland. It was true she had made remarkable progress given her years, but grit would only get you so far.
“You can’t rush healing,” Tessa said gently.
The change of tone did the trick. Margaret’s sparkling eyes softened. She reached for a sliced bagel and placed it delicately on her floral china plate. “The agency called me to check that I no longer needed you. I said you’ve done a marvelous job and I now have the energy and agility of my forty-year-old self. Maybe even thirty. My dear, you’ve helped me heal, but your job here is done. Someone else needs you now.”
Tessa rolled her eyes. “Flattery will get you nowhere.”
But Margaret was not to be swayed. “Working for Archer Davenport will be the perfect next job for you. You can stay in Carmel, so I’ll be able to see you when I’m in town. I’ll let you give me a little check-up every now and then, just to prove how well I’m doing.” Margaret bit into her bagel, clearly pleased with herself. After she swallowed, she said, “I’m going to miss you, but it’s time for you to move on. Arch called me personally last night to make sure that I could manage without you and that you were the kind of person he could work with. I gave you a glowing reference.”
Tessa’s eyebrows shot up. The kind of person a movie star could work with. Who was that, exactly? Tessa had grown accustomed to spotting a few movie stars and celebrities during her time in Carmel, but she wasn’t exactly used to the limelight. Or helping them put on their shoes.
What would Archer Davenport be like as a boss? From their brief meetings, he’d seemed about as down-to-earth as someone that good-looking and famous could be. She recalled the way he’d chivalrously opened the car door for her as she left his father’s party. How he’d leaned in so casually to kiss her cheek, with no idea of the effect he’d had on her.
Just thinking about it sent a quiver of longing through her. But it was quickly followed by another stab of concern. All she currently knew about his injury was that he’d broken his tibia doing a stunt. Whether it was a clean break, or shattered in a more complicated fashion, she’d yet to find out. Either way, he was going to need some intensive physical therapy to get him back on set. The problem was that Tessa wasn’t sure her mind could remain clear—or clean—enough to be that therapist. Just the thought of Archer Davenport made her tremble with desire that wasn’t the least bit professional.