Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 84002 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 420(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84002 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 420(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
Neither man seemed to know of any such thing, and it was surprising the way they’d both reacted to the idea when asked. Celia wasn’t too sure about that. It was either another lover or something from the seedy underbelly of the place she’d been working.
No point in second-guessing Celia, just wait until you’ve had a chance to see the place and talk to the people there. By the time she pulled onto the long driveway, all the day’s stresses seemed just to drift away. She felt giddy as a teenager in her first blush of puppy love.
A part of her was terrified of getting too close too soon, but she knew she was only kidding herself. After last night there’s no way she could walk away now. She wanted more of what he gave to her what he made her feel. And she was willing to put up with his snooty housekeeper to get it.
Unbeknownst to Celia, Riley had seen Eileen the housekeeper’s attitude towards his woman and had put aside any feelings of gratitude towards the other woman for her years of exceptional service to him. Not long after Celia left, he’d called Eileen into his home office, something he’s never done in all the years she’s known him.
“Is something the matter? Why did you want to see me in here?” Riley opened the drawer and pulled out his checkbook. He wrote a hefty sum, enough to cover six months' pay and a little extra. He put the check in an envelope and held it out to her.
“What’s this?” She took the envelope questioningly.
“Look at it.” She opened it looking even more confused. “I don’t understand what is this for?”
“Celia’s moving in here with me; this will be her home. I’ve noticed that you seem to have a problem with her, so you have to go.”
Eileen was stunned, to say the least. She would never have expected this of him. She was only trying to look out for him. After what his wife had done, she felt a tiny bit responsible for not looking after him better, so of course, when he picked up with that other woman just a few short weeks later, she had her misgivings.
But now he was throwing her away, just like that. “I didn’t…”
“I saw it with my own two eyes; there’s no denying it.”
“You really want me to go?” She felt like the heart was being ripped right out of her.
“No, you’re my family, but not even my own mother is allowed to treat my woman with disrespect, especially not in my home. I’d love for you to stay and take care of both of us, but if you can’t, you’re more than welcome to leave. But if you stay, that attitude will not be tolerated.”
Eileen’s knees went weak, and she barely held herself up as she bit her lip to hold back the tears. “So, what’s it going to be?” Riley wasn’t kidding when he said he wanted her to stay, but if it came down to a choice between her and Celia, Celia was the obvious winner.
He was more than ready to deal with anyone who said or did anything against her because of their relationship. He knew what he was doing and didn’t need outside interference fucking with his shit. Celia was enough trouble as it is.
“I’m going to stay, of course, if you’d let me.”
“Fine, get back to work. I’m grilling steaks for dinner this evening, so maybe just some shrimp for apps and one of your Meringue pies for dessert. It’s been a while since you made me one.”
“That’s because of Miss…Oh, never mind.”
“I know, Valerie didn’t like it, but she’s not here, and there will be a new mistress of my home. Maybe you can clear the ice by finding out her likes and dislikes.”
“You think she noticed?”
“For fuck sake, Eileen, she’s a cop.”
“Watch your language, Riley Shamus O’Rourke.” And just like that, they were back on track. He had a better understanding of where the older woman was coming from than she realized. But just because he understood it didn’t mean that he was about to let her mistreat his girl. Especially not since he planned to ignore her refusal to move in with him.
With that little issue out of the way, Riley set about getting his way. He’d decided sometime during the time they first started ‘dating,’ and the second, he decided to take her to his bed that he was going to do things differently this time. This time he was going to do everything he wanted and damn everything else.
If he’d wanted her for a quick fling, he wouldn’t be taking this step. But if he wasn’t sure before last night, he was more than convinced now that he wanted her here, in his bed, in his house. She’d fucked the skin off his cock and drained his balls more times than he could remember. And what’s more, she’d made him feel in a way he never has before.