Total pages in book: 140
Estimated words: 138003 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 690(@200wpm)___ 552(@250wpm)___ 460(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 138003 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 690(@200wpm)___ 552(@250wpm)___ 460(@300wpm)
“Uncle Raif!” Daisy chastises. “You said a bad word.”
“How do you know it’s a bad word?”
“Because she’s got ears,” Lavender retorts, swiping up a bowl and pulling the dishwasher door open.
Daisy nods earnestly. “Two of them. And I’ve heard people say that word before,” she says. “Lots of times.”
“Not in this house.” Because I’ve been very careful around her and made sure everyone else has, too. But she’s still nodding.
“Who?” I force myself not to look at Lavender, though my money is on her.
“Leo said it when he came into the kitchen when you were still in bed. Antonio knew it was a bad word because he smacked Leo on the back of the head.”
“I see.” My gaze slides to Lavender, bent at the waist, all round arse and bare legs. “I take it Leo brought the message?” No answer. “Lavender?”
“Hmm?” She still doesn’t turn.
I force my gaze to the ceiling because that is a sight that could drive a man to—
Fucking Leo. I’m gonna blind the bastard with a shit-covered stick.
“Lavender!” I bark. Her body jerks upright. Daisy’s little body just jerks, too. Fuck. “Sorry,” I begin, making a gesture to my ear. “That was a little louder than I meant.”
“Uncle Raif mustn’t have his hearing aid in,” Lavender says, narrowing her gaze.
“Uncle Raif doesn’t wear a hearing aid,” Daisy says, coming to my defense. “He’s not that old.”
“But maybe I should.” I’ll probably be bald and need a pacemaker from stress before the year is up. “Why don’t you go and get dressed?” I slip my hands under Daisy’s arms to lift her down. “Looks like you’re coming to work with me.” I’ll make some other arrangement on the way. Fucking school holidays.
“Or you can come with me,” Lavender offers.
“You don’t need to do that.” I promised her yesterday that Daisy would be none of her concern. But look at the scene you just walked in on, whispers a little voice inside me. It’s true I’ve never seen Daisy relaxed around someone new. It took her months to raise her gaze to mine when I spoke to her.
“I’ll bet my workplace is way more fun than his,” Lavender says, ignoring me but for the thumb she hooks my way.
“How?” Daisy asks, her voice small.
“Well, I work in an art gallery, and I hear you’re quite the artist yourself.”
Daisy’s eyes are suddenly bright. “An art gallery with artists?” She doesn’t wait for an answer, her cotton candy morning hair swinging around as she asks, “Can I go with Lavender, Uncle Raif? Can I be an artist today? Please?”
“I’m not sure that’s a good idea.”
“Uncle Raif,” Lavender drawls with a silky-sounding sulkiness. “Don’t be such a party pooper.”
I frown her way. Didn’t she learn last night that rubbing me up the wrong way leads to… well, I guess me rubbing her up the right way?
And to me jerking off in the shower. Alone.
I wasn’t sure if I was relieved or disappointed to find her sleeping once I’d dried off. Sleeping or pretending. It was hard to tell. And then this morning, I’d woken to an empty bed.
“If you want me to come with you, I will,” Daisy says, her tone forlorn. Who knew I was so unpopular?
“Of course you can go to work with Lavender. If she’s sure that’s okay.” I glance her way again. Last chance to get out of it.
“I wouldn’t have offered otherwise,” she answers snippily.
I see that. Of course I do. I also see this woman has facets I hadn’t anticipated.
“Mondays are usually a slow day.” She shrugs. “We’re overstaffed.”
“Well, okay. Still gotta get dressed, kiddo.” Before I’ve even finished my sentence, Daisy dashes off.
“Nothing too fancy,” Lavender calls after her. “Old clothes.” She turns back to the breakfast detritus.
“Leave the mess. The maids will be in soon.”
She slides me a mocking glance over her shoulder. The next thing I know, I’m pressed up against her, my hand next to hers on the countertop, our fingers almost touching. She gives a soft gasp as I press my mouth to her ear.
“How else am I supposed to impress you but with clean, pressed laundry?”
She offers me her profile, her lashes a dark sweep and her mouth a tempting pout. “I said I’d be impressed when the machine does that itself.”
“Thanks for the clarification,” I whisper, mildly disappointed she didn’t take the bait.
“I have to get dressed.” She makes to move when I trap her between the sink and my body, pulling her hips into mine in a not-so-little reminder of what she missed out on last night.
“You like to pretend nothing impresses you.” I slide her hair from her neck. Burrow my lips into her neck. “But I see it when I get you off. When your eyes glaze and you begin to squirm, I think you might give me anything.”