Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 84102 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 421(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84102 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 421(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
“Yeah, I wanted to make sure we can speak freely in here. I didn’t find anything. We’re good. What I did find was a stairwell that leads into the staff quarters. I was shown out of there quickly,” she said. “I don’t like the butler.”
“How can you know if you like him?” He wasn’t going to argue that Eddie had no reason to listen in on them. It was her job, and he was going to let her do it. He hated that they were chatting about inconsequential things when all he wanted to do was ask her if she’d changed her mind about playing with him. “He barely said two words to me.”
The big guy had been around though. He’d been waiting outside the library when they’d taken a break. David had been surprised since there had been a staff meeting Eddie had been called away to, but he’d figured Mateo was there in case he or Luis or Tessa needed something.
“I wasn’t talking about a personal level, though I doubt we would have much in common,” Tessa said. “He wasn’t in Kyle’s notes, and he’s a recent hire. I heard two of the gardening staff talking about how he took someone else’s place, and they don’t understand why Eddie would replace the old butler since he was nice and Mateo apparently is not. They also said he’s lazy and should go back to the city if he doesn’t want to work.”
“You know the rural urban divide is pretty much the same everywhere. The people from the country think the people from the city are lazy and don’t know how to work hard.” He wasn’t sure why she’d focused in on Mateo, but she was smarter at this than he was.
“I suppose, but I don’t like the timing of his hire. He came down with Eddie a few days ago after the old butler decided to retire suddenly. I find him suspect until such time he proves he isn’t. Does he look like a butler to you?”
“What’s a butler supposed to look like?” He bet most people would think of some elderly English dude, but the wealthy had butlers all over the world.
“Well, they don’t usually look like they can lift two twenty and eat nails for breakfast,” Tessa said with a frown.
“Eddie mentioned he’s ex-military and he trained with an academy when he got out.”
“All of that should have been listed in a report,” Tessa pointed out. “Kyle should have checked to make sure Mateo’s credentials are real. I don’t even know the dude’s last name.”
“Kyle focused more on the people we would come in contact with before we got to the island.” He pulled his tie off and slung it over the nearest chair. They’d been given a large suite of rooms with a living area, bedroom, and massive bathroom with a shower big enough for the both of them. They would fit in the tub, too.
He couldn’t help but think about the fact that the bed was big enough for a whole lot of play if she decided to say yes. That bed was big and soft, and after they were done with play they could cuddle together all night.
It had been a long time since he’d slept with a woman. Sex had become something perfunctory for him, an itch he and his partner needed to scratch and then move on with life. He didn’t want that with her. He wanted to indulge with her.
He wanted to study her. To read her like a book, savoring every line, closing the book only to open it again because he’d probably missed some subtext. He was fairly sure it would take a long time to become an expert on Tessa Santiago.
“Kyle was being lazy. He should have checked out every single person who works here or we might come into contact with,” Tessa complained.
“He’s not lazy. He’s going through some stuff right now. He’s still adjusting to being out of the military, and I think something bad happened to him. He has some terrible dreams he won’t talk about.” David felt the need to defend his brother. “And he came on the job very late. He was basically doing a favor for me. I told him everyone on the island was okay, and he believed me.”
She seemed tense. He’d noticed all the way through dinner her smile hadn’t once reached her eyes, and she seemed to be watching every move the staff made. “It’s not a favor. It’s a job, and he should have taken it more seriously. I spent the afternoon and early evening getting a lay of the land. I spent some time in the kitchens while they were making me some tea. They’re surprised that you brought a woman with you instead of your brother, but I heard Mateo say that would make it easier. I have to wonder what he meant by that. I only caught the end of the conversation.”