Total pages in book: 114
Estimated words: 105756 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 529(@200wpm)___ 423(@250wpm)___ 353(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 105756 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 529(@200wpm)___ 423(@250wpm)___ 353(@300wpm)
An old Toyota was parked on the road, but I suspected it belonged to one of the neighbours. Mam had never driven, and as far as I knew, Conor didn’t drive either due to an accident he’d caused years ago while drunk behind the wheel.
Therese had come along for moral support, and I was glad because I honestly didn’t know where to start.
“Such a lovely home,” Therese said, her voice soft and sad as we entered the house thanks to the key she’d collected from Albert Reed.
Nostalgia thickened the air. Too many memories to count. It still smelled like peonies and lavender, my mam’s favourite scents. The place was spotless, which was unusual because Mam had always been a little chaotic in her cleaning habits. She tended to let things pile up, then, with a burst of energy, would do a massive spring clean. I was relieved there wasn’t much sign of Conor. Aside from a few updates, it still looked as it had the last time I’d been there. Something about the familiarity hit me square in the chest, and I needed a moment.
“I’m just going to use the bathroom,” I said, and Therese nodded as I headed down the hall. Placing my hand on the doorknob, I turned the handle. Before I’d properly registered the noise of another person, I had the door open and was faced with a very naked, very wet woman.
Not just any woman.
Ada Rose.
Water dripped down her lush, full breasts and round hips as she stood from the bath and was clearly in the middle of reaching for a towel that hung on a nearby rack. Her dark brown eyes grew ever larger as she gaped at me then shrieked, “Get the hell out!”
“Fuck,” I growled and swiftly retreated.
Slamming shut the door, my pulse pounded as I pressed my head against the wall and swore again under my breath. I was as hard as a diamond from the delectable naked vision that just graced my eyes. It was only when I willed my cock to go down that my fury emerged. What the hell was she doing taking baths in my mother’s house?
Seemingly having heard Ada’s shrieking, Therese appeared at the top of the hall. “Is everything all right?”
“Just an unexpected visitor. I’ll deal with it.”
She nodded, looking sceptical. “Okay, I’ll be in the kitchen, then.”
A minute later, the bathroom door opened, and Ada emerged, her body wrapped in a towel and her hair twisted up in another. Her feet were in flip flops. Her skin was pink and dewy from the bath, her cheeks stained red in clear embarrassment. My gaze traced the wet, delicate strands of hair clinging to her forehead and neck. Continuing in their descent, my eyes went to the seductive curve of her bosom obscured beneath the thick towel, and I found myself suddenly parched, my throat dry and scratchy.
She was stunning, and I hated how my traitorous gaze couldn’t help but drink her in.
She appeared to take a deep breath, a concerned frown lining her brow as she pressed her fingers to her temples. “Okay, why are you still here?” She stared up at me, colour high in her cheeks that told me my walking in on her had been mortifying for her. Good. She deserved to feel discomfort when taking liberties in someone else’s house.
“Why am I here?” I barked a mirthless laugh. “Why the fuck are you here?”
“I live here,” she stated simply.
I balked. “No, you don’t. This is my mother’s house.”
“I’m well aware of who owns the house,” Ada snipped, that spark of attitude I’d noticed yesterday in her tone. “I moved in with my dad and Leonora almost three years ago.”
“Well, this house belongs to me now, so you’ll have to move out.”
She blinked, her pretty dark lashes fluttering. “Excuse me?”
“You have one week to collect your things and make arrangements.”
“One week, but that’s … that’s hardly enough time for me to—”
“Actually,” a prim voice interjected as Therese butted her head out at the top of the hallway once again. Of course, my assistant had been listening. “If she’s been living here for three years, she’s entitled to 180 days’ notice of termination.”
Ada arched an eyebrow at me and cocked her head. Jesus Christ, why did we need to be having this conversation while she was clad in only a towel, droplets of water still glistening on her bare shoulders?
The devil normally appeared in a tempting package, I reminded myself.
I narrowed my gaze. “Go put some clothes on, and we’ll discuss this in the kitchen.”
Her expression hardened. “Don’t tell me what to do.”
“Fine. Stay in your skimpy little towel. It’s not like I haven’t seen everything already.” I hoped my dismissive tone disguised how much the sight of her had affected me.
Her eyes flared wide, that rosy flush returning to her cheeks as she pressed her lips together in anger. Then she stomped past me toward what I assumed was her bedroom.