On this particular morning, I know I don’t look my best.It’s Finn’s fault.I took a shower and got dressed, but after Phyllis drove Jasmine to school, he snuck into my bedroom for a quick kiss that wasn’t just a kiss and not at all quick.
We heard the front door open and Summer’s voice yelling for me.I tried to get a brush through my hair and gave up, rushing downstairs, trying to pretend like everything was perfectly normal.
“Well, good morning.”Summer is waiting for me in the kitchen.
“Good morning.”I start the coffee pot, gather ingredients for waffles, and grab the waffle iron.Summer is unusually quiet.
“How are you, Emma?”
“Great.And you?”I have my back to Summer, but I know she’s staring at me.I’m in deep.I’ve never been in deep.There were a few times I thought I might be in deep, but I knew nothing.Now I know.
I’m in deep.
With Prince Charming.He’s Mr.Right.And this whole thing is a very tightly held secret.Because I’m the housekeeper.He’s my boss.
“Would you like a waffle?”
He says we need to know where this is headed before he tells Jasmine.She’s attached to me, he says.And because Jasmine’s never had a mother, he doesn’t want to promise her something before we know for sure where we’re headed.
These are all good reasons to keep this quiet for the time being.But I can’t help wondering—I can’t helpworrying—that he’s really keeping it quiet because he knows this isn’t going anywhere, and he just wants what he wants and then he can move on.Maybe he does this with all his housekeepers.
But I’m his first and only housekeeper.
Finn waves to Summer and heads out the front door for a run.After that, he’ll head to the barn to check on the new filly, Mira, before heading to work with Declan in their secret conference room, or whatever they call it.
I know his schedule.He likes to tell me his schedule.In case we can find a half hour in there somewhere for… whatever it is we’re doing.
I chuckle to myself.
“What so funny?”Summer looks over my shoulder.
“I’m sorry—did you say you wanted waffles?”
I know that Summer has a small house in the mountains near the ranch, but I’ve never seen it.As far as I can tell, she prefers to wander from MacLaine house to MacLaine house, visiting and eating her meals with whoever will give her a plate.Usually it’s Phyllis, but I’ve fed her at least a dozen times since I moved here.I love her company, but in the past few days, she’s almost caught Finn and me naked on the kitchen counter, naked on the living room coffee table, and once in my bedroom.It’s been easier to hide our relationship from Jasmine than Summer.
“Will the waffles come with bacon?”
“I have ten pounds of corn cob smoked bacon in the refrigerator,” I tell her.“I got it from Phoebe Travis and her family as a welcome present.”
“Bless Phoebe Travis.I just love that girl.Seriously.I’d marry her if was gay, but alas, I’m not.”Summer opens the fridge.“I could eat a pound of this myself.And when I say Icouldeat a pound, I mean I’m gonna eat a pound, so please cook accordingly.”
She pulls an apple out of the fridge and heaves herself onto the counter.I pour the batter into the waffle maker while she takes a big bite.
“I like what you’ve got going on with your hair this morning, Emma.”
I put a self-conscious hand over my hair before I move on to the bacon.“I didn’t have time to brush it this morning.I slept in.”
“Uh-huh.”Summer takes another bite of her apple.
I lay the bacon out on two foiled sheet pans and squirm under Summer’s gaze.
“Finn’s been looking real happy lately,” she says.“He should have hired a housekeeper years ago.It agrees with him.”
I yank the oven door with too much enthusiasm, and it opens with a clank.“Yeah.”I try to sound more casual than I feel.Actually, I’m a little panicked about where this conversation is headed.“He’s really pleased with Mira, the new filly.She’s really beautiful and sweet.He said she’s a good mover.”
“Exactly.His new filly is beautiful and sweet and happens to be a good mover.”
With the bacon in the oven, I turn back to the waffles.“The house is clean, too.Finn might enjoy having a clean and orderly house.”
