Chapter 7
Chapter 7
P aley and Piedmont settled into a happy little routine that suited them both. In the morning, she rose with him at dawn and prepared his coffee and breakfast. She baked something nearly every day, but, knowing he was health conscious, sneaked fruits and vegetables into the mix. A couple of weeks in, he finally brought it up.
“I think it’s so nice you bake new things for me each day, but I don’t usually eat so many treats,” he said, his tone gentle in case he offended her.
“That muffin has kale in it,” she said, sipping her coffee sedately as she gauged his reaction. He didn’t disappoint. He pulled the muffin away from his mouth and studied it, his eyebrows upraised in surprise.
“Kale? In this?”
“The chocolate ones had beets and the granola clusters were made with quinoa. They’ve all been high protein and low carb,” she said.
He blinked at her. “What about the raspberry Danish?”
“Do you think I’m psychotic? That was full butter. You don’t mess with perfection. But that was the only splurge the last couple of weeks,” she assured him.
“Did you make these recipes up?”
“No. I found them on a blog about how to fool your toddlers into eating healthy,” she said.
“Not sure if I should be grateful or offended,” he said, reaching for another muffin.
“Do you want to go back to how it was before, when you thought you were eating dense, rich treats every day with no idea I was sneaking in health food?”
“I demand it,” he said.
“You’re the boss,” she replied, but it didn’t feel like it. He was always so nice, ever polite and kind, seemingly not egotistical in any way. He was one of the bright young stars on the law scene. She’d heard Aaron speak about him in half adoring, half envious tones, never realizing they were the same age. Aaron was only now getting his career started; Piedmont was already on top, making high six figures, and would likely be invited to make partner within the year.
“On that note, you don’t have to get up with me every day,” he said. “The weekends especially, take some time off.”
“I’m already awake, and my afternoons are fairly free. I have downtime. Unless this is your clever, polite way of saying you want your space and I’m crowding you. Because I have a coffee maker in my room, I could…” she trailed off, her gaze traveling to the stairs.
He reached out and touched his fingers lightly to her arm. “You’re not crowding me. I’m not passive-aggressive about things. If I want space, I’ll tell you. This was me trying to make sure you’re taking time off.”
“I think you’re paying me too much,” she blurted. Unfortunately she said it as he sipped coffee and he sputtered, pressing his fingers to his mouth.
“What?”
“You pay me too much.”
“It’s the same I’ve paid my last three housekeepers,” he said.
“You paid them too much, too.”
“It’s the going rate,” he assured her.
“It’s too much. I have guilt. I have way too much free time, and my room and board are included, too.” She sighed, glad to get it off her chest.
He laughed uncomfortably and swiped a hand over the back of his neck. “I have to tell you I negotiate multi billion dollar settlements and contracts for a living, and not once has anyone ever complained because they’re paid too much.”
“I’m not complaining; I’m being honest.”
“You cook, you clean, you do the laundry, you run the errands and stock the household supplies, oversee scheduled maintenance. If I had to pay for each of those things individually, I’d likely end up paying more than I pay you.”
“Yes, but I also live here. It’s too much.”
“It’s not too much.”
She opened her mouth, but he pressed his palm to it. She nodded instead. He shook his head.
“I’m paid to argue. Do you really think you can win?” he asked.
She nodded. He laughed and dropped his hand. “I’ve also been planting things,” she blurted.
He froze. “Like pot?”
She grimaced. “No, not pot. What on earth?”
“I’m sorry, but you said it so cryptically.”
“I didn’t know if you’d mind, so I’ve been sneaking plants in like I’m bringing a shiv to prison and planting them one by one.”
“Why?” he asked, but he sounded more curious than angry.
“Because gardening is kind of my thing, and you have an outdoor space begging to be made over. At first I thought I’d do it a little at a time in case you noticed and got mad, but I’ve never seen you go out there, so I figured I should fess up before it becomes a problem.” She paused. “Is it a problem?”
“No. As you said, I never go out there. Occasionally I have people over and we use the deck. Otherwise, consider it your playground.”
She beamed at him, and he smiled in reply. “Your lunch,” she said, pressing the bag into his fingers, along with his travel mug.
“What is it today?” he asked.
“A surprise,” she said.
He grinned. “It’s ridiculous how much I look forward to opening the bag each day.”
She checked the clock. They had ten minutes before he had to leave. “Can I ask you a question?”
He braced himself. She said it a lot and always followed it with something nonessential, but he always had the same reaction, as if preparing himself for something unpleasant. “Yes.”
“The pay is good, but Acacia said I’m your fifth housekeeper. Why did the others quit?”
“I’m not the easiest person to work for.”
She laughed. “Are you joking? You’re the nicest boss I’ve ever had though, sorry, that’s actually not saying much.” She shuddered, thinking of creepy Herb from the grocery store.
“First I would submit to you we’re in a sort of honeymoon phase here where everything is new. Second I would tell you I’m difficult in less obvious ways.”
“Because you’re a genius,” she said, tapping her temple.
“Because I’m quirky and live in my head a lot and expect people to read my mind. I’m demanding about weird things and expect those around me to anticipate my needs. The last few housekeepers and I haven’t clicked. I never felt comfortable with them, and they seemed perpetually frustrated with me because I was unable to articulate my wishes.” He gave her a thoughtful stare. It had been different with her from the beginning. He wondered why that was.
“Acacia hinted at as much. She said you needed someone like her, but on the home front, someone to sort of hover in your atmosphere and try to arrange things and anticipate your needs.”
“You seem to have a knack for that,” he said.
“You’re not the first genius I’ve known, actually. My friends at school were all brilliantly gifted. You remind me of them. You’re all a different breed, a special kind of strange, but I like it.” She paused. “Your friends were probably gifted, too.”
He shrugged. “I didn’t have friends. I was ahead of everyone academically but behind them in age. I didn’t fit anywhere.” He was friendly and outgoing, but he didn’t connect with many people. He hadn’t connected with anyone in recent memory until Amelia and then… He pushed the painful thoughts away, shaking his head.
“Have another muffin,” Paley whispered. “For sadness.” She opened his lunch sack and dumped the muffin inside.
Piedmont smiled. She was warm and kind and he liked her. Best of all, he never had the sense she was flirting with him, unlike a lot of women he encountered. Being considered a catch was something completely new. He grew up being the nerdy kid, the brain. The last few years he’d undergone the metamorphosis of his dreams, finally gaining muscle and growing into his looks. But that and the prestige of his job seemed to be all women cared about. Except Amelia who… He pushed the thoughts away again.
“I should go, but, oh, look at me, remembering to tell you far ahead of schedule I definitely won’t be home for supper tonight. Please don’t make anything for me,” he said.
“Okay, thank you. That’s actually a bit of a relief because I’m going out, and I was worried about leaving food set that long in the fridge.”
He wondered, suddenly, where she was going and who she was going with. But they didn’t have the kind of relationship where he could ask, nor even where he should be curious. She was his housekeeper. She was fun and friendly, but there was nothing more between them. “Have fun.”
“You too,” she said. “Take them to the cleaners today.”
“Who?”
“Does it matter?” she asked.
“No, but rest assured I always do.” He gave her a little salute with the hand not holding his lunch and let himself out the door.