Chapter Seven
Joe walked into the back door and jerked to a stop. Everywhere he looked shined and sparkled. There were no dishes in the sink or on the counters, and the smell of something delicious made his stomach spasm in hunger.
When he heard a sound from the laundry room, he walked that way. The terror that crossed the small woman’s face raised massive red flags. Her face paled, and her body tightened in her fight-or-flight response to danger.
Her fear was beyond normal, telling him something had happened in her past, or she was afraid of someone presently. Either one made him furious and made his protective instincts roar to life.
“What are you afraid of, Sweetheart?”
“I … nothing. You just startled me.”
She got a little paler with every question he asked, and her hands trembled a little more, so he decided to stop asking. He nodded and walked away, determined to find out what was wrong one way or another.
When he walked into his bedroom, he jerked to a stop, and his mouth dropped open in shock. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d seen the whole floor. When Rosey was alive, she hadn’t come upstairs very often because it hurt her arthritic knees, so he’d brought his clothes down for her to wash.
Joe couldn’t remember the last time or if he’d ever dusted or vacuumed the room. Hell, he had no idea how to use a vacuum because he’d never had to, and he never cared to find out. The surprises just kept coming when he walked into his bathroom to find it sparkled. After his shower, he walked into his closet to see his clothing on the shelves and hanging on the rod, and he grinned. He hadn’t realized he had that many pairs of jeans before, maybe because they all hadn’t been clean at the same time.
After he got dressed, he returned to the kitchen to find food on the table, but no Naomi and only one plate. Joe walked back into the laundry room to find her folding clothes.
“I’m here. Come eat.”
She turned toward him. “Oh, no, you go ahead.”
“Did you already eat?”
“Well, no, but I had a late lunch.”
“Then come to the table and eat a little bit.”
“I’m not sure I should eat with you because I’m your housekeeper.”
His brows snapped together. “That’s bullshit on so many levels. This isn’t one of those hoity-toity households.” His curiosity rose when she paled. “One, my last housekeeper ate every meal I had in this house with me. Two, you’re not just a housekeeper.”
“Then, what am I?”
He ran a hand down the back of his neck. How did he answer her when he didn’t know himself?
“You’re here so we can get to know each other. To see if we’re compatible.”
He didn’t like the troubled look on her face. Had she decided she didn’t want to get to know him? He’d seen the attraction she had tried to hide, so it had to be something else.
“How long until you know if we’re compatible?” she asked.
“Hell, I don’t know. I’ve never done this before.”
He grabbed her hand and pulled her back into the kitchen.
“Sit down,” he commanded. “I’ll get you a plate.”
He served them both and then ate several bites before looking at her. “This is really good.”
“I’m glad you like it,” she said and took a small bite.
“Did your mom teach you how to cook?” he asked.
She started choking on a bite. He leaned over and smacked her between the shoulder blades a few times.
“It’s all right. I’m okay,” she said and got up to get a glass of water.
“So?”
She looked at him after she sat down. “So what?”
“Did your mom teach you to cook?”
She looked down at her plate. “No. I don’t think my mom ever touched a pan in her life.”
“Why?”
“Her family was very wealthy, and she grew up with a lot of servants.”
“Oh, wow. Did you live like that?”
She nodded.
“So, how did you learn to clean and cook?”
“I asked the cook to teach me.”
He grinned. “Did your mom throw a fit?”
“No. She was actually a lovely person. She just didn’t know how to do anything besides dress up, go to dinners and the opera, or be pampered all day at the spa. I wanted to be different.”
“So, you didn’t like the opera?” he asked and grinned.
She cracked her first smile, which he thought was beautiful.
“No, I always thought they were screaming and wore stupid outfits.”
He threw back his head and laughed. “I was never dragged to one, but I’ve heard one on television before, and I agree. I thought they were screaming, too. I even asked my mom if the woman was okay. I thought she was hurt.”
Naomi chuckled.
His smile slipped from his face, and he stared at her.
She looked self-conscious. “What?”
“You’re a beautiful woman normally, but when you laugh or smile, you’re downright gorgeous.”
“I … well. Thank you,” she stuttered.
He grinned when a fiery blush darkened her face.
“Let’s finish dinner. I’ve got some paperwork to do.”
She nodded and started eating again.
He took a few bites.
“I have to tell you how surprised I was by my bedroom and bath. I must admit the floor hadn’t been vacuumed in years. My old housekeeper couldn’t climb the steps because of arthritis, and I was always too busy.”
“It wasn’t horrible,” she said.
He snorted and then laughed before concentrating on his plate again. When he was done, he stood and took it to the sink.
“I’ll be in the office if you need me.” He stopped at the doorway. “Thank you for dinner. It was very good.”