Chapter 4
Chapter Four
She should have guessed something was up when Marmalade appeared in the hallway the next morning.
That cat always seemed to be where trouble was brewing.
Essie had taken time to brush her hair and change into jeans and a T-shirt before heading down to the kitchen to grab some coffee.
She avoided Zander last night by going shopping in the quaint shops downtown.
The small-business owners had jumped at the possibility of providing services and goods for her new business venture.
Essie was literally buzzing with energy this morning. She’d just stepped out her door when the one across the hallway opened to reveal Zander with only a bath towel wrapped around his hips.
“Where are you, damn cat?”
Essie swallowed hard at the sight of all that Zander on display.
His hair dripped with water. She watched one fat drop land on his firm pec and roll down a chiseled torso to absorb into the thirsty terrycloth.
The damp material clung to a thick shaft that seemed way larger than average. Was he porn-star sized?
“Essie, I’m up here.”
Her face heated tremendously as Essie realized she was staring. “Sorry. You’re supposed to be at the end of the hall,” she blurted out.
“This room is green. Isn’t that the one Sara said she would put me in?” he asked.
Essie replayed Sara’s words. Sara had promised to check on other rooms for Zander—not to make arrangements for him elsewhere.
Damn it. Sara had probably peeked into another room before plopping Zander in the room she’d originally chosen for him.
That was the problem with having a housekeeper who’d worked as part of the staff forever. Sara would always know best.
Quickly, Essie switched to another topic. “Did Marmalade cause a problem?”
“He paraded back and forth across me until I gave up and went to take a shower. Then, I swear, he flushed the toilet, turning the water scalding hot. He had to do that on purpose,” Zander said, glowering at the evildoer in question who hid behind Essie’s legs.
“Yeah.” She nodded to make Zander believe that was even possible. Marmalade couldn’t flush a toilet, right? He was a cat. And what feline brain would grasp that old pipes and filling the tank with cold water would cause the person showering to get blasted with hot spray? “Sorry?”
Zander shook his head in disbelief and stalked back into his room. Before he slammed the door, Essie was able to appreciate that his rounded butt looked very toned. Stop ogling the man. He’s not interested in you!
She turned to continue her path to the kitchen and found herself whistling with merriment as she replayed that conversation with Zander. At least the cat was in her corner and was making Zander pay for invading her house. What a great day! “Come on, Marmalade. I owe you kitty treats.”
With a roar of approval, the miniature orange tiger dashed down the hall in front of her. In the kitchen, she fixed herself a double coffee with an extra shot of espresso. The instant zing of alertness that followed was almost as appealing as Zander in a towel.
“Okay, it’s nowhere close,” she muttered.
“Are you planning a trip?” Sara asked, appearing in the doorway.
“Yikes! Could you make some noise to clue me in that you’re coming?” Essie asked. “By the way, what happened to choosing another room for Zander?”
“The green room really is the best place for him. That one has the largest shower,” Sara said, grabbing a skillet from the drawer.
Instantly, the view of Zander in that towel rebounded into her brain. He might actually need a big shower for that….
“What?” Sara had asked her a question, but Essie didn’t have a clue what the housekeeper had said.
“Scrambled eggs or French toast for breakfast?”
“Scrambled eggs,” Zander answered from the doorway. “Could I have some coffee?”
“We’re feeding you now?” popped out of Essie's mouth before she could stop herself.
Sara sent her a look of reproach that hinted at bad manners. “Of course, I told Zander he was welcome to join us for meals.”
She would have a serious talk with Sara. The housekeeper was killing her. Absolutely flaying her alive.
“Of course. Sorry, I wasn’t part of that conversation.” Essie stepped into the pantry and grabbed a couple of granola bars. She’d just eat those as she did some research. “If you’ll excuse me, I’ve got a ton of work to do.”
She dropped off her coffee and breakfast on the desk before dashing upstairs to grab her laptop.
A small elevator allowed the staff to transport trays of food and supplies to the upper floors.
It would hold up to two people, but Essie avoided it like the plague.
She could see herself getting trapped inside and never risked it.
Besides, running up the stairs gave her some exercise.
Back in the office, she drank several swallows of coffee to bolster herself before scanning the room.
If she was going to set up in here, she needed the desk in the middle of the bay window so her guests could take in the lovely landscaping outside.
She’d only have to move the massive walnut piece a few feet into the perfect spot.
The sitting area with the comfortable chairs and the old-fashioned settee could remain around the coffee table in the center of the room.
That would be a great place to hold team meetings with the staff or simply relax.
With her assessment done, Essie was ready to get organized. Setting her cup down, she pushed against the solid wood desk. It didn’t budge a fraction of an inch. She stepped back several inches and leaned into the furniture, using her body weight as leverage. Nothing. Frustrated, Essie glared at it.
“Crap! Are you nailed to the floor?” she accused the desk and tried again. This time, two masculine hands appeared on the outer sides of hers, and warmth surrounded her.
“On the count of three. One, two, three.”
Enveloped in the delicious scent of Zander’s cologne and his underlying fresh scent, Essie froze. His powerful arms on either side of her bulged, distracting her further.
“Are you pushing, Little girl?”
Why had he called her that? Instantly, she sprang into motion and poured her frustrations into the task.
His torso pressed against her as the desk moved by small increments.
Essie stood up after a few minutes, ready to call the placement perfect, but Zander said, “A couple more inches, and we’ll have it centered in the space. ”
She leaned against the wooden surface, and finally the desk slid into place. “That’s great. Thank you.”
Expecting him to move away, Essie turned in the circle of his arms and found herself pressed against Zander’s hard frame. She pushed firmly on his shoulders. “You can step back. We’ve got the desk set perfectly now.”
Zander didn’t move an inch. “Your hair looks great this morning. What did you do to it?”
Rolling her eyes, Essie gathered herself before answering, “I brushed it. I do that when I’m aware that guests are hanging around.”
“I’m not a random guest,” Zander answered, grinning at her. “Consider me a boarder.”
“Why are you in my office, Zander?”
“I brought you breakfast. Those bars aren’t nutritious. Have a good morning.”
He was gone before she could answer. Essie slumped against her desk. The heavy piece of furniture slid a fraction of an inch, making her jump away. She glared at it. “Sure. Now, you move.”
The desk didn’t answer but sat there mocking her. Sighing deeply, Essie turned to see a tray sitting on the coffee table in the center of the room. Curious, she plopped down on the couch and pulled off the metal plate cover. A delicious aroma wafted up to her.
“Might as well not let this go to waste.” She picked up her fork.
As she devoured the meal, Essie sent her mental thanks to Zander. The fluffy eggs and crunchy toast tasted amazing. Much better than her overprocessed snack bars. The way he took care of her reminded Essie of how well her relationship with Zander had started.
They’d first met when she was six. Zander’s father had passed away. He and his mother had moved onto his grandfather’s estate. Sadness clung to him. Even with five years separating them, Essie could feel how much he missed his dad and, of course, his old house, his friends, and school.
With no other kids living nearby, Zander had explored his grandfather’s land. He zipped around on an ATV as if he were a race-car driver. Instantly, he’d earned hero status in Essie’s eyes.
Her mother had visited Aunt Esther frequently in those days. Essie loved to talk to the barn cats, pick vegetables and flowers with the gardener, and practice skipping rocks on one of the ponds’ surfaces. She was superb at meowing and harvesting. Essie sucked at stone tricks.
“Hey. You have to choose a flat rock.”
Essie looked up to see an almost-teenager leaning on the fence watching her. “I know. I can’t get them to pop back up. They just plop and sink. Can you make them skip?”
“Yes. Is it okay if I climb over and show you?”
“Who are you? I’m Essie.”
“Hi, Essie. I’m Zander.”
“Hi, Zander. I’d love it if you could teach me.”
And that was how their friendship had started. The difference between their ages and the fact Essie didn’t live there all the time didn’t matter. When she came to visit, she’d hug her aunt, grab two cookies from Sara, and head across the field to the fence line where Zander always waited for her.
She idolized him. He knew things. Skipping rocks. How to whistle incredibly loudly. Essie loved spending time with him. Their families were pleased they’d become friends. Sara or his mom fed both kids as they roamed between the two estates.