Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 94076 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 470(@200wpm)___ 376(@250wpm)___ 314(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94076 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 470(@200wpm)___ 376(@250wpm)___ 314(@300wpm)
But I take a step back instead and throw the cloth into the sink.
“Why did the replacements leave?” Ella asks.
“Mrs. V. fired them. Like I said, she’s very particular.”
“Oh, great. She’s going to fire me, for sure. I don’t even know what I’m doing.”
“You’ll figure it out.”
“Unless she fires me first. And I don’t think it will take much. She seems a bit grumpy.”
“She’s just a little bit cranky, but she’ll get over it.”
“Who’s cranky?” Mrs. V. says, walking into the kitchen carrying a box of vegetables.
I take the box from her. “Me. I’m cranky.”
“You don’t have a cranky bone in that big body of yours, Lars Andersson.” She puts her hands on her hips. “Don’t think I don’t know you both were talking about me.” Her eyes go straight to Ella. “So I’m cranky, am I?”
“To be fair, it was me who called you cranky,” I say, putting the box of vegetables on the counter. I give Ella a wicked grin. “Ella called you grumpy.”
Ella gasps, and her eyes go round. “You snitch.”
My grin widens because she’s damn cute when she’s mad.
Mrs. V. rolls her eyes. “Jesus, are you two flirting in my kitchen?”
Ella keeps her eyes on me as she replies, “I assure you, we’re not.”
Mrs. V. doesn’t look convinced. She nods to Ella. “What is this, some kind of foreplay?”
“Oh my God, no.” Ella ping pongs her finger between her and me for emphasis. “Him and me, we’re not like that, I assure you.”
I fold my arms. Enjoying this way too much. “Well, not now. But the other night, now that was a different story.”
She wants to kill me. I can see it in the homicidal glare she’s shooting at me from across the counter.
I know exactly why I’m torturing her. It’s because she’s so fucking gorgeous when she doesn’t know what to do or look or say. I have a feeling Ella has been told what to do and when to do it her entire life.
I wink at her, which just infuriates her more.
Mrs. V. starts to shoo me away. “Get out of here and leave my kitchenhand in peace.”
Ella gives me a smug look. Until Mrs. V. points her in the direction of a sack of potatoes on the counter. “And you can get to peeling twenty-five potatoes for tonight’s supper.”
Ella’s smile fades quicker than smoke in a storm.
Our eyes meet, and I give her a nod. “Catch you later, Little Cinder.”
I walk away with a grin.
And a raging need to know more about Ella and why I can’t get her out of my head.
CHAPTER 20
Ella
The rest of the day goes by in a blur of activity. Mrs. V. keeps me so busy I don’t have time to think. From peeling potatoes and washing the large breakfast pots and pans, to stacking the dishwasher, wiping down counters and vacuuming.
When she disappears to run some errands, she hands me a list of things to do while she’s gone. Clean coffee pot. Unstack dishwasher. Mop floors.
But before I start, I decide to take advantage of people being gone and sneak to the library to look for the book.
The clubhouse feels empty as I walk slowly through the foyer and along the corridor toward the library. My heart is pounding and my pulse is racing in my ears, because if I get caught sneaking in for a second time, I’m not sure I can hide my guilt, and I don’t want to trigger any suspicion.
I just want to get the book and go.
“You must be the new girl.”
I almost jump out of my skin when the chirpy female voice behind me comes out of nowhere. Spinning around, I come face to face with a woman wearing tiny shorts, a tight shirt tied under her waist, and the biggest smile I’ve ever seen.
She giggles, and it’s sweet. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you.”
Startled, I laugh to shake it off. “That’s okay, you didn’t. I thought I was alone.”
She’s cute. About my age. Her hair cut into a bright blonde pixie cut.
“Yeah, the boys are out doing club stuff and everyone seems to have scattered for the day.” She holds out her hand. “I’m Mya. You must be Ella.”
I shake her hand. “I am. It’s nice to meet you.”
“I’ve been dying to meet you ever since I heard you were coming. I’m like the unofficial welcoming party.” She slides her arm through mine. “Come on, let’s go get a coffee. I’ve got a hundred questions.”
Mya is so sweet as she leads me away from the library and back toward the kitchen. Her energy is welcoming and infectious, and I find myself enjoying the distraction.
I figure the book can wait.
Besides, I don’t think Mya would give me the option to say no.
In the kitchen, I grab a couple of mugs and place them on the counter. But when I head for the coffee pot, Mya cuts me off.