Total pages in book: 100
Estimated words: 97364 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 487(@200wpm)___ 389(@250wpm)___ 325(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97364 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 487(@200wpm)___ 389(@250wpm)___ 325(@300wpm)
“Behave.” I point my finger at him.
He shrugs. “What?”
We make our way to the dining room.
“Scarlet! Good morning.” Nellie smiles, wiping her mouth and imparting her orange-red lipstick to her white napkin. “It’s been a few days. Nolie said you were under the weather. I was worried it was AIDS since hearing of Liberace’s death last week.”
My eyes flit to Oscar, and I give him a slight head shake. His last minute decision to job shadow me left no time to explain Nellie’s situation.
“I don’t have AIDS. I was spending time with Theo before he left town.” Since Nolan and Harold left town, I see no reason to lie to Nellie. “I’d like you to meet Oscar Stone, my dad.”
Nellie looks past me like she hadn’t noticed him. She perks up and nearly stumbles, scrambling to her feet. “Oh my … well, welcome, Mr. Stone.”
And there it is, the predictable head-turning that happens in the presence of Oscar. Although, I didn’t expect it from Nellie. She’s blushing and … flirting.
“Oscar. Please. So lovely to meet you, Mrs. Moore. Scarlet has told me wonderful things about you.”
I did?
She giggles. “Call me Nellie, honey.”
Honey?
Oscar leans in, depositing a soft kiss on both of her cheeks, lingering a bit longer than he did with Sofia. Nellie grabs the side of the table to steady herself, causing her teacup to rattle against its saucer.
My name is Scarlet Stone, and I was raised by a womanizer.
I’d say he’s putting on a show because Oscar Stone is a showman—a con artist—a thief. But that’s not what I sense right now. He genuinely is taken with her—bedhead, gaudy lipstick, and all.
I shouldn’t be surprised. He sees past the surface of people just like I do, and Nellie is truly beautiful. But the woman asked about Liberace and AIDS. Oscar used to prefer his woman sane and unmarried, or so I thought.
“Nellie, would you like me to do your hair and makeup this morning?”
She flutters her eyelashes at Oscar while he continues to hold her hand that’s not gripping the table cloth.
“Nellie!”
She startles. Oscar releases her hand. I smile like I didn’t just yell to get her attention.
“Did you hear me?”
“Uh … oh …” Her hand smooths over her messy hair. “Yes … I think I would like that very much. Maybe I’ll go …” She points toward the stairs. “Maybe, I’ll take a shower first or a bath. Shave my legs and whatever needs shaving.”
Oh dear God. Oscar wiggles his brows at her. “If you need any help—”
“Then I’ll help you.” I grit my teeth, glaring at him for a second before smiling at Nellie.
“I’ll let you both … or you, Scarlet, know if I need anything.”
“Just give us a shout.” Oscar winks as she nearly runs into the wall on her way to the stairs.
“Bloody hell!” I snatch his beanie from his head and throw it on the ground, stomping on it with each word. “What. Are. You. Doing?”
He picks it up and dusts it off. “Was that really necessary?”
“She’s my boss. She’s my boss’s mum. She’s married and …”
“And?”
“She’s had something traumatic happen to her and that’s why she’s …”
“Completely delightful? Not to mention absolutely stunning. Have you looked at her eyes?”
“Have you looked at the ten carat diamond on her left ring finger?”
“You want me to steal her diamond?” He smirks.
“Breakfast?”
We both turn toward Sofia’s voice.
“Now that smells wonderful.” Oscar takes a seat at the head of the table like the king he thinks he is and tucks the napkin into his shirt as he smiles and nods at Sofia.
“Are you sure I can’t get you anything, Miss. Stone?”
“No. Thank you.”
“See what you’re missing out on all in the name of—”
“Living?” I quirk an eyebrow and plop down in the chair next to him as he moans around a bite of greasy bacon.
“Don’t you miss it?” He closes his eyes and moans some more as he chews slowly, savoring every bit of flavor.
“Bacon? Crisps? Cheese board? Yes, I miss it. But herbal tea, large green salads, and carrot juice are fair trade-offs for this little thing called life.”
“You’re probably right. Now … tell me about Theo.”
“I thought we were going to wait to talk about this.”
“We did. I said another day and you agreed. That was yesterday. Today is ‘another day.’”
I rest my elbow on the table, propping my chin up on one hand while drumming my fingers with the other hand. “I think he’s killed someone or someones, or I think he’s going to.”
Oscar stops mid-chew and lifts the napkin from his chest to wipe his mouth as he swallows. “And this is the bloke you left Daniel for?”
“He’s a brilliant carpenter. He’s a talented guitarist with a voice that’s so addictive. And he swims with the sharks.”
Oscar smirks. “Daniel is a brilliant photographer who has been within feet of lions in the African safari, and he’s captured video in the middle of war zones. He has impeccable taste in clothing and wine and—”