Total pages in book: 53
Estimated words: 49458 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 247(@200wpm)___ 198(@250wpm)___ 165(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 49458 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 247(@200wpm)___ 198(@250wpm)___ 165(@300wpm)
“Don’t do it, Marmalade. Do NOT knock that over.”
His foot descended menacingly. Essie leaned forward to snatch up the cup. “Got it.” She looked triumphantly at the noisy creature.
Marmalade blinked at her and used that raised paw to knock the papers below the cup, onto the floor. Her carefully organized expenses now decorated the carpet. He stared at her as if suggesting that this was her fault. Marmalade couldn’t have budged them if she hadn’t lifted her coffee.
“Ugh! Marmalade. I think this is a good time for you to go out.” Standing up, Essie picked up the triumphant cat and headed for the front door.
The cat relaxed against her, not bothered at all by his eviction. Essie twisted the handle open and froze at the sight of a gorgeous redhead hugging Zander. The woman laughed up at him with a delighted expression on her face. The sight of Zander’s hands wrapped around the visitor’s trim waist made her stomach lurch.
Easing back inside, she quietly closed the door and leaned against it. Her heart pounded. Marmalade’s squeak alerted her she was hugging him too tightly. “Sorry, fuzzy guy.”
She set Marmalade down. Immediately, the cat resumed rubbing against the door. “I’m not going out there. I’m not sure what’s going on, but I’m positive she’s nothing more than an old friend.”
An old friend or a lover?
Essie shook her head to push that thought from her mind. Zander had never given her any sign he would even look at another woman. She should have said something. He would have explained that the person visiting had stumbled or had gotten dizzy. There were perfectly logical reasons why he held her. That sick feeling in her stomach didn’t respond to logic.
A prick of claws made her jump. She glanced down at the orange tabby and shook her head. “Sorry, Marmalade. How about if I open the kitchen door? I could steal some kitty treats from the stash there for you.”
At the mention of the T-word, Marmalade marched toward the pantry where Sara kept them. Trying not to replay the image of another woman in Zander’s arms, she followed the fluffy tail down the hall.
“Hi, Essie!” Sara greeted her warmly. “What a splendid party last night!”
“It was fun. I think everyone enjoyed the ball.” Even to herself, Essie’s voice sounded flat.
The housekeeper’s eyebrows drew together in concern. “Are you okay?”
“Yes. Of course. Just frazzled by the late evening and the aftermath of the flurry of preparations.”
“I can see that. Thankfully, no one has booked the ballroom for the next few weeks, so you can rest for a couple of days to recover before taking the decorations down,” Sara suggested.
“Thank goodness. I’m going to make a new policy to leave two weeks between large ballroom events,” Essie declared.
Marmalade yowled again, drawing her attention.
“This cat! He’s driving me crazy. I promised him treats if he came with me to go out the kitchen door.” Essie dashed into the pantry and grabbed a few crunchy morsels from the pack before returning to set them on the floor close to Marmalade.
“Why didn’t you let him out the front door?” Sara asked.
Essie couldn’t come up with a lie fast enough, so she opened the back door and pretended she hadn’t heard. “There you go, Marmalade. Have fun.”
Marmalade chewed slowly, sitting with his tail flicking between them.
“Was there a commotion in the drive?” Sara asked. “Marmalade doesn’t like a lot of traffic or activity.”
“Zander was out there.”
“And?” Sara let the question hang in the air.
“He was holding a pretty redhead. I didn’t want to interrupt.”
“Holding her how?” Sara asked sharply.
“I’m sure his embrace was completely innocent,” Essie said.
“Of course,” Sara agreed. “You’ll have to ask him.”
“Hey! Is anyone home?” Zander called from the front of the house.
“We’re back here,” Sara answered for her when Essie didn’t respond.
Marmalade stood and sauntered toward the open door. The cat disappeared without a word, a split second before Zander reached the kitchen, leaving Essie holding the door handle.
“It smells amazing in here, Sara. Are you making cookies?” Zander asked. “Essie? Are you leaving?”
“Just letting Marmalade out,” Essie answered breezily and closed the door.
“The cookies over on the rack have cooled if you’d like to help yourself,” Sara said helpfully. “Maybe your guest would like one too.”
“My guest? Oh, you mean Cynthia. My stable workers sent her over when she stopped by my place,” Zander explained.
“That was nice of them.” Essie wasn’t thinking happy thoughts about his staff at the moment, but she wouldn’t admit that. Why had that floozy stopped by his place? Was she an ex? “It’s great to run into old friends, isn’t it?”
“Sure. She’s waiting outside for me to show her the barn. Cynthia’s considering buying a horse and wondered if she could stable one on my land. I’d take her a cookie, but she’ll never eat it.” Zander grabbed one and headed back to the front of the house with a wave.