Read Love For Hire: The Helena's Grove Series Book 2 for Free Online Page A
Authors: Ivy Alexander
bed. Tomorrow’s a big day.” She stood and Marcus and Annie followed suit. “Marcus I’m so glad to have you here. I am waiting until everyone else gets here tomorrow to ask you about yourself so you don’t have to keep repeating the same things over and over.”
“That’s very thoughtful of you. And thank you so much for opening your home to a perfect stranger.”
“Oh well, if Annie trusts you, so do I.” She smiled and Annie tried to wipe the look of guilt from her face.
“You can go ahead and put your bags up the stairs in the last room on the right,” Aunt Gabby instructed.
Annie froze and Aunt Gabby caught her look. “What’s wrong dear?” she asked.
“We… um…” Annie looked at Marcus for help who sat back casually waiting for her to spit out whatever it was she was trying to say. “We hadn’t planned on staying together.” She watched Aunt Gabby’s face, waiting for it to dawn on her. She finally caught on and nodding knowingly. “Well honey, you’ve been dating for a couple months now, haven’t you…?” She let the question hang in the air and Annie could feel her face turning cherry red. “You know, if you haven’t, then honey, you should get on that. He is a fine, fine young man,” Aunt Gabby whispered to her.
Annie tried desperately to compose herself. “Well, yes of course we have , it’s just… I didn’t think you’d be ok with us… you know, staying together, so we just planned on not,” she stammered.
“Oh don’t be silly. I’m old but I’m not that old fashioned. I know what goes on nowadays.” Aunt Gabby waved her hand at them and made her way toward her room. Annie was close on her heels whispering loudly enough for her to hear.
“But I knew you only had a twin bed in each guestroom, so I thought it would be more comfortable if we stayed separately. I’m a girl who needs her space, you remember?” She laughed nervously.
“Oh I already thought of that,” Aunt Gabby told her. “I ordered a new bedroom set for the back room and I must say it looks marvelous.”
Annie stopped, turned and quickly walked up the stairs to the end of the hall and peeked in the room. The new cherry wood furniture was indeed beautiful. The set was complete with a dresser, nightstand and a brand new queen sized bed. She suddenly felt weak, and was sure she’d have a heart attack.
“Well, I’ll see you kids in the morning. Let me know if you need anything,” Aunt Gabby called up to Annie.
“It’s great, thank you,” Marcus said as he climbed the stairs and Aunt Gabby headed toward her own room.
Marcus brought the luggage in and began getting ready for bed. Annie was still standing by the door, not knowing what to do.
When he finally looked up at her he stopped. “Is this going to be a problem?”
“What? No. I mean, not really. It’s um… It’s just that I wasn’t expecting to spend the night with a man I barely know. But it’s okay. It’ll be fine… whatever works.” She knew she was rambling so she just shut her mouth.
“I can sleep on the floor if you’re more comfortable with that.” Marcus looked at her with those beautiful blue eyes.
“Um…” Annie said, seriously considering this for a few seconds. Finally, she exhaled loudly. “No, no it’s fine. We’re adults and it’s not a big deal. Besides, this is business. We can do this…” Annie suddenly felt slightly shy and she smiled at him teasingly. “As long as you keep your hands to yourself.”
He laughed and held his hands up. “Oh I promise, no hanky panky from me! And I don’t snore so I won’t disturb you that way.” He winked at her and continued unpacking.
Annie smiled and tried to relax, but the butterflies in her stomach wouldn’t let her. She quickly showered and put on the pajamas she’d brought, thankful she’d packed her modest ones since she knew it would be cold. She peeked out the bathroom door and saw Marcus in bed. The lamp was on and he was reading. As
“That’s very thoughtful of you. And thank you so much for opening your home to a perfect stranger.”
“Oh well, if Annie trusts you, so do I.” She smiled and Annie tried to wipe the look of guilt from her face.
“You can go ahead and put your bags up the stairs in the last room on the right,” Aunt Gabby instructed.
Annie froze and Aunt Gabby caught her look. “What’s wrong dear?” she asked.
“We… um…” Annie looked at Marcus for help who sat back casually waiting for her to spit out whatever it was she was trying to say. “We hadn’t planned on staying together.” She watched Aunt Gabby’s face, waiting for it to dawn on her. She finally caught on and nodding knowingly. “Well honey, you’ve been dating for a couple months now, haven’t you…?” She let the question hang in the air and Annie could feel her face turning cherry red. “You know, if you haven’t, then honey, you should get on that. He is a fine, fine young man,” Aunt Gabby whispered to her.
Annie tried desperately to compose herself. “Well, yes of course we have , it’s just… I didn’t think you’d be ok with us… you know, staying together, so we just planned on not,” she stammered.
“Oh don’t be silly. I’m old but I’m not that old fashioned. I know what goes on nowadays.” Aunt Gabby waved her hand at them and made her way toward her room. Annie was close on her heels whispering loudly enough for her to hear.
“But I knew you only had a twin bed in each guestroom, so I thought it would be more comfortable if we stayed separately. I’m a girl who needs her space, you remember?” She laughed nervously.
“Oh I already thought of that,” Aunt Gabby told her. “I ordered a new bedroom set for the back room and I must say it looks marvelous.”
Annie stopped, turned and quickly walked up the stairs to the end of the hall and peeked in the room. The new cherry wood furniture was indeed beautiful. The set was complete with a dresser, nightstand and a brand new queen sized bed. She suddenly felt weak, and was sure she’d have a heart attack.
“Well, I’ll see you kids in the morning. Let me know if you need anything,” Aunt Gabby called up to Annie.
“It’s great, thank you,” Marcus said as he climbed the stairs and Aunt Gabby headed toward her own room.
Marcus brought the luggage in and began getting ready for bed. Annie was still standing by the door, not knowing what to do.
When he finally looked up at her he stopped. “Is this going to be a problem?”
“What? No. I mean, not really. It’s um… It’s just that I wasn’t expecting to spend the night with a man I barely know. But it’s okay. It’ll be fine… whatever works.” She knew she was rambling so she just shut her mouth.
“I can sleep on the floor if you’re more comfortable with that.” Marcus looked at her with those beautiful blue eyes.
“Um…” Annie said, seriously considering this for a few seconds. Finally, she exhaled loudly. “No, no it’s fine. We’re adults and it’s not a big deal. Besides, this is business. We can do this…” Annie suddenly felt slightly shy and she smiled at him teasingly. “As long as you keep your hands to yourself.”
He laughed and held his hands up. “Oh I promise, no hanky panky from me! And I don’t snore so I won’t disturb you that way.” He winked at her and continued unpacking.
Annie smiled and tried to relax, but the butterflies in her stomach wouldn’t let her. She quickly showered and put on the pajamas she’d brought, thankful she’d packed her modest ones since she knew it would be cold. She peeked out the bathroom door and saw Marcus in bed. The lamp was on and he was reading. As