Page 43 of Wild Desire

"I remember your mom reprimanding us when we'd run wild through the lodge. She'd say the guests didn't want to stay here with wild animals running around."

Noelle smiled. "I remember that too."

"She'd call us her boys, as if we were hers too. We called her our other mother."

"She felt like you were hers in a way. I guess all the staff did. You were around all the time."

"Just like you."

"It was a nice way to grow up, but I'm glad that Mom can be home with Christopher and Winnie."

"I bet she likes that too."

"She doesn't like not being able to physically go to work. She wants to feel useful. And she'd never say anything to your family, but she takes pride in the consulting work she does for you."

"Eli said that she's probably not recording all her hours."

Noelle sighed. "I wouldn't be surprised. She doesn't feel like it's work unless she's in an office or changing bed sheets. She's old-fashioned like that."

"Can you encourage her to report her hours? It would go a long way to helping you too." I kept my focus on the side of her face, so I caught the slight wince.

"You know my mom."

"Maybe if she knew how much pressure you put on yourself to help out, she'd be more willing to be honest about her hours. She deserves to be paid for her time." Noelle deserved so much more too.

Noelle kept her gaze trained on the road. "I can try and talk to her."

"You don't like talking to her about money." Money was an issue for their family, and it was also the topic they avoided.

She glanced over at me. "You know me so well."

"You're a lot like your mother. You're a hard worker, and you care about everyone around you."

The skin around her eyes softened. "I'll take that as a compliment."

"I meant it as one. You traded your dream for your family. Not many people would do that."

She scoffed as she turned onto the road that took us to her mom's. "A lot of people think I'm crazy for doing that."

"I don't."

She glanced over at me as if she was surprised by my answer.

"I admire you for it."

"You're sweet."

11

NOELLE

"Ican't say I've ever been called sweet before."

"Nice then." But that seemed like too simple of a word for how Killian was treating me and my family. He went out of his way to help Winnie the other night, and he supported Christopher. Now he wanted to make sure my mom was fairly compensated for her work.

"Not many people would take an interest in their employee's families," I pointed out to him.

He waved a hand that had been resting on his knee. "You're not just an employee, and I'm trying to catch up on everything I missed over the years."

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