Page 6 of Landon (In Safe Hands)
Thebox is stuffed full of random cleaning supplies. Gloves, cleansers, sponges,scrub brushes and rags are packed under a receipt for the supplies. Heobviously ordered it all online. Who buys toilet cleanser online? Spoiled, richmen, I suppose.
“Idoubt you’ll find much worth donating in here, but if you do, just box it up.There are empty boxes in the hall. I’ll be in my office if you need anything.”
“Thanks,I should be fine,” I reply, setting my bag in a corner.
“I’lllet you get started, then.” He hesitates and runs a hand nervously through hishair. “I’ve never employed someone before. I’m glad you took the job, Zoe. Ihope you like it enough to stay.”
Hisuncertainty is too adorable, so different from his usual personality. “I’m sureI will. Thanks.” I give him a reassuring smile before turning to my task, andhe leaves me to it.
Glovesare definitely a necessity when I tackle the pile in the closet. Most of theitems are what you’d expect to find in a bathroom. Old electric razors and shavingkits, those pink basins all elderly people seem to have to soak their feet,ratty, moth eaten robes and housecoats.
Ifind more and more female items toward the back of the closet. It’s sad as Iimagine his uncle packed his wife’s belongings away after she died so hewouldn’t have to look at them. It obviously wasn’t sorted, just stuffed inboxes. Old makeup is mixed with bottles of outdated aspirin, a hair dryershoved in a box with crumbling bars of soap and hair pins. Landon’s right, noneof this is salvageable.
Twoand a half hours later, I have five boxes and three trash bags filled withgarbage, and I’m just starting on the cabinet when Landon clears his throatbehind me. A silly grin lights his face when I jump and spin to face him. “Youscared the shit out of me!”
“Sorry,”he says, looking anything but. “Just wanted to see how you’re doing.”
Eagerto get a little revenge, I pull an enema bag and tube from the cabinet,thankful for my disposable gloves. “Should I save your clean out kit?”
“That’snot mine!”
“Hey,whatever you’re into is none of my business,” I tease, moving it closer to himand watching him cringe.
“Gross.Chuck it and the gloves.” His eyes widen when he sees the empty closet. “Wow,you’re fast. Take a break. Are you hungry?”
“Ibrought my dinner,” I reply, stripping off the gloves and washing my hands.
“Well,come and eat with me.” Does this man ever ask a question instead of giving anorder?
“Okay.”I shrug. I could use a break.
ChapterTwo
Landon
It’shard to keep my eyes off of Zoe when she sits on my couch, her sandwich in herlap. All I can think is how her body felt under my palms when we danced. Herass grinding against me, the taste of her neck beneath my lips. Fuck. Why am Iso fixated on this one chick? Because I can’t have her?
Oh,Icouldhave her. She wants me even if she hates the idea, but now that she’smy employee, I won’t touch her. One and done, that’s my rule. No stayingovernight or repeat performances. It keeps things simple. Fucking myhousekeeper, no matter how sexy she looked bent over the closet, would not besimple. It’d be a mess.
Palebrown eyes catch my scrutinizing gaze. “What?”
“Nothing.”I just want to fuck you ragged.
“Okay,”she replies, stretching out the word. “Do you live here alone?”
“Areyou asking me if I have a girlfriend?” She scoffs at my grin. Damn, I’mflirting with her again. Off limits, off limits.
“No,you Cro-Magnon, I meant relatives, friends, other staff. It’s a big place tolive alone. I imagine it’d be lonely.”
Oh,what I could do to her smart mouth. “It’s just me. I spend most of my time in thisroom, so it doesn’t seem as big as it is. What about you? Live-in boyfriend? Abunch of cats?”
Idodge the nacho chip she throws at me. “I wouldn’t sleep with you, so I must bea crazy cat lady?” She’s trying not to grin.
“Ididn’t say that.”
“Nocats. No boyfriend.” She looks like she’s going to say something else, butchanges her mind. “I don’t have a lot of time between work and school.”
“Whatdo you study?”
