Page 13 of Nigel

“I can tellthat is a sore point for you. Do you not like the fact that you are amaid?”

She rose quickly,remembering that she was perched on the side of his bed. “Ihave work to do.”

“Could you getme something to eat? If you don’t mind?”

Her eyes flashed. “Iwould have been out of here in a matter of minutes.”

“You will bevery well compensated.”

“I had betterbe.”

He gave her a tiredsmile and closed his eyes. “Thanks.”

Ava hurried out ofthe room and down the stairs. What would she have instructed one ofher ladies to do in a situation like this? She pondered the questionas she went into the gleaming kitchen. Jane had told her that he hada housekeeper whose days off were on Mondays and Saturdays.

The place wasspotless and made her wonder why on earth he would need someone extrato do the housework. As far as she knew, he was single and he wasprobably hardly here anyway.

She found some beefbroth in a sealed container in the ultra-modern steel gray fridgewith the touch screen. The interior was packed neatly and filled withsealed packages. Taking the time to admire everything, she took outthe beef broth and popped it into the microwave.

Opening one of thedazzling white cupboard doors, she picked up a bowl and poured thebroth in. A loaf of freshly made bread was in the bread pan and shecut several slices and put them on a plate. She found a spoon and atray and left the kitchen to make her way carefully up the stairs.

At first, she thoughthe was sleeping. She could see his chest rising and falling evenly.Placing the tray on the side table, she leaned over to place a handon his forehead to check his temperature, when his eyes popped openand sent her heart skittering inside her chest.

“Somethingsmells delicious.”

She cleared herthroat as she eased back. “Beef broth. It was already prepared.Can you sit up?”

He nodded and easedhimself against the pillows. She placed the tray table across his lapand felt his forehead again. “You still feel a littlefeverish.”

And my throat is asdry as a corn husk,” he admitted.

“Let me get yousome more water.” She turned away to do that and he watched asshe crossed over to the cabinet to pour.

“I won’tforget this.”

“Sure, youwill.” She brought the glass over and placed it on the tray.“Eat up. I really have to get to work.”

“What do youhave to do?” Scooping up the broth, he took a sip.

“Maid stuff.”

“That’snot being specific.” He liked the look of her. Now that hishead was not pounding and his chest did not feel as if a ton of ironwas pressed against it, he could really see her and admire herflawless cocoa brown complexion.

She was wearing asimple lime green sweater over her jeans and her curves were quiteimpressive. Her thick dark curls were pinned on top of her head withtendrils escaping.

“You wantspecifics?”

“As a matter offact, I do.”

She sighed and he hada feeling that she just managed not to roll her eyes. “Dustingand straightening things. I was supposed to deal with your bedroom,but you are here. Vacuuming as well.”

“I am in bed,so you can always work around me.”

“I am going tohave to change your sheets.”

“I wouldappreciate that. They’re soaking wet.” His hazel eyeswere unnerving her.

“I will get toit.”

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