Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 91002 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 455(@200wpm)___ 364(@250wpm)___ 303(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91002 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 455(@200wpm)___ 364(@250wpm)___ 303(@300wpm)
“Okay.” I held up my hand. “Okay, okay. Let’s…”
I glared at Austin as he made his way out of the room. He winked at me.
“Let’s do one thing at a time,” I told Mr. Tom. “First, coffee. Then, shower. And so help me, if you start giving me T-minus warnings like Edgar does, we’re going to have a problem.”
“I wouldn’t dare,” Mr. Tom said, ruffling his wings. “What do you take me for? I was not influenced by a woman we will not name.” He meant Nessa, and my heart lurched. “I am able to properly keep time, thank you very much, or why did I get the job to—”
I let him rattle on as I headed for the shower. I’d just drink my coffee in there. It would be more relaxing.
FIVE
Jessie
“You look lovely, miss. Very good, indeed,” Mr. Tom said as I met him at the base of the stairs. I wore jeans and a baggy T-shirt with my hair pulled up into a ponytail. I had a feeling he hadn’t even glanced at me, given he was currently tapping a page in a book that looked like a child’s diary. “Now, here we go. Let’s just— No, Edgar, it is not your turn.”
Edgar waited by the front door with a fedora clutched in his spindly fingers, pulled in tight to his chest. He looked like a character out of Oliver Twist asking for more food.
“I hear you loud and clear, Sir Tom, but if I may…” He shuffled farther into the entryway. “It’s just that the flowers started singing, and when they do that—”
“No, no.” Mr. Tom held up his hand as he tried to marshal me past Edgar. “It is not your turn! We have to keep things orderly or it’ll all turn into chaos.”
“Yes. I agree,” Edgar said, blocking our way now. “But yesterday, you said you would come by, and I waited all day, and into the night, and looked in the windows when they lit up, watching everyone, and into the darkness when they went out, and—”
“Edgar, for the last time,” Mr. Tom said, “stop looking in the windows and spying on people. The kids these days call that creepy.”
“Everyone calls that creepy,” I said with a grimace. “After the meeting with Patty, I can—”
“Oh no! No, no.” Mr. Tom shook his head adamantly as he put out his arm. He shielded me like I was a celebrity and he my bodyguard, trying to shove past Edgar. “No. Alpha Steele put me in charge of your schedule, and I mean to uphold that prestigious and somewhat impossible duty.”
“He didn’t actually put you in charge—”
“You are penciled in later, Edgar,” Mr. Tom said. “After Aurora’s challenge and lunch. The miss is very busy. She has many things to get to, and she doesn’t need to be skipping meals so that your flowers can sing to her. Now—”
“But…” Edgar lifted one finger, still clutching the hat.
“No buts! Make way. Her mate has made her late for the first meeting of the day. If you keep us here any longer, I’ll have to—”
“Oh, Jessie!” Patty stuck her head out of the sitting room doorway. “Fantastic, you’re here. Just wait until you hear what I have for you today!” She noticed Edgar. “Yes, hello, Edgar. Fine morning, isn’t it? I heard you have some trouble with your flowers. What a pity. You’ve been working so hard. But never mind that now—we’ll get to it just as soon as we can, okay?”
Edgar lifted his eyebrows at Patty as Mr. Tom continued his attempt to shepherd me past.
“No, you’re going about this all wrong.” Patty shouldered Edgar back to make room for herself. I was too stunned to comment. “That’s not how to manage a schedule. Is this your first time? I know it’s difficult when someone is as busy as Jessie, what with her demands and her appointments—no, this is something I’m probably better equipped to handle.”
“No, that’s okay.” I stuck out my hand as she took over trying to move me past Edgar. “Honestly, Austin wasn’t aware of the setup. I think I’m fine to—”
“Unhand her, woman,” Mr. Tom said, charging back into the fray. “I have it all written down right here in her diary.” He held up the little book. The edge gleamed with a metal clasp that would fit a tiny key. “Along with her daily activities and various thoughts she probably had when doing those activities.”
“Wait…what?” I asked, perplexed. “You’re keeping an actual diary for me? Like…a real diary?”
“Of course he isn’t,” Patty reassured me. “That would be bonkers. He’s touched, but he’s not as bad as the vampire, are you, Mr. Tom? No offense, Edgar, but I think we’re all on the same page here, aren’t we?”
“I think maybe,” Edgar hazarded.
“I’ll have you know—” Mr. Tom started in.