Page 18 of Falling for Them

“Oh, I’m so sorry,” I rush to say.“I haven’t been dusting in here because…”

I stop.My boss at Maids in Heaven has drilled it into all of the maids that we’re not supposed to make excuses or give reasons for mistakes—we’re supposed to apologize and make it right.

Coughing a little, I say, “I apologize.Let me fix that now, if you don’t mind me working while you’re in here?”

“I would appreciate it,” he says, moving toward the minibar and pouring himself a drink.

I scurry to the bookcase, a bottle of spray and a clean rag in hand.The top shelf is way too high for me to reach, and I stifle a sigh.

“I’ll be right back,” I whisper, not wanting to disturb Mr.Tyler.

“What is it?”he asks sharply.

“I need the stepladder to reach the top shelf.”

“I’ll retrieve it for you.”

“Oh, no, Mr.Tyler, I couldn’t let you do that.”

He raises a single eyebrow.“Couldn’tletme?”

Oh, shit.“I mean, you can do whatever you want, ha.Like, you own the whole fucking building—crap.Freaking building.”Fuck, fuck, fuck.I can’t stop talking.“You can do anything to anyone in here, because you’re the dad—I mean, shit, you’re the boss, and—”

“Ella,” he says, interrupting me.

“Yes?”

“You have a bit of a potty mouth, don’t you?”

I press my lips together and force myself to think about my response.I’m going to get fucking fired, is what’s going to happen.

He’s still waiting for my response, those stormy, grayish-blue eyes locked on me, his glass of whiskey tilted toward his lips.

“Sometimes I get nervous,” I say quietly.

“And that makes you say curse words?”

Shaking my head, I say, “No, it doesn’t make me say them.It makes me forget to hold them in.”

He grins.“That’s the most honest thing I’ve heard all day, Ella.”

“Thank you, sir?”

“You’re welcome.Now, I’ll go get the ladder for you.Help yourself to some whiskey, if you’d like.”

I watch him leave the room, too surprised to say another word.

Kingston

I’m going straight to hell for this.Ella is probably the best damn maid the cleaning service has ever sent to work here, and finding a few dusty books was the best I could do to get her into my office.

Andwhyhave I brought her into my office?

Answer: I’m a sick, old fuck.A creepy old man obsessed with his son’s…dalliance?Girlfriend?What do I call her?

I know exactly what to call her: a gem who is too damned good for him.

She’s too good for me, too.