AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Rachel lifted her chin up and swallowed. “I’m sorry, but I honestly don’t remember.”
“You’re not in any trouble, you know.”
“I didn’t think that I was.” Rachel moved away from me and folded her hands in front of her. Behind her, the timer buzzed and ticked. With a frown, she hurried into the kitchen and propped the oven open, letting out a blast of hot air. Reaching for the oven mitts, she used them to take out the casseroles and set them down on the marble counter. Slowly, she reached for a knife and cut into the chicken, juices pouring out of it on either side.
“Dinner is ready, Mr. Shaw.”
“It smells delicious.” I stood on the other side of the counter and folded my arms over my chest. “Why didn’t you call me? I thought you were going to wait a day or two, so you wouldn’t appear too eager, but it’s been five years.”
Rachel peeled off the mitt, set down the knife, and looked up at me. “Mr. Shaw, please. I’m not sure why you keep insisting that I’m someone I’m not, but I don’t think it’s appropriate.”
I let my hands fall to my sides and pursed my lips together. “I’m sorry. I’m not trying to make you uncomfortable.”
But I was sure it was her.
She even smelled the same, like lemon soap and citrus.
I wanted to pull her to me and bury my face in her hair.
Afterward, I wanted to take her into my room and show her exactly how much I missed her. I kept seeing her in the clubhouse at the hotel, her face lit up in laughter and amusement, her blue eyes never leaving my face. When I blinked, Rachel was taking off the apron and folding it. Carefully, she set it down in one of the kitchen drawers before stepping out.
“Do you have any instructions for me, Mr. Shaw?”
I moved towards her, coming to a stop a few feet away. “Instructions?”
“For the house,” Rachel clarified, with a lift of her chin. “Or the way you prefer your meals cooked. Mary explained that your previous housekeepers took care of the cleaning, the laundry, and the cooking.”
“That’s right.”
“I’ll be coming in at nine in the morning and leaving by four, right?”
“There might be days when I’ll need you to stay until five. I’ll pay you for the extra hour, of course. You also get an hour and a half for lunch every day. You can, of course, spend your lunchtime doing whatever you want, but you have to be back here as soon as it’s done.”
Rachel nodded. “Thank you, sir.”
“You really don’t remember me, do you?” I shook my head and took a few steps back. “I just can’t believe you’re here after all this time.”
Rachel cleared her throat. “I’m sorry, sir. I have to go.”
With that, she spun on her heels and hurried back out, snatching her purse and coat off the table on her way past. I watched her back as she waited for the elevator, tapping her feet impatiently. Once the doors pinged open, she got on and spun around to face me. I caught a glimpse of her shock and confusion before the doors swished shut.
She knew who I was.
She had to.
I had no idea why she was pretending she didn’t.
Chapter 8: Close
Rachel
I let the door click shut behind me before leaning against it. With both eyes squeezed shut, I lifted a hand to my face and rubbed in slow, circular motions. Over and over, I kept seeing Bernard’s face lit up in confusion and joy as he recognized me.
I’d known it the minute I rounded the corner and set eyes on him.
I should’ve quit then and there.
But I hadn’t.
