AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Angela
Ever since his conversation with his parents, Tim has gone back to being open and free with his affection toward me. I secretly love it, but it makes it a little difficult to do my usual job during pre-dinner drinks each night.
I apologized to Bill about it, but he waved my words away with a wry smile and commented that clearly, Tim’s helping me learn to relax and have fun on vacation was working. He also reminded me he invited me here as a guest, not as his PA, and that Gladys and the other staff here are more than capable of making sure everyone had full glasses.
I’m not sure I wouldn’t rather be working. While they haven’t been outright rude to me, or toward me, Arthur and Janet have been decidedly stiff and frosty. Much the same way that Bill is currently treating them, for whatever reason.
Right now, Tim is standing with his hand on my lower back, occasionally stroking his fingers there while he nurses a whiskey and I sip champagne and we chat with Maxwell and his father Harold.
Harold Westerhaven is a doctor, and from the hints that he is dropping, I gather perhaps he hoped that one twin would be given the pharmaceutical company, rather than Ryan. Having spent time with both Maxwell and Beaumont though, I can see why Bill gave them the companies that he did.
I can’t imagine Beaumont doing anything other than running a publishing company. Once he got over his initial worries that I was out for his job, he and I have spent hours chatting about books. And Maxwell has completely changed my pension plan, because apparently, I wasn’t going to be makinganymoney the way I had it set up before.
In fact, Bill did a pretty good job with all of them. I walked into breakfast the other morning to a spirited discussion between him and Tim about import tariffs in France, and Tim really seemed in his element. It was cute to watch, actually. His whole face was lit up and he really knew his stuff. And David spent two hours walking me through the Manor yesterday pointing out all the architectural features. Now that they’re all being nice to me, I really like the other four.
Harold, Tim, and Maxwell are now discussing Christmas gifts. I have bought Bill my obligatory Christmas present. He always insists that I don’t have to, and I always buy him one, which I know secretly pleases the hell out of him.
I’ve also bought Tim something. I ordered it online and Gladys has hidden it for me in the kitchen, so he will never find it. I didn’t get anything for everyone else. That would seem a little weird to me. Though maybe I should have gotten David something, since he’s Tim’s brother. Then again, we haven’t really defined what we are doing, so I wasn’t sure if that would have been stepping over some arbitrary line. So, Bill and Tim remain the only two people I have Christmas gifts ready for.
I know what Bill is gifting everyone, since I’m the one that ordered everything, wrapped it, and wrote out the cards. All Bill did was tell me what he wanted to give each person and sign the individual cards. I guess the whole “you’re here as my guest, not as my PA” thing only goes so far. Bill wouldn’t have the faintest clue where to start when it came to ordering gifts.
“I suppose you know all about the Christmas dinner,” Harold cuts through my Christmas gift musings. I start with surprise, flashing him a knowing smile.
“Even if I do, Bill would have my head for ruining the surprise. And Gladys would probably cry,” I admit wryly, which has the other three laughing. Ryan joins us, and he and Harold strike up an in-depth conversation about prescription medication, which is the cue for the rest of us to exit the conversation.
“You’ve got your Christmas shopping all sorted?” Maxwell asks Tim, who sighs and shakes his head.
“I did, but then Mom and Dad showed up, so I’m going to head to London tomorrow morning to finish it. You up for a trip?”
Maxwell nods, “Yeah. I need something for Mom and Dad too.”
“I can arrange a car for you both in the morning.”
Tim grins down at me, dropping a kiss on my brow.
“Only if you make the call before breakfast tomorrow morning, while we’re still in bed,” he murmurs into my ear, causing me to shiver. I know exactly why he’s asking. My professional tone turns him on and after I’ve booked their car, Tim’s going to want sex.
“As you wish, Mr. Brooks Westerhaven.” I swallow my triumphant grin when his eyes light up. I think I was pretty much on the money with my assumption there.
The gong rings for dinner, and Tim escorts me into the dining room, holding my chair for me before sliding into his own. I’m about to respond to a remark Beaumont makes when I start in surprise.
“So, Angie.” The entire table falls silent, and I turn my face towards Janet, where she’s smiling over at me. Tim’s arm drops along the back of my chair, his fingers stroking at my shoulder through the thin fabric of my three-quarter sleeves, which gives me enough strength not to run and hide. “You must tell us all about yourself. Normally, we see so little of you when we visit Bill.”
“Except when you’re bossing her around,” Tim mutters darkly under his breath. I dart a warning look at him, smiling gamely back at his mother. It’s true, but it’s also my job. He needs to rein it in.
“What would you like to know, Mrs. Brooks Westerhaven?”
Tim’s fingers freeze on my arm, pressing hard. Oops. Well, there’s not much I can do about using my professional tone right now. It’s a shield I hide behind. He’s going to have to suck it up if he doesn’t want to be turned on by a conversation that I’m having with his mother.
“Where are you from, originally?”
Thank goodness that’s an easy one.
“Queens.”
“And have you always aspired to be a PA?”
Wow. Snarky much?
