Forever Hers by Walters, Ednah (new ebook reader .TXT) 📗

and Kara Fitzgerald tended to visit for a few days to a week before heading back to L.A.

“Excuse me for asking a dumb question, but who is Raelynn?” Eddie asked.

“My daughter.”

He looked around, his gaze zeroing on the toys piled by the door leading to the patio before coming back to her. “How old is she?”

“Almost five going on thirty. Her birthday is in two weeks.”

“Where is she?”

“Still asleep, but she’ll be up any minute. Why do you ask?”

“I’d like us to have an adult discussion without a child clouding anyone’s judgment.”

He was going to say he didn’t need a housekeeper again. She just knew it. “Okay, but FYI, I have an iron-clad contract, so if you are thinking of kicking us out, I will sue you from here to kingdom come and win,” she said with a confidence she didn’t feel.

Eddie scowled. “Why would I kick you out?”

“Because you said you didn’t need me last night and that I should take a hike.”

“I never said that.”

“That’s what I heard.” She picked up her coffee mug with an unsteady hand and sipped, her gaze not shifting from his. “Why don’t we talk outside? You go put on a shirt or something while I dish up your breakfast.”

Eddie stared down at his bare chest as though realizing for the first time he was shirtless. A sheepish expression softened his features and heat coiled in Amy’s stomach, surprising her. It shot up a notch when he turned, giving her a view of his back. Powerful broad shoulders. Narrow hips. Killer ass. The man had a beautiful body.

Just before he disappeared into the hallway leading to the master bedroom, Eddie turned and caught her in the act. Without slowing down, he raised the mug to his lips and sipped, heat flashing in his eyes.

Amy blinked then exhaled. What the hell was that about? She chewed her lower lip contemplating her next move. Eddie Fitzgerald was an impossible man to read and that bugged her. She wasn’t used to being around such…raw power. It wasn’t cultivated. Some men, like Eddie, just had a presence. Others faked it. Nolan, despite being a cop, couldn’t drum up a reaction from people unless he held a gun, so he compensated by being a bully.

Stop it, Amy.

Finding flaws in men was a deplorable habit she’d picked up after her divorce. She always searched for a physical feature or a character trait they shared with Nolan. It gave her an excuse not to become involved. Unfortunately, she often found something.

Amy carried plates and utensils to the patio table. Golden sun rays kissed the alpine vegetation and a gentle breeze blew ripples across the lake. She preferred eating outside because of the crisp morning air and the amazing view from the patio. Today, she chose it in case Raelynn woke up and saw their new guest before Amy could talk to her. Her daughter didn’t take well to strangers, especially men.

Eddie returned just as Amy brought out the pitcher of orange juice. He came back in a pair of jeans that showcased his long masculine legs and a T-shirt that hugged his chest and arms. His feet were bare, which drew her attention to his toes. She never thought a guy’s feet would be attractive. She dragged her gaze away.

“This looks good.” Eddie pulled out a chair for her before taking one himself.

“Thank you.”

For a moment, there was silence as they stared at each other. Amy fidgeted when he didn’t speak. “I slaved hard to make this, so go ahead.” And then another thought hit her and she added, “Unless you need to pray.”

He smiled and his face softened. The smile cinched it. This guy was dangerous. On the scale of one to ten, Eddie was an eleven plus. Nothing like the men she’d foolishly dated. Was he married? She hadn’t noticed a ring. Not that it mattered, she wasn’t interested in him that way.

“Can we discuss the logistics of our new living arrangements first?” he said, sounding so serious she chuckled.

“You make it sound so formal. I will do everything your wife does except sleep with you, Mr. Fitzgerald.”

“It’s Eddie. And I wouldn’t know everything a wife does. I’m not married.”

“Then think of me as your housekeeper,” she said.

“I’ve never had one.”

From what Lauren had told her, the Fitzgeralds were loaded. Baron had mentioned a housekeeper too. Maybe she was assuming too much about their family.

“Then I’ll be your first. As per my contract, I do laundry, cook, clean, water the plants and take care of the yard. Raelynn and I have called this our home the last several months, and moving out now is not…convenient.”

If her monologue impressed him, he didn’t show it. “What if I said I didn’t need these services?”

“Then I’d say you are a fool.”

“No one has ever considered me a fool.” He reached for the pancakes and took a pile, then offered her the plate.

Amy placed the plate down without serving herself. Her stomach was churning with tension now.

“Since I don’t pay you, you are not obliged to do anything for me for the few weeks I’ll be here,” he said. “I have done my own laundry since I was fourteen, so I can manage. I will do the yard work because that’s a man’s job. If you choose to include me in your meals, I will pay for the groceries. If you don’t want to cook for me, that’s fine too.” He paused before serving himself some eggs and frowned. “Egg whites?”

He really thought he’d dictate what he wanted and close the subject? “Yes. They’re healthier.”

A weird expression crossed his face.

“What?”

“Nothing.” He put the serving plate down. The amount of eggs he’d placed on his plate couldn’t satisfy a child. He took some hash browns.

“You don’t like egg whites?” She didn’t bother to keep the disappointment in her voice.

He appeared to weigh his words. “They are…bland. I prefer real eggs.”

She couldn’t believe he just said that. “Egg whites come from eggs. Let me