Page 8 of A One Woman Job

Her throat works with a swallow, her eyes beginning to grow drowsy. And then the most incredible thing happens. This remarkable young girl who has no reason to trust me, who shouldnottrust me, lays her head on my shoulder and falls fast asleep.

I’m rocked all the way to my soul.

Carefully, I band an arm diagonally across her back, securing her to my body, and it feels so fulfilling, my eyes roll to the back of my head and I begin whispering vows.

To protect Meg.

To pleasure Meg.

To keep Meg forever.

Meg.

Meg.

Meg.

Meg.

4

Meg

Iwake up in the largest bed I’ve ever seen.

It’s twilight. Windows are open around the room, causing curtains to billow every which way, the sound of waves crashing below reminding me where I am.

I’m inside Koen’s house.

I feel asleep on him in the bathtub. On a stranger! Who does that?

How much time has passed since then?

Hours or days?

I’m drowsy and my body doesn’t want to move from this sumptuous down bedding. Normally I sleep on the floor in one of the kids’ bedrooms or, if I’m lucky, I get the couch. This is a level of comfort I never thought I’d experience. But I’m not here for a spa retreat. I’m here to do a job. Convince this man to return to work for Etta.

How?

I’ve spent one measly hour with Koen and I know if this man doesn’t want to budge, he isn’t going to budge. Although…

I don’t know how it took me a full five minutes to realize you were…

To realize you were so beautiful.

I convinced him to say that, didn’t I? Did he…really mean it?

When I realize my heart is about to pound out of my chest, I sit up straight with alarm, the soft cotton sheet slipping down to my waist. I’m still wearing my bra and panties. They’ve long since dried, reminding me of the fact that I’ve been here too long. My cleaning shift has to be starting soon and if I’m late, I get fired.

With a whine of regret, I get out of bed, finding my clothes in a pile by the door. It is incredibly difficult to dress myself because my pulse is rattling at the thought of Koen carrying my nearly nude body in here, tucking me in. My breath is short thinking of how his body felt beneath mine in the bathtub. That stiff part of him that lay against my stomach.

I’m just shaken because I’ve gone from zero intimacy with a man to straddling one in a bathtub. That’s the only reason my hands are clumsy and my skin is on fire.

I’m not, like, feeling him. Or whatever.

Because that would be a real conflict of interest.

Fully dressed now, I take a deep breath in front of the bedroom door and push it open, stepping out into a dark marble hallway. Violin music is coming from downstairs, and I slowly make my way in that direction, every part of me sensitizing at the scent of Koen that hangs in the air. Hot winter spice. Cloves. Cinnamon. The tiniest hint of apple.