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She nods in approval. She’s the housekeeper, and I’m merely a guest in this amazing house. Magnus Grant has saved me from having to move back in with Gramps. As much as I love him, I’ll never get the project I’m working on finished. We just keep talking when we’re together. I’ll agree to every rule Margaret sets in order to make sure I don’t abuse Magnus’s hospitality.
She shows me around the rest of the ground floor, then we go outside, and I get to appreciate the full expanse of beautiful gardens as we walk to the pool house. It’s the perfect base to work. There’s a sofa area and a workspace set up, and it has a small bathroom and mini refrigerator.
“David, the landscaper, comes three times a week,” Margaret tells me as we head back inside the house and climb the grand staircase in the foyer. “You caninvite friends over, but if they’re staying for dinner, I require notice.”
“My friend, Liv, might come. But she’s studying so it would only be for a day or two.”
I can picture Liv’s face when she sees Magnus’s house. She’ll be awestruck just like me.
“Very well,” she clips as she leads me along the hallway, stopping in front of a closed door. “I’m afraid you’ll have to make do with this room. The guest suite is being decorated.”
I nod, and she opens the door that leads into a giant, bright room, decorated in cream and white. In the center is a modern four poster bed, minus drapes, and there are doors that lead out onto a small balcony overlooking the garden.
“Oh my goodness.” I clap my palms and bounce on the spot, earning myself an amused look from Margaret. She resembles a strict mother. One full of kindness beneath a misleading, rigid exterior. I bet I can have her laughing before my time here is over.
I set my suitcase down at the foot of the bed and take in the vintage airline prints adorning the walls.
“The bathroom is through here.” Margaret walks past me, and I follow her through a dressing area, half-filled with men’s suits, to the doorway of a marble bathroom with a giant rainfall shower.
“Mr. Grant has beautiful taste,” I say as I stare open-mouthed, excitement bubbling through me at the luxurious surroundings.
“He does. He’s extremely specific about what he likes.” She looks at the dressing room rails. “That side is empty. But if you need more space for your clothes, I can get these suits put into storage.”
“No, I don’t want to be any bother.” I walk over to a giant set of drawers on the empty side of the room and slide the top one open. I bite back my grin at the luxury velvet-lined compartments inside.
Perfect.
“I’ll leave you to unpack. Dinner is at—”
“Seven-thirty. Thank you so much.” I beam at her, and she nods with a satisfied smile at my obedience.
Once she leaves, I grab my phone from my purse to video call Liv, unable to keep the Cheshire cat grin off my face.
“Hey, Bitch,” she answers. “How’s the new work retreat?”
“Stunning.”
I pan the phone around the room and then go out onto the balcony to show her the grounds.
“Are you fucking kidding me?”
I laugh as she shoves her long black hair out of her eyes and gawks.
“It’s official. I’m jealous.” She sighs. “I’d get a ton of work done if I was there and not living with a bunch of noisy, overgrown mummies’ boys.”
I smile at her description. The guys she lives with near campus are a nice, if loud, bunch, especially when it comes to hosting mid-weekparties. But she’s right. They’re all mummies’ boys that take their laundry home every weekend.
Liv still has a year of her marketing degree left. I’m so glad I’ve already graduated and can have my own space.
“I’m grateful to Gramps for setting this up.” I sink into a wicker chair on the balcony and gaze out over the lush green lawn.
“He’s a legend,” Liv agrees. “And you’ll get loads done, being somewhere without distractions. It’ll be good for you.Sogood for you.”
“You’re right.”
“I always am.” She winks.
She and Gramps have been saying the same thing for years. I need this. It’s time I did it.
