AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“So much fun,” I said as Meloniewalked up behind Anna. She looked less than thrilled as she joinedus.
“Where did your dad go? One minutehe was helping me with my form and the next he’s just gone,” shecomplained.
I restrained my urge to snarl asAnna told her he was probably in the car. “It’s almost dinnertimeand I have a whole meal planned for Lyns tonight. We’re gonna cookall your favorites.” She beamed at me.
I gripped her glove-covered handas we headed to the door. “Sounds great, Anna. I’m starved.”
****
“You cooked, the least I could dois wash the dishes,” I complained as Anna shoved me away from thesink.
“It’s your birthday. I’ll bedamned if I let you wash a single dish from your dinner,” she tskedas she grabbed the dishrag from me.
“What am I supposed to do then?Sit and watch you slave away?” I scoffed.
Anna shrugged. “You can dowhatever you want, just not the dishes.” She chuckled. “Why don’tyou go pour yourself another glass of wine and relax?”
“Anna, there are so many dishes.You made enough to feed an army, let me help.” I rolled myeyes.
Anna looked over at Meloniesitting on the kitchen counter with a glass of wine in her hand.She sat there as if she were deaf to the whole conversation as shescrolled through her phone.
“Melonie can help,” she said.
Barbie’s breath left her in a rushas she slid off the counter and backed away toward the den. “Oh, Iwould love to but I just got my nails done before we came here.”She flashed her bright pink nails toward us and Anna scowled ather. “I wouldn’t want to mess them up,” she said before takinganother sip and vanishing from the room.
I shook my head at her as Iapproached the sink again. Anna spun around and pointed a soapyscrub brush at me as if it were a weapon. “Back off, Hart,” shegrowled in mock anger.
I giggled at her weak attempt todivert me and put my hands up in surrender. “Come on, Anna. That isa mountain of dishes. Let me help you.” I chuckled.
Ben took that moment to walk intothe kitchen and smile that dopey smile. Anna looked from me to himand then back to me. “Jack can help me.” She smiled as if she’d wonthe argument.
Ben looked at her in confusion.“Who the fuck is Jack?” he asked and I closed my eyes, bracing forwhat I knew was coming.
“The Ripper.” Anna grinned at me.I snorted and covered my mouth as Ben’s lips flattened. He neverfound Anna’s humor as funny as I did.
“Har, har,” he fake-laughed.“That’s not even clever,” he whined.
Anna shrugged. “Doesn’t matter.Get your stalker ass over here and help me wash these dishes,” shecommanded.
Ben threw his head back and sighedas he headed to the sink. I stood there for a few moments,contemplating what to do with myself. I could get another glass ofwine and go take a warm bath. God only knew that my body acheswould thank me for it. But I couldn’t help but feel bad about nothelping clean up.
The least I could do was dry thedishes. I searched through the drawers until I found a clean toweland walked closer to the sink. Anna must’ve known what I wasintending because she grabbed the extendable faucet and sprayed mewith the warm water.
“Hey!” I screeched as I jumpedback.
Anna stopped spraying but kept itpointed at me nonetheless. I couldn’t help the giggle that bubbledup at her serious face. “Get out of here, you’re not touching asingle dish,” she scowled.
I huffed and tossed the towel ather as Ben stared between us. “Fine,” I said and Anna returned thesprayer to its place with a nod. “I guess I’ll go take a bath. I’mready for some downtime anyway,” I muttered as I grabbed the bottleof wine and my glass off the counter.
Anna smiled at me over hershoulder. “Good, go relax because tomorrow we have moreactivities,” she said in a singsong voice.
I tried to hide my grimace as Ibacked out of the room. Even just the few hours we were out on theslopes left me exhausted, I couldn’t imagine what a whole day wouldbe like.
I walked out of the kitchen andinto the den. Now that I was no longer in shock about Ian beinghere, I’d finally been able to take in the beauty of the interiorof the cabin. The den that I stood in now was like I’d walkedstraight into a hunting magazine. The rich light-colored wood ofthe floor matched that of the walls and lofted ceiling. Large beamsflowed from one end of the house to the other, lights strung aroundthe beams in intricate designs. The large black fur rug broke upthe continuous color of the light wood. Aside from being in Damon’shouse, I’d never seen a place as immaculately decadent as this.
The massive den was only enhancedby the huge black sofa that sat in the middle facing the hugehearth that was surrounded by that gorgeous floor-to-ceilingpointed window. What I would give to be able to curl up on thatsofa and read a good book. I imagined myself getting lost betweenthe pages while the warm fire crackled in front of me. The matchingend tables sported decorative objects that went with the generaltheme of the room. The whole feel of the room screamed cozyintimacy.
I expected to see Melonie in therecurled up on the couch but she was nowhere to be seen. Shrugging tomyself, I continued down the hall toward my room. Maybe she went toher and Anna’s room for the night.
