Page 37 of Finding Love

Brook held in a chuckle and when Edith stopped talking and everyone in the room glanced towards her, she realized that she must have chuckled out loud.

“Sorry, it’s just…” She wanted to stop herself from talking but couldn’t. “We’re only staying in the main bedroom and the sheets we slept on last night were perfectly fine,” she said to the staff, locking eyes with a very tall middle-aged gentleman.

Brook turned slightly and saw Edith’s eyes narrow even further. But instead of addressing her, Edith turned back to the staff and clapped her hands briskly.

“Go.” Edith waved them off and at least two of the staff members glanced at her first before shuffling away. Edith turned slowly towards her when they were alone. “I know you think that whatever was between you and James was special, but it’s over. This is your wake-up call.” She lowered her voice. “Pack your bag, take your mangy mutt and that tacky van that’s parked out front, and go back to whatever backwater town you came from.”

Brook smiled. She couldn’t help it. The entire situation was laughable. This apparently only pissed Edith off more.

Brook was used to dealing with the rich and famous. After all, several of Pride’s residents were world-renowned artists of some sort. None of them were stuck up like Edith was being.

“I believe you have things a little skewed,” Brook said, crossing her arms over her chest. “First and foremost, Willy isn’t my dog.” When Edith opened her mouth to talk, Brook held up her hand. “Second, that’s not my van out front. Third, I’m here because Ryder asked me to be. I will not be pushed out, even by someone like you. The only way I’d leave,” she said more slowly, “is if Ryder asked me to go himself.”

Brook noticed that every time she said Ryder’s name, Edith’s eyes squinted as if she’d heard a foul word. Edith had called him James instead of Ryder. Even Eva had called him that. She wondered just how many people in his life called him by the name he preferred?

“Last,” she continued, “and foremost, I believe it is you who are the uninvited guest. I’m sure Ryder doesn’t even know you’re here, bossing his employees around.” When Brook noticed Edith’s chin rise and a flush grow on her cheeks, she smiled. “So, until he invites you into his home, I’d request that you refrain from barging in here and making demands. I think you know where the door is and, unlike you, I don’t threaten to call the police.” She turned back towards the patio doors and threw over her shoulder, “I just call them.”

When she sat back down by Willy, the dog glanced up at her and smiled, as if he knew what she had just done inside.

“That nasty woman won’t be bothering us again.” She reached over and scratched the dog’s chin. “Go back to sleep. I know I’m going to enjoy another nap in the sun. I’ve earned it.” She stretched and tried to relax, but moments later, she returned inside. Edith was gone, but every staff member that had been ordered about by her was now rushing around the house doing as the woman had requested.

“Stop,” she said, gaining the attention of several of them. “Edith has no say here. Trust me when I say, Ryder wouldn’t want all this fuss.”

The man she’d locked eyes with earlier stepped forward.

“Miss, I’m Benjamin, head housekeeper.”

“Hello.” She gave the man a smile. “I’m Brook.”

He nodded. “Yes, Mr. Gallant informed us of your stay and that we were to give you anything you wish. What he failed to mention was Miss Montague’s status. Before he…left, it was Miss Montague we answered to. That status has yet to be withdrawn by Mr. Gallant,” he finished.

“I see.” Brook sighed and glanced around. Every staff member’s eyes were on her. Then her smile grew. “Fine, but let’s focus on one task first. Dinner.”

Benjamin smiled and nodded. “What did you have in mind?”

Two hours later, Brook descended the stairs in the little black dress she’d hastily packed. It wasn’t fancy, it wasn’t expensive, and she was pretty sure she’d purchased it sometime back in high school. Still, the dress fit like a glove.

Ryder was just walking in the front door and paused to look up at her.

“Wow,” he said with a smile. Then he noticed Willy at her feet and laughed.

She’d put one of Ryder’s bow ties around the dog’s neck and had fashioned a little tuxedo shirt and vest out of old clothes.

“What have you done to my dog?” Ryder asked, setting his laptop bag down on the table in the hallway.

“I made him into a gentleman.” She wrapped her arms around Ryder. “You’d do good to learn some style from him.” She smiled up at Ryder.

Ryder kissed her and held onto her. He took in a deep breath and released it.

“Rough day?” she asked.

“You don’t know the half of it,” he said into her hair.

“Oh?” She leaned back. “I met your ex-fiancée today.” She watched his response, which was a wince. She nodded. “It was as much fun as you can imagine.”

“Sorry,” he said softly.

“Don’t be.” She took his hand. “We have dinner waiting.”