Maid for Love (A Romantic Comedy) Read Free Page B

an excuse to move away from Michael, she walked over to the sofa where the two teens sat. “I’m the owner and I conduct the initial consultation. After I see how much has to be done, I schedule a crew to come out.” She left out the part about the return visit she always made to determine which painful memory to eliminate. There was no need for that part of the service on this job. It was more than obvious that Michael Archer had no recollection of her. At all.
    “Actually, that’s going to be a problem.”
    “Why is that, Mr. Archer?” She ran a finger lightly over a bookshelf, not because it looked particularly dusty, but because she needed an excuse to avoid looking at him.
    “Call me Michael.”
    His voice was deep and warm, she remembered the way it had made her feel safe and secure when she was with him. She waited for him to speak but when he said nothing, Zoe had no choice but to turn around.  “Why will that be a problem?”
    “I’m not entirely comfortable with having someone in my home when the kids are here and I’m not. Someone that I don’t know, I mean.”
    Zoe’s breath caught in her throat. She forced herself to meet his eyes. “You don’t know me.”
    To Zoe, it felt like a lifetime passed in the minute he took to answer.
    “I have a sense about people,” he finally said. “And I want you. I mean, I want you to be the one here in our home.”
    To her absolute shock, Zoe found herself nodding. “I think I can make that work.”
    He smiled.
    She panicked. What in the name of heaven had she just agreed to? She had to get out of the room. She turned to his niece. “Kathryn, do you think you could show me around?”
    During the tour of the house, Zoe figured out two things in short order. One, she could think far more clearly when Michael wasn’t in the same room with her. Two, she could easily take on this job. The house, underneath the clutter and mess that only two teens could make, was actually very clean. So she’d be able to get in and out in record time and collect the generous fee that her mother had charged Michael. All she had to do was schedule a time to come and tidy up when he was at work.
    She found Michael sitting in the living room with his nephew. She paused in the doorway, her eyes greedily drinking in his profile. She’d missed him. No question about that. But she hadn’t realized just how much.
    He turned and looked directly at her.
    Zoe felt her face flush.
    “So what do you think?”
    What could she say? I think I’m an idiot for letting you go. But wait, maybe I’m a genius for saving myself from a lifetime of feeling out of control, head over heels in love with you. Instead she sighed.
    “That bad, huh?”
    She shook her head. “No. I can do this.”
    He smiled. “Good.”
    “I’ll start tomorrow,” she said. “What time do you leave for work?”
    “Eight.”
    Great. She’d show up after nine when he would be safely gone. “That works.” She waved goodbye to Kathryn and Josh. “It was nice to meet you both.”
    Michael stood. “I’ll show you out.”
    Zoe followed him to the door, willing herself to keep it together until she could make it to the car. “Goodbye, Mr. Archer,” she called over her shoulder as she made her way down the flagstone path.
    “Wait, Zoe, don’t you remember?”
    She froze. Reluctantly she forced herself to turn around. “Remember what?”
    “Call me Michael.”
    ***
    Michael had what could best be described as a fitful sleep and his mood the next morning reflected his lack of shut eye. “Has anyone made coffee yet?” he asked as he stumbled into the kitchen.
    His niece and nephew exchanged amused glances.
    “What’s so funny?” he demanded.
    “What’s the matter, Uncle M? Were you up late last night thinking about Zoe?”
    He frowned. “No, Kathryn, I wasn’t.” Not technically. He’d been awake all night thinking about what an idiot he’d been to ever let her go. Although, he rationalized as he turned on