Pendelton Manor Read Free Page A

with the hopes of someday returning to school to finish her degree in Interior Design, followed by simply getting through the days while coping with the crushing grief from losing her to an inoperable brain tumor. There had been no time or thought given to anything or anyone other than her daughter.
    “We’ve known the guys since high school,” Nora said wondering what had caused the brief glimpse of despair on Sophie’s face before she masked it. “We were just freshman, and the Pendeltons and James were the hottest seniors in school as well as coming from the most prominent family around.”
    Sophie smiled, remembering what it was like to have a crush on an older boy in high school. “It must be nice to have stayed friends all these years.” Remembering that Nora, Adam and James were more than friends, she felt herself blushing, again.
    Nora laughed, a knowing glint shining in her blue eyes. “Oh, the seven of us eventually became more than friends, as you saw earlier. You didn’t seem too flustered about walking in on a ménage. I hope that means we don’t have to curtail our fun for you.”
    Not wanting to start off on the wrong foot with anyone associated with her new employer, Sophie hastened to reply, “No, of course not. I mean, I’ll try to leave you some privacy in the future. I was just so shocked, you know?”
    “You’ll get used to it,” Nora said as Adam and James entered the room, each carrying a large suitcase.
    “Get used to what?” Adam asked as he set her bag on the bed.
    “Us.”
    “Oh, you haven’t seen anything yet, Sophie,” Adam replied, grinning mischievously. “Wait until Ash and Rachel return at the end of the week. Then you’ll really blush.”
    “Leave her alone you two. She’s got enough to deal with right now.” James set the bag he had brought up on the bed before also giving Sophie’s shoulder a friendly squeeze. “Do you know where Adrian’s office is?”
    “The first door to the right as I go back downstairs. Nora pointed it out to me. Thank you.” Sophie appreciated his intervention with Adam’s teasing. Her mind and body were still coming to grips with the scene she had watched and her physical reaction to their erotic play. She couldn’t imagine adding two more people into the foray nor did she want to think about coming across her boss engaged with Rachel or Nora. During her brief introduction to Adrian, she had felt a combination of fear and attraction, neither one a promising start to their working relationship. “I better get changed into a dry shirt and get down there before he becomes even more displeased with me.” She shuddered at the thought of his reaction if she was late for their meeting.
    “Don’t worry, Sophie,” Adam said as the three of them started out of her room. “Big cousin’s bark is worse than his bite. You’ll get used to him.”
    Fifteen minutes later, Sophie was hoping Adam was right as she knocked tentatively on the closed door to Adrian’s office five minutes early. Having changed into a dry shirt and dried her hair did little to warm her inside where she felt chilled at the thought of those cold black eyes.
    “Enter.” The unexpected anticipation and arousal Adrian felt at seeing his new housekeeper again was as welcome as a surprise snowstorm in April. He had neither the time nor the inclination to pursue any type of relationship, especially with an employee. He had thought replacing his previous, middle aged, married housekeepers with a younger, unattached woman would better the odds of her sticking around once she discovered the sexual goings on around here. A younger woman was apt to be more open minded, maybe even interested in participating, thus ensuring she stuck around here longer than a few weeks.
    What he hadn’t anticipated was his reaction to his new employee. Ever since Nicole’s death a year ago, he hadn’t wanted anything from any woman. The occasional blowjob from Nora or Rachel was enough for him