Training the Help [Hedon Falls 3] (Siren Publishing Ménage and More) Read Free Page A

needed was to fall to pieces right here. Without paying much attention to where she was going, Sophie found herself back in the foyer. She glanced around and spotted a plush chair off to the side of a large fireplace. There wasn’t anyone else sitting nearby so she made her way over and sank down into the comfortable depths.
    She had been staring blankly at the fire for a few minutes when a voice nearby said, “Excuse me, miss.”
    Sophie looked up to see a man in a suit standing before her. He had a hotel name tag pinned to his lapel. “Yes?” she responded.
    He held out a folded menu to her. “Mrs. Sullivan asked me to tell you that she will be a little while longer and to please go ahead and order something to eat,” he said.
    “Oh!” Sophie said, startled. “I don’t think that I—”
    “Mrs. Sullivan was quite insistent,” he responded. “We can bring the food to you here or if you would prefer to come to the dining room, we can arrange that, as well.”
    Taking the menu, Sophie barely glanced at it before ordering a Caesar salad and a club sandwich. She was just anxious to get rid of him. Maybe she should leave. They obviously were concerned that she couldn’t feed herself and she didn’t want their pity. She just wanted a job. Her food was delivered shortly and Sophie picked at it as she continued to stare into the fireplace. She decided to dig out her journal and write for a little bit to pass the time. She hadn’t been at it for long when a shadow fell across her shoulder. She looked up to see Mr. Sullivan standing beside her chair.
    “You haven’t eaten,” he said gruffly, pointing at the tray beside her.
    “I wasn’t particularly hungry,” Sophie said defensively. “I’m not starving, you know!”
    He exhaled and placed his hands on his hips. Sophie couldn’t help noticing how nicely he was built, with broad shoulders, a trim waist, and narrow hips, all shown off by his tailored suit that probably cost more than Sophie’s first car. She lifted her eyes to meet his and her breath caught in her throat. His eyes were a deep chocolate brown that matched his hair and they were framed by thick lashes. The reflection of the flames in his pupils was almost hypnotic.
    They stared at each other for a few moments, but Sophie pulled her gaze away first. “Sorry,” she said softly. “I just hate being pitied.”
    He pulled a chair up in front of hers and sat. He reached out, took hold of her chin, and turned her head to bring her eyes back up to his. When his hand made contact, a flash of heat travelled through Sophie and her stomach, and pussy, clenched.
    “What happened to your face?” he demanded.
    The question caught Sophie off guard. She reached up and touched the bruised spot on her cheek. She had tried to cover it with makeup that morning but obviously hadn’t done a good enough job.
    “I fell,” she replied. “And I banged my head on the doorframe.”
    When he continued looking at her, as though waiting for her to elaborate, she dropped her gaze. “My ex-boyfriend hit me with his elbow when I was standing too close behind him,” she admitted and glanced up to see a muscle twitching along his jaw. “It was an accident!” she added quickly. “I really was in the wrong place at the wrong time!”
    He eyed her for another moment before he nodded sharply. “We want to offer you the job, Sophie,” he said to her. “You have the necessary experience but Kendra also seemed to connect with you. We’d like you to start as soon as possible. Can we send a car to pick up your things so you can come back with us tonight?”
    Sophie couldn’t believe it. “Thank you, Mr. Sullivan! You won’t regret this!”
    He smiled warmly at her, with a look in his eyes that she couldn’t place. “Please call me Jack,” he responded. “And I know I won’t regret it.”

Chapter Three
     
    Sophie went back to her apartment with the driver to pack up her clothes and other essentials, only taking