“Twenty-eight…” She gasped. “It’s untoward. Positively rubbish to give a woman less than a month to plan a wedding. A Pennington wedding, no less.”
Nile grinned. “And yet, we have every faith in your ability to make such a thing not only a possibility, but a guarantee. Now, if you will excuse me, I’m going to show Ms. Dawson to her room. I expect you’ve had it prepared in advance as I requested.”
“Of course. It offends you’d even give it a second thought. I take care of my boys and this estate.” She lifted her chin haughtily.
“And you do so well, Governess.” Noah went over to her and took her into his arms for a hug. She embraced him fully for a moment before she patted him on his chest and stepped away as if she was a bit uncomfortable with the public display of affection.
“I’m not sure I understand fully what the two of you have gotten yourselves into this time, but I’m glad you are home. I suggest all of you rest. We’ll be discussing this wedding business in further detail over dinner. Eight o’clock sharp. And, Ms. Dawson, please do dress appropriately for dinner,” she warned, her gaze running up and down my body with clear distaste.
I nodded, not knowing what else to do. I wanted to tell her that these clothes were worth more than anything I’d ever owned in my life, but for some reason I knew she wouldn’t care in the slightest. This place, the limo, the private jet…the Penningtons were far richer than I even could have imagined. More reason for me to ensure I did whatever was necessary to win over the grumpy old lady who seemed to have a motherly level of clout over both men.
“Um, she’s…nice?” I tried as Nile led me up the grand staircase and turned to the left to another staircase that led down a long hall filled with doors.
He chuckled softly. “Nice is not what you’d call a woman like Eudora Bancroft. Poised would be a more fitting term.”
“She was definitely that,” I mumbled, the exhaustion of travel seeping into my bones making me feel extremely drowsy.
Nile came to a stop in front of a door where I found that my bags had already been brought up. I hadn’t even seen the staff come up the stairs.
Freaky.
“I’m going to leave you to rest. If you want something to eat, just pick up the phone. The household staff will handle any request you might have.” He pointed across the room. “Toilet is there, wardrobe there.”
I nodded, kicking off my shoes and yanking off my jacket.
“I’ll bid you farewell for now. We’ll talk more at dinner. And don’t worry about Ms. Bancroft. She’ll warm up over time.” He smiled softly, his gaze going to my lips as though he would kiss me again. I held my breath in the hopes that he might, surprised at how much I would enjoy the simple reassurance .
Instead, he bowed slightly, closed the door, and left.
Needing sleep more than I needed anything, I finished stripping off my clothes until I was naked and then slipped into the huge bed. The voluminous, satin-like fabric slipped along my bare skin like a soothing balm.
That woman is never going to like me, I thought as the lack of sleep tugged at my senses. I’m going to have to figure out something to get on her good side or all of this will go to hell in a handbasket. I rubbed at my face, yawned deeply and closed my eyes, and promptly passed out.
Episode 32
Love at First Sight
DAKOTA
An inferno blazed around me as I slowly started to wake from what felt like a decade’s worth of sleep. Heat surrounded my body—down my back, legs, and even at the crook of my neck. It was the kind of incredible, snuggly warmth that made you want to stay in bed for that extra fifteen minutes, or forever, ultimately making you late for work. On a farm, the second you woke you were already late, so I didn’t much care about missing the horse feeding schedule by fifteen minutes. Even though Ma’s old horse Marigold would show her irritation with chuffs and kicks against the dirt when I arrived. Blasted animal gave stronger side-eye than I did, and that was something to see.
As I blinked open scratchy eyes, I realized the heat was not a blanket—well, not in the conventional sense. It was Sutton. My husband. The man had taken his enormous body and wedged himself not only against my back, but had me curved to the side where he’d planted his giant tree trunk of a thigh across my leg, keeping me in place. His chest covered my form from butt to shoulders, and he had his face tucked against my neck. I could feel the puff of air from his nose against my skin as he slept. One of his arms was wrapped fully around me, under his discarded T-shirt I’d pilfered last night, and was currently holding my breast in the palm of his hand.