Summer’s eyes narrow and her back straightens. “I will when I get inside. I’m the new housekeeper and I was told to come to the side entrance.”

“The instructions did not say to unload your damn car so put the box down. I’ll unlock the door when you do.”

“I’d like to carry my own boxes in and who are you anyway?”

“I’m the owner and if you can’t follow a simple order like the one I just issued then you can take your kid and leave.”

She tilts her head and tightens her jaw, not liking what she’s hearing and for a hot, terrifying second, I think she’s going to flee, but I don’t back down because if I lose this battle, I’m not going to last a day with her inside my house. I have to be tough and mean and a complete bastard so that she both hates me and fears me. I can’t have any of that summer sweetness directed toward me. Like a true asshole, I’m banking on the hope I’m her last ditch opportunity. Who else would move to this tiny town in the middle of nowhere to work for a man with a specific set of rules? Stay out of the East wing at all times except on Tuesdays when you are allowed to clean all parts of it except for the bedroom. That’s off limits. No venturing into the warehouse in the back. That’s also off limits. Don’t look directly at the owner of the house. Don’t speak to him without being spoken to first. Don’t be shocked if he has no lights on even at the dinner table. Learn to enjoy candlelight at all times.

Those are weird fucking rules, and only the truly desperate would agree to abide by them. When she heaves a deep sigh and pastes a plastic smile on her face, I see the truth. She is desperate. Just how desperate is she? My cock swells in eagerness. Hopefully, it thinks, really fucking desperate.

I’m a degenerate and an asshole. I slam the unlock button and the door slides open. Come into my web, says the spider to the fly.

4

Summer

Colby stares at me with wide eyes. I soften my features so that he doesn’t worry.

“Come on. Don’t you want to see the castle?”

He’s been going on about it since we pulled up and he got his first real look at it. The place really is breathtaking. It always has been, but since the new owner took it over and gave the place some attention it looks like it is coming back to life. If they added some colorful flowers out front, I might even call it welcoming.

Colby‘s eyes flick back to the box where the angry man’s voice came from. He’s not looking so sure about all this since that jerk scared him.

“I don’t think he wants us to come in.” He takes a small step back.

Shit. If I wouldn't lose my job I’d march inside that house and wring that man’s neck with my bare hands. Colby has had enough instability in his life. This is supposed to be a fresh start, and I refuse to let the man behind the box ruin it.

“The box,” I remind him with a gentle whisper. “Don’t you think we should take it inside?” He nods his head, suddenly remembering. I adjust the box against my hip so I can hold my other hand out for Colby to take and he steps inside with me.

I suck in a sharp breath when the door closes shuts behind us on its own. As though we are being locked inside some sort of prison. I’m thankful that Colby is looking forward and misses it. Thank God. I almost peed myself. He would have nightmares. I think that jerk did that on purpose. I’m not so sure I’m doing the right thing anymore but I don’t really have another option.

I did this to keep Colby safe. That’s not going to work if he’s scared of this place. “Here. Let’s get some light in here.” I set the box down next to Colby’s feet, letting his hand go. I don’t see a light switch, but there is a small amount of it still coming from outside through both sides of the door. I walk over, grabbing the curtain and giving it a pull. The room floods with warm light.

“Wow,” Colby says. I walk to the other side and do the same with that window.

“Yeah, wow,” I agree with him, coming back to his side. The whole entryway is a beautiful white marble. Right in the center is a staircase that leads up to the next floor, but it stops midway and parts so you can go up either side and then meet again at the top landing. I drop my head back to look up at the giant chandelier that sparkles when the light hits it just right. I’m sure it’s more breathtaking when you actually turn the light on.

“It really is a castle. I thought it was like the time you told me reindeers were real but it was really just a dog with a new nose.” He touches the tip of his nose.

That was a lovely day at the mall we had last year. I drove into the city to take him to see Santa. He ended up pulling the dog's nose off and made all the other kids cry in horror. A security guard suggested we leave. Colby suggested he not be a bully to me before he threw the nose at the man’s head.

“I was just as shocked at that revelation as you.” He rolls his eyes at me but smiles. “Come. I think the kitchen is that way. I need to grab some stuff Tina left, and then we’ll find our quarters.”

Colby reaches into his pocket, pulling out two quarters and a dime. He puts the dime back in his pocket and tries to hand me the quarters, making me laugh.

“You keep those, Bub. I mean we’ll find where we’ll be staying.” I snag the box off the ground to head toward the kitchen.

“Is this a restaurant?” Colby asks as we enter the massive kitchen.

“It is big enough to feed an army.” It all has been clearly updated, but they left a touch here and there of the historical parts “See, back when this was built I’m sure the owners entertained many people with parties and so on. The home would have been full of life with people coming and going. I bet this kitchen was fully staffed.” I gaze around, my eyes going to the windows that line the other wall to outside. It’s such a waste.

A small meow comes from the inside of my box, reminding me we need to get a move on. I sit the box down on the counter and venture around the giant island in the center of the kitchen in search of a pantry.

When I find it, I’m happy to see it’s fully stocked. I grab a couple cans of tuna before picking the box back up along with the folder Tina left for me. Colby is wandering around the kitchen looking curiously at everything.

Startled, I jerk around to look down the long hall that leads out of the back of the kitchen to the east side of the home. I stand silent for a moment, almost positive I heard something. The hallway fades to darkness at the end with no lights on. I stand there wondering if it was him or if my mind is playing games with me. Tina said don’t be surprised if he’s never around. He enjoys his space. Plus, there is that long list of rules that pretty much tell me that I won’t be seeing him.

After our introduction minutes ago, that sounds perfect to me. Still, curiosity has me wondering about the angry man that hides away from the rest of the world. It sounds lonely, if you ask me. I’d probably be angry too. Colby walks over toward me, taking my hand and looking down the long, empty hallway.

“It’s creepy.” He leans into my side.

“How so?” He shrugs, looking up at me. I drop down on my knees to be eye level with him, running my fingers through his short dark hair.