LITMIR.BIZ

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rhythm against the rocks.

      The view was majestic and the house itself was breathtaking. Every room was huge, open and appealing in an earthy, masculine way. Brown leather furniture and burnished wood decorated every room and the dark red ceramic tiles in the halls were a dramatic statement. Sadie’s favorite spot was the Spanish-style, enclosed courtyard. Three sides of the house surrounded an outdoor living area, complete with comfortable furniture, a bar and kitchen. Terra-cotta pots held a wide variety of plants and the area provided a wonderful view of the ocean.

      Today, though, she really didn’t have the time to luxuriate in the place itself. She had a cranky baby in the backseat and a ton of things to unload.

      Ethan came around and opened her car door. The baby chose that moment to scream her fury and Ethan winced. “How does she hit those notes?”

      “It’s a gift.”

      “Why don’t you take her inside? I’ll get the gardener and some of his guys to empty out the cars.”

      Huffing out a breath, Sadie accused, “You’re just trying to avoid touching her, aren’t you?”

      “See why I hired you?” he countered. “You’re smart.”

      “Right.” This did not bode well for Ethan and Emma. If he avoided the baby every chance he got, he’d never adapt to the new situation. Yes, he’d paid Sadie a lot of money to hang around until he got things settled. But she was going to make sure that he did at least half the baby care.

      She got the little girl out of the car seat, plopped her on one hip and headed for the front door. Ethan wasn’t too far behind her, but when she opened the front door and walked inside, they all stopped dead.

      Alice, Ethan’s housekeeper, was standing in the entryway, arms folded across her abundant chest and a frown etched deeply into her features. Really, Alice defied stereotypical logic. Looking at her round body and bright blue eyes, most people would have guessed her to be as kind as Mrs. Claus. Nothing could be further from the truth. Sadie had never understood why Ethan kept such an unpleasant woman working for him. It probably helped that he was rarely at home and so wasn’t exposed to her much.

      Alice’s eyes narrowed accusingly on the baby. “I’m the housekeeper,” she said flatly. “I don’t take care of children.”

      “Fine,” Ethan said, pushing Sadie farther inside so he could step past her.

      “I mean it.” Alice lifted her chins and sniffed. “I’ve got my routine and I won’t have it upset by an infant.”

      Sadie had never really liked Alice. No surprise there, since the woman was cold and distant. On those rare occasions when Ethan was here, in his own house, Alice behaved like he was an interloper. Normally, she had the run of the mansion on the cliffs. She was alone here more often than not and Sadie had a feeling it was only Ethan’s inherent hatred of change that had kept him from firing the woman.

      “I said fine,” Ethan repeated. “Fernando and some of his guys are bringing the baby’s food and—” he waved a hand to indicate everything else they’d dragged along “—stuff to the kitchen. Did the furniture for her room show up?”

      “It did,” Alice said, her mouth flattening into a grim line of displeasure. “Those men tracked dirt all over my floors and made a racket for nearly an hour.”

      Ethan just looked at her. “So her room’s ready.”

      “It is, just don’t expect me to clean up after an infant.”

      Sadie took a breath and clamped her mouth shut to avoid telling Alice exactly what she thought of her. Holding the baby a little closer as if to protect her from the nastiness, she watched Ethan and saw a flash of anger in his eyes. It was a wonder Alice didn’t bother to notice it, as well.

      “I’m a housekeeper, not a babysitter,” Alice said again.

      “I heard you the first time,” Ethan said, and Sadie heard the warning in his tone.

      “As long as you remember it,” the woman snapped. “Now, I’ll be having my dinner in my kitchen. As I didn’t know you’d be home, or bringing along company—” her gaze swept over Sadie and the baby dismissively “—I didn’t prepare a meal for you. I’m not a babysitter and I’m not a cook.”

      “Here’s something else you’re not,” Ethan interrupted. “Employed.”

      “I beg your pardon?” Alice bleated.

      “You should,” Ethan retorted, “but I doubt you really are. You’re fired. Get your stuff and get out.”

      “What?” Sadie said.

      She couldn’t believe this. For years, she’d thought he should get rid of Alice. But to do it today? When everything was already in turmoil? What had happened to “change is bad”?

      Alice’s whole body stiffened as if someone had shoved a pole down the back of her grim black dress. Clearly indignant, she lifted her chin and glared at Ethan. “I see no reason for this—”

      Ethan took a step closer to her and the woman backed up. Alice was in no physical danger and she had to know that, but seeing Ethan’s temper was so rare, it was startling when it finally appeared.

      “This is my house, Alice. Not yours,” he said. “Something you seem to have forgotten over the years.”

      “I don’t know what you mean...”

      “Yes, you do.” Ethan loomed over her, using his height as an intimidation factor. “Do you really think I haven’t noticed that you’ve crowned yourself queen of my house?”

      The woman’s eyes darted from side to side as if looking for an escape—but she didn’t find one.

      “I’ve been willing to put up with your attitude because, frankly, you didn’t matter enough to make a change. But that ends now,” Ethan told her. “This is my house. And I’ll run it however the hell I want to run it. And I’ll hire someone who’s more concerned with her job than she is with pretending she’s the lady of the manor.”

      Alice sputtered and Sadie ducked her head to hide a smile. She really shouldn’t be pleased about this, but Alice had had this coming for a long time. Plus, Ethan was the sexiest show she’d ever seen. Anger rippled off him in hot waves, yet he spoke so quietly, so coolly. It was the contrast, really, that was making Sadie feel as if her nerve endings were electrified.

      Well, that and the look in his eyes. The man was so hot that smoke should have been lifting off the top of his head. He was definitely her weakness.

      “You owe me two weeks’ salary,” Alice snapped.

      “You’re right.” Ethan started for the stairs, already putting the awful woman in the past. “Leave an address on the entry table and I’ll mail you a check and a severance bonus.”

      “A bonus?” Sadie said quietly, as she followed after him.

      “It’s worth it,” Ethan muttered.

      “See?” Sadie countered, her voice as quiet as his. “Like I told you. Not all change is bad.”

      He shot her a look. “Save it.”

      By the time they got the baby settled in her room, Ethan was even more on edge. He’d fired his housekeeper, been saddled with a baby and his assistant had resigned.

      “Hell of a day,” he muttered.

      “A long one, anyway,” Sadie agreed. “At least the baby’s room looks beautiful. Well, except for that beige paint. That should be changed to something a little more girlie.”

      “I’m not having a pink room in my house,” he argued, walking down the stairs behind her. His gaze dropped to the curve of her butt and his hands itched to grab hold and squeeze. Actually, what he really wanted to do was get her out of her work clothes, stretch her out

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