Total pages in book: 143
Estimated words: 132834 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 664(@200wpm)___ 531(@250wpm)___ 443(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 132834 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 664(@200wpm)___ 531(@250wpm)___ 443(@300wpm)
“I have a few conditions,” Finn said, his emerald eyes hard.
Griffen raised an eyebrow and waited.
Chapter Five
SAVANNAH
“I need a starter budget to replace the spices in the pantry and get some tools to reorganize.”
“How much?” Griffen asked, eyes narrowing on Finn. I don’t think he’d expected a shopping list to be one of Finn’s conditions. Neither had I.
Finn named a number that wasn’t low, but wasn’t unreasonable.
“Fine.” Griffen’s eyes flashed to me, and I nodded, making a note. “What else?”
“I’m not serving at the table. I stay in the kitchens.”
Griffen digested that demand slowly before saying, “Fine. Anything else?”
“Savannah doesn’t serve dinner either. We can train Kitty or April to handle dinner service, or you can all serve yourselves.”
“I can serve dinner,” I insisted, knocked off balance. What did it matter if I served dinner to the family? Someone had to do it. It was part of my job.
Griffen stopped my protest. “Humor me,” he said before switching his attention back to Finn. “Why don’t you want Savannah serving dinner?”
Finn didn’t look at me when he answered. “Savannah’s day starts before dawn. The family isn’t finished with dinner until after seven-thirty. Savannah misses having dinner with Nicky every night and doesn’t officially get a break until it’s almost his bedtime. That’s bullshit.”
Griffen looked poleaxed. I could feel the same expression of blank shock on my own face. Mind reeling, I snapped my mouth shut. Finn was always around, in the gym, in the halls, leaving us random treats as the only evidence of his late-night kitchen invasions. We rarely spoke; when we did, it was always to fight. I hadn’t thought he was paying any real attention to me.
Griffen processed Finn’s bizarre request faster than I did. Raising an eyebrow, he asked me, “Would you prefer to skip the dinner service and eat with Nicky?”
I didn’t answer right away. I was usually forthright with Griffen. It should be easy to tell him the truth. Yes, I would absolutely prefer eating with my son over working in the dining room.
I loved this job—for the most part. Living on-site and having Nicky close by was ideal. I saw him more than I would if I worked full time in an office, but I missed our dinners together, and the dinner service was boring. I tried to grab a snack before, but most days I ended up starving, watching everyone else eat while I waited to grab a plate when they were done.
Finn’s eyes flashed to me, and he gave an impatient grunt. “She doesn’t want to work the dinner service, but she’ll have an allergic reaction if she admits something might be too much for her to handle.”
I narrowed my eyes at Finn, imagining I was one of Nicky’s superheroes who could blast laser beams from my eyes. He’d be ashes at my feet. Instead, I ground my teeth, torn between appreciating his uncharacteristic thoughtfulness and being irritated at his presumption. I could ask for a change in my duties if I needed one. I didn’t need Finn Sawyer to step in for me.
But you wouldn’t have asked, would you? Not in a million years. Because Finn is right. You’re incapable of refusing a challenge.
Damn him. I would definitely lose my job if I murdered Finn. He was an asshole, but Griffen was attached. Fine. Letting out a short breath, I gave Griffen my most professional smile. “I can handle the dinner service, but if I have the option, I’d prefer to end my day before dinner and eat with Nicky.”
“Done.” He shot an appraising look at Finn. “And I’m embarrassed Hope and I didn’t think of it sooner. We got used to you working long days when we were trying to get the house functional. But things are running smoothly.” A considering pause. “Smoothly enough,” he corrected, accounting for the regular power outages and ongoing plumbing issues. “You need a break.”
“I appreciate it,” I said. I turned my head to meet Finn’s amused gaze, my next words clearly forced through gritted teeth. “Thank you for the suggestion.”
Finn grinned back at me. He knew exactly how annoying it was that he was the one to do me this favor. That was twice now. First that hug when Oliver’s mother had texted, and now this. I should be grateful, but this was Finn. Even when he was being nice, I wanted to smack him.
Turning back to Griffen, he said, “Everyone can get their own lunch today, but I’ll have something for dinner tonight. It’ll be basic, but better than ordering pizza.”
“All right,” Griffen answered, a curious light in his eyes as he studied his younger brother. Finn squirmed the tiniest bit under that look.
“Are we done here?” he demanded, his chin lifting, dark hair sliding across his forehead.
Griffen nodded and watched Finn stalk out of the room. Turning to me, he sat back in his chair, his head tilting to the side as he looked at the ceiling. “Is it just me, or did he seem less pissed off than he should be?”