Page 8 of Make Her Mine
“Shut up.” I walked away to the kitchen to get a drink and opened the fridge, my eyes landing on Dad’s beer. I was keyed up and had no idea how to take it down a few notches, so I took one of Dad’s beers and popped the top, taking a long sip, then choking on the bitter taste. “Yuck.”
Darleen looked around the corner to see me with the can in my hand. “You better finish that.”
I walked over to the sink and poured out the remainder. “I’ll leave a buck for him under the magnet on the fridge. This stuff is so gross. I don’t see how you guys drink it.”
Darleen went to grab an apple off the counter. “That’s ’cause you’re a kid still, Ella. One day you’ll understand why people drink alcohol and have sex.”
“Darleen, you’re quite possibly the worst big sister in the history of big sisters.” Watching her eat the apple, I had to know more about what Brandon had said about me. “Was there anything else he said?”
“He said you and I were like night and day.” She took another big bite as she nodded. “Me being the day. Like… I’m nicer than you.”
My foot began to tap, my arms crossed over my chest. “So, what?”
“Youasked, Ella.” She walked over to the fridge and got a bottle of water. “Seriously, don’t make a fool out of yourself over those guys. They’re way out of your league. Maybe, before they were loaded, you could’ve stood a chance, but now that they’ve got money—well, there’s no way now.”
An even more intense heat filled me as I glared at my sister. “Oh, butyouhave a chance?”
Laughing, she walked out of the kitchen and reclaimed her seat on the couch. “Probably, but I don’t crap where I eat, if you know what I mean.”
I grimaced. “That’s just disgusting, Darleen. You’re saying that you wouldn’t go out with any of them because you live under their roof?”
“Correct.” She laid the apple core on the coffee table, then lay on the couch again. “I’m going to take a nap. School wore me out today. We did a canine autopsy; it was mind-numbing.”
The door opened, and Mom looked at me as she wiped the sweat off her forehead. “There you are. I’ve been calling your cell for thirty minutes, Ella Finley. Tasha called in sick, and Chef Todd needs you in the kitchen to serve dinner.”
I checked the cell in the pocket of my apron and found it on silent. “To them?” I shrieked. “Mom, no! Please!”
“Yes, youhaveto do it. It’s their first meal here, and I want it to be grand.” She pulled a napkin out of the pocket of her apron and wiped more sweat off her brow. “I’m helping Todd with the cooking; you need to serve. In my closet, there’s a server’s uniform. Put that on and get your butt to the kitchen, ASAP. The appetizer is ready, and I’ve told the men to get seated in the dining room.”
Darleen sat up, and for a second, I thought she would volunteer for the job. “Mom, why do you have a server’s uniform in your closet?”
“Never mind, nosy.” Mom gave me a quick shake of her finger. “Ella, you hurry now. If I have to come find you, it’ll be your hide, young lady.”
“You’d spank me?” I couldn’t believe it. “Are you serious?”
“Our jobs are on the line, girl. I’m serious. Now scurry!” Mom left, leaving the door open, footsteps thumping as she ran down the hall back to the kitchen.
Looking at Darleen, I began to beg, “Darleen, please do it. I’ll give you anything you want. You really liked the necklace I got from Grandma this Christmas; you can have it if you do this.”
“Um,” she pursed her lips contemplating my offer, and then her eyes set on mine. “No way in hell. I need a snooze. And you better hurry up.”
I hated the fact she no longer needed to keep a job at the estate. “What a selfish piece of work you are, Darleen.” I ran to Mom and Dad’s bedroom and found the outfit, a short black skirt and white button-down shirt. And then I saw the high heels that went with it. Mr. Gentry always made everyone wear what he calledproper attirefor their jobs.
Carrying the stuff to my room, I found a pair of black pantyhose in my top drawer but pulled a rip in them right off the bat. Black stockings were part of the get-up. I went back to Mom’s room to see if she had another pair, and when I opened her top drawer, I found not pantyhose, but stockings—fishnet ones. But they were black, so I had no choice.
After getting changed, I looked at my reflection in the mirror and blushed. “I thought the maid attire was bad enough.”
Walking through the living room, Darleen’s eyes were closed, but she must’ve opened them because I heard her snickering. “Oh, hell.”
I lifted one hand, showing her my middle finger. “Thanks, big sis.”
“Be careful not to bend over too low, Ella. Your ass will be on display for sure if you do.” Her laughter followed me down the hallway as I went to the kitchen.
Todd nodded toward three bowls of salad. “There, Ella. Take the salads out. And see if they want something to drink. Be courteous.” He rolled his eyes as he pounded a piece of chicken to make it thinner. “What am I saying? And to whom?Tryto be nice, Ella.Please. Ourjobsdepend on it.”
“Fine,” I snapped and picked up a tray and put the bowls on it.
“Ella, you need to get the silverware,” Mom added. “Come on, honey, think.”
