Page 61 of Exposed

“But…”

“Nigel.”

“But she likes it. Sabotage turned glorious surprise! Brooklyn likes me. She said so. She appreciates me. Let me at least get the temperature just right.” He turned the spigot back on.

This was the weirdest thing I’d ever witnessed in my life.

“I’m so sorry,” Matt mouthed silently at me.

I just shrugged. Honestly, this was all very entertaining. “So you’re Tanner’s assistant?” I asked Nigel.

“Houseboy.”

“A houseboy?”

“You got a problem with that?”

I laughed. “No. I just…I’ve heard that term before. That’s what Isabella wanted.” I turned to Matt. “For you to be her houseboy.”

“You want to be like me?” Nigel said. He abandoned the tub and walked right up to Matt. Really close. Way too close.

“Isabella was a crazy person,” Matt said.

“I can teach you all my ways. It’s always important to be prepared. Like the key thing. I stole your key in your sleep to make a duplicate. And then I lied. Because lies are also important to safeguard your master’s secretses. You must also demand time off. Because time off accumulates over the years. Don’t tell Master Tanner, but I only work three hours a week. Oh, and you must blend into the walls. No orange clothing.”

“You just learned that last thing over the weekend,” Matt said.

“Good houseboys are always learning what their masters want. Come with me. I’ll show you my journal. We’ll be houseboys together. Excuse me, Brooklyn,” he said. “I’ll need him for the rest of the night. And the next few days. I have so many lessons. And so little work to do otherwise. This will be my new special project. Because I just finished my last one.”

There was so much to unpack there. “What was your last project?” I asked.

“My renovations.”

“Did you buy a property and restore it too?”

“I like that you ask me questions, Mistress Brooklyn. Yes. Another one of the reasons I have a key. Because neighbors have keys. And I’m your new neighbor. I bought the house next door.”

“What?” Matt said. He sounded very annoyed.

But Nigel just beamed up at him, nodding.

I’d remembered seeing a sold sign out front when Tanner first brought me here. I’d thought that was the house he was letting me stay in. “The house to the right?”

“Yes. And don’t worry. I’ll put a door in between our houses. Better to serve you that way.”

“Oh…I don’t think that’s necessary…”

“Of course it is. Much easier than using a key. This way it’ll be more like one big house. For all three of us.” He sighed. “I mean four. Mr. Jacob,” he said and stared at my son.

Jacob stuck his tongue out again.

Where had he learned that? “Jacob, be sweet.”

“Mr. Nigel started it.”

I had a feeling that was true. But still.

“Shall I strip you for your bath now, Mistress Brooklyn?” Nigel asked.

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