An Heir for the Billionaire Werebears(5)

I looked at their strong, tall bodies with their broad shoulders and toned upper arms. I believed it. It took a lot more fuel to run one of those than my more petite body.

I sat down and spooned up some stir-fried broccoli and shiitake mushrooms onto my plate. I took some of the salad, the smallest filet mignon, and a potato skin.

The boys fixed their own plates, and we all dug in. We didn't talk very much as we stuffed our faces with the delicious food fit for kings.

I knew that I could get used to eating like this.

At the end of dinner, when my plate was clean and the boys had polished off everything in the dishes on the table, Asher went to the oven. He pulled out a pan of brownies. They smelled absolutely divine.

I looked at it, put a hand on my stomach, and groaned.

"I can't eat another bite."

"That's fine," Xavier told me. "I can."

Asher took out a tub of vanilla gelato from the freezer. I watched in disbelief as they scarfed down the pan of brownies a la mode. If a normal human tried to eat that many calories, I am pretty sure that they would throw up. I know I would have if I had tried to match their pace during dinner.

In no time at all, the brownies and gelato were gone. Asher put everything in the sink.

"Our housekeeper comes in the morning. You'll meet her tomorrow."

"Okay."

My eyelids were beginning to drift downward. I was so full, and I had had a big day.

"You're falling asleep in your chair," Asher said fondly. He tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. "I'll take you to bed."

"I can walk," I protested, my voice muzzy. "I can do it."

"Allow me," Asher said. He picked me up tenderly, wrapping his arms around me, keeping me safe and secure. He took me up the stairs swiftly and steadily, staring into my face the whole time. His gorgeous face took my breath away.

When we got to the Rose Room, he put me down on the bed, turned down the covers, and then pulled me to the edge.

"Arms out."

If I were awake, I might protest, but it was hard to muster the will. I raised my arms. He took off my dress, unzipping me and pulling it off. Then he put me into my freshly turned down bed. The sheets were cool and smooth against my legs.

I should thank him. But somehow, sleep overtook me before I could.





Housekeeper





When I woke up, the sun was shining. There were birds chirping outside of my window. Assholes. I didn't want to be awake yet. I felt like I was part of a giant, fluffy cloud. I didn't want to move an inch. My eyes went around my room.

Where was I?

Yesterday came back. Right. I was in the Rose Room, not my own tiny little apartment.

I could smell something. It was like bacon. After a half second, I realized it was bacon.

I brushed my teeth, cleansed my face, and brushed my hair quickly. With a single coat of mascara, I pretended that I had on enough makeup, even though no girl in LA walked around bare-faced. There were too many perfect beach bunnies. I walked downstairs quickly.

"Good morning."

There was a matronly woman. She was loading the dishwasher with all the dishes and pans from last night.

She came to me, her hand out. "I'm Gaia. I'm their housekeeper. You must be the newest addition to the household."

I shook her hand. "I'm so pleased to meet you. Your breakfast smells great."


"Asher and Xavier have already eaten. Yours is on a plate in the toaster oven." She pulled out a heavy plate with bacon. There was an omelette on it.

"Is that spinach, mushroom, tomato, and feta? How did you know what I like?"

"Psychic." She winked at me.

"I think you really are," I said slowly. "There's no way that you could know this."

"It's a pretty useless gift, as far as talents go. If I could direct it, I would try to find tomorrow's lottery numbers." She laughed. "It just happens randomly that I'll know something with certainty. I'm glad you like it."

She squeezed some oranges right then and there to make me fresh juice, and then she took the plate to the table, which already had a fork and knife waiting. I dug in. She had put garlic and butter into these eggs. It made my favorite food even better than it normally was. I loved it. I loved her already, because she fed me awesome food. I ate slices of delicious bacon as the end of my meal, closing my eyes as I savored the salty crispness.

She was wiping down the counter. I rinsed my plate off in the sink, and I put it in the full dishwasher. I closed it. I couldn't find the start button.

"It's inside of the dishwasher," she said. "Here, let me."

She opened the dishwasher. There was a panel of buttons on top. She pressed start, and then she closed it.

"Wow," I said, blinking. "This house is so futuristic."

"You get used to it. Don't worry."

I shook my head.

"Do you know when Xavier and Asher will be back?"

"They come back after I leave. I leave around noon. I clean during the morning. If you have laundry, just drop it in the hamper in the laundry room. It's the first thing that I take care of after breakfast. Just put a note on something that should be dry cleaned, and I will take care of drop off and pick up at the dry cleaners. I have a debit card for household expenses."