Then came the cleaning.
She had the choice of a house bot, but where was the fun in that?
Each morning, she opened the shutters to the lake’s changing moods. Then she tidied the lodge room by room, scrubbing marble floors, polishing handrails, and dusting shelves.
One afternoon, as she knelt in the front hall, working a brush over a stubborn patch of dirt on the tile floor.
She scoured until her arms ached, relishing the ache.
Dressed in her overalls, hair tied back, she sang under her breath, half-laughing at how ridiculous she must look, elbow-deep in soap and grit.
Until a shadow fell over her.
She glanced up, startled, to find Mak looming above her.
Drop head handsome in a dark Signet jumpsuit that accentuated his every sinewed muscle and thick boots.
Her heart jumped as his gaze locked onto her, taking in her soaked coveralls, soapy hands, and the damp strands of hair stuck to her flushed face.
She blinked, soul lurching, bracing for a reprimand.
Instead, he stepped forward and extended a hand, his touch gentle as he helped her to her feet.
He didn’t speak at first, only stared, an intense gleam in his eyes.
‘What’s this?’ he asked at last, voice hoarse.
Saba held up the dripping brush, her brow arching. ‘I am bored, Mak. I need to do something. Sitting around waiting for you to come back from work every day feels like a punishment.’
His jaw clenched, and emotion flickered behind his eyes, with curiosity, amusement, maybe even admiration.
‘Does it make you happy?’ he rasped.
‘It does,’ she said, lifting her chin.
His lips curved, and his gaze dropped over her figure with slow heat. ‘Then knock yourself out.’
Saba blinked, dumbfounded by the ease of his approval and the strange, unspoken truce that passed between them.
She dared a grin. ‘Do you like my overalls?’
His eyes flared.
‘Your coveralls. Your tits. That classy side boob.’ He stepped closer, voice dropping. ‘I like it a lot. Right now, you’re sexy asfokk.’
He bent his head in a mock bow and twisted on his heel, leaving her stunned, heart fluttering.
She stood still for a moment longer, then let out a shaky laugh and returned to her scrubbing, a small smile tugging at her lips.
Sentiment shifted, the ice between them thawing. Perhaps, even a new beginning.
In the afternoons, with most of her chores, Saba turned to her favorite pastime.
Books.
TheSombra’sgorgeous archives were where she delved into fiction, histories, and biographies.
She also researched her husband’s business.
