A big smile spread across his lips. “I just wanted to tell you I love you and I’m happy you’re here.”
The way he said those words—I love you—so easily, like he’d said them a thousand times before, surprised me. We’d never said that to one another, and even though I’d only known him for about a week, I loved him as much as I could any man.
“You love me?”
He nodded. “I do love you, Maddie. I didn’t realize it until this morning when I thought I might lose you. All of a sudden, life felt empty without you, and I knew it wasn’t just your sugar cookies.”
“I love you too, Eric. I know this whole thing has happened at warp speed and I know most people would say we’re not in love, but—“
Pulling me to him, he stopped my talking with a kiss that nearly took my breath away. “I don’t care what anyone thinks or says, Maddie. You make me happy, and if I do the same for you, then that’s all that matters.”
I looked up into his beautiful blue eyes gazing down at me like I was the most important thing in the world to him and I felt loved. He was right. That’s all that mattered.
“You do make me happy. I guess there is such a thing as love at first sight,” I said with a smile.
“I never believed it before, but I guess there is. What do you say to me telling Jack to run the restaurant again today and you and I spend the day together?”
“Can you do that?”
He smiled. “Of course I can. I’m one of the owners. And Jack has left me alone dozens of times for far less.”
“What are you going to tell him is the reason why you aren’t coming back today?” I asked as he took my hand in his and began to lead me down the hall to his bedroom.
Eric stopped and kissed me softly on the lips. “I’m going to tell him to mind his own business, and if he asks again, I’ll tell him the truth. I’ve fallen in love with the woman who was supposed to be a cook for a man who never eats at home. He won’t understand, but he probably won’t ask again.”
As strange as that answer sounded, it wasn’t wrong. I’d been sent to Eric’s home to cook for him, even though he never needed a cook. For whatever reason, Mr. DeVille had gotten this job wrong. I didn’t hold it against him, though. He couldn’t be right all the time.
* * *
So Eric Pierce, a man who came to me looking for a maid, got what he truly needed. He thought if he could have someone keep things tidy in his home that would make him happy, but as always, I knew better. You see, the human soul isn't a difficult thing to understand. Not for me, at least. I knew the moment I met him what he truly needed was someone to make him understand that all work and no play makes for a very dull life.
Maddie was just that someone. No, she couldn't cook, but I hadn't convinced him to hire a cook so he would eat at home. One glance at her and her sweet nature, and I knew she'd be perfect for him. Then it was just a matter of making him jealous and then making him think he'd lost her to nudge him to the realization that what he needed was her.
As I said, the human soul isn't difficult to read. You all want the same thing. I just do what I can to supply it. And in return, I ask for nothing. Well, that’s not true, but I ask for nothing most won’t willingly give up.
Love is worth it, right?