Falling for his Step-Sister by Alie Garnett
Chapter Fifteen
Why hadhe thought that having a chef was a waste of money? He couldn’t imagine what it would have been like without Bea Bradford in the kitchen.
At this point, he was planning his life around meals. Today, lunch was chicken salad, and he was just enjoying her fluttering around, filling his glass, and getting him what he needed. Nobody else was there today; he was alone with her.
“Sit down,” he said for the sixth time. He really didn’t need her waiting on him.
He should have gone to work but couldn’t bring himself to do it that day. Just one more day without actually having to see his uncle was what he needed. Yesterday they’d had a two-hour-long strategizing meeting that was torture. So today, Jonas was home.
“My job is to not sit down.” She folded her arms across her chest as she glared at him across the table.
“Get the contract and point that out to me.” He waved a fork at the kitchen.
“It’s so ingrained; it’s not in the contract.”
“Sit down,” he bit out, tired of her excuses.
She rolled her eyes and did just that. She was as cute mad as she was happy. “Sitting.” Was her snarky reply.
“So, tell me about Bea Bradford.”
“Not much to tell.”
“How long have you been cooking?”
“Years. I don’t even remember when it started.”
“Where did you train?”
“France,” she mumbled.
“How long were you in France?”
“Three years.”
“Did you like it?”
“Loved it.”
“Why did you come back?”
“Family. I missed my family.”
“Your big family, right? Seven sisters?”
“Five full sisters and two stepsisters. They are my stepmother’s girls, and they’re in school still. The rest of us are grown; a few are even married.”
“Are you close?” Jonas smiled. He loved that she was opening up to him. He was finally learning a little about her.
“Yes. We all lived together until a few months ago, but then two have gotten married and moved out. But they’re happy, so I’m glad they’ve moved out. The house is too quiet when everyone is gone, though.”
“Where is everyone else? Aren’t there still a few of you at home?”
“Mom took her girls on vacation this week and next, and Lucy has been staying with her twin. Agatha was out for a few days. It was lonely there.”
“You could’ve stayed here. I could share my room with you.” He smirked, liking the idea.
“Jonas, no.” She shook her head and started to get up.
Taking her hand, he stopped her. “Can’t blame a guy for trying to protect a beautiful woman. Maybe you need to invite me home with you so that you’re not alone.”
“No. Besides, if you’re gone, who will protect Louisa?” she reminded him of one of the reasons he was there.
“That little twerp hasn’t even looked at her in a few days. I think the near-beating was enough.” Jonas was actually happy about that. He was tired of being on his toes, watching for teenage antics.
“I would doubt that. They’re probably just going behind your back and hiding it. I have six sisters, and if she’s anything like them, that’s what’s happening.” Bea shrugged, not hiding her smile at putting that thought in his head.
“You know how to make a guy feel good, don’t you?”
“Just calling it like I see it. How old is she, anyway?” Bea questioned, her fingers playing with the cuffs of her jacket.
“She recently turned nineteen. I wish Judith would let her be a kid; she’s smothering her,” Jonas admitted.
“Louisa doesn’t seem to care too much about it.”
“She hides it. I don’t think she likes her literature classes, though her mom won’t let her talk about anything else.”
“It’s just like …” She stopped and jumped up from the table, rushing into the kitchen and away from him.
Staring after her, he nearly got up and followed when Louisa herself wandered into the room. Had Bea realized she was there? That she was coming?
“Jonas, you’re home.” Louisa stopped and looked at him.
“No classes today?”
“Not so many. What’s for lunch?” She looked at his plate.
“Chicken salad.”
“Again? It’s okay, I’ll find something in the kitchen,” she stated and tried to walk past him.
“Sit. Bea will bring out something for you,” he said. She must be getting something. He was glad she had known the younger woman was coming into the room, so they stopped talking about her.
“You need to keep your distance, Jonas. Mom will fire her. She’s done it before. Do you want to be responsible for her losing her job?” Louisa asked.
“Judith won’t fire her. She had a hard time finding anyone.”
“Really? It took her four days to find someone, and mom said the woman begged her to hire her. Mom has something over Bea.” Louisa looked at the doors to the kitchen.
“I don’t think so.”
“Believe what you want.”
Before he could respond, Bea came back into the room with a water jug in her hands. Her eyes stopped on Louisa, and then she backed out of the room with wide eyes. Within moments, she was back with a plate just like the one she had given him.
“Sorry I wasn’t prompt, Louisa,” Bea apologized.
“That’s okay, Miss Bradford.” When she said the last bit, she looked at Jonas, probably reminding him to keep his distance.
“Anything else I can get you?” Bea asked them both.
“Can you get me some water and, uhm, can you take me out tonight?” Louisa blurted out.
“Of course. I know just the place.” Bea rubbed her hands together and added, “We can leave at eight. I just have to swing home to change.”
With that, Bea was out of the room. She forgot the water.
Jonas looked at his sister quizzically. “What was that about?”
“She’s my friend, and we are going out for some fun. I need to get out of this house.” Louisa pushed her plate away from her, then grabbed a chip and ate that.
“Weren’t you just telling me not to get too close to the staff?” He raised an eyebrow as he asked.
“I’m not trying to get into her pants like you are. I’m just using her as a friend to have some fun,” Louisa stated, grabbing another chip.
“Using?”
“Jonas, in no world would that woman and I be friends. We have nothing in common,” Louisa stated firmly, getting up and leaving the room.
Gathering up the plates, Jonas took them into the kitchen, but Bea was missing, and the room was empty. Setting them by the sink, he waited a few minutes, then gave up. He would see her at supper anyway, and then she would tell him where she was taking his underage sister when she took her out.
