His Every Need

“Just tell him to sod off.”

The butler bowed and left the room, leaving Trevor to glare after him.

“Why so pissy?” Allie asked. “What’s the big deal about your father ordering breakfast?”

“This isn’t a hotel, Miss Campbell, and speaking of which, why are you wearing that hideous uniform?”

Allie took an experimental bite of toast and beans. A tasty combo. “Well, Mr. Blake, my boss doesn’t like it when I show up for work wearing jeans and a T-shirt.”

He twitched a brow. “I’m your boss.”

“Well, now I have two. C’mon, Trevor, I have to give at least a week’s notice, otherwise, I’ll leave everyone in the lurch.”

“You’re here to see to my needs. How can you do that if you’re not actually here?” He bit out the words, his eyes dark with irritation.

“After last night, if you’re still so desperate for sex that you can’t make it through an afternoon, you should look into a good recovery program. This town’s full of ’em.” She patted his hand. “You’re not alone, and admitting you have a problem is the first step.”

“Very amusing, Miss Campbell, but I made my expectations perfectly plain from the begi

Allie looked up from her plate of fried goodness. “I am not welshing. I have a responsibility to my coworkers. Besides, you’re always busy in the afternoons—buying and selling and ruling over your little domain—far too busy for an afternoon shag.” She ate a bite of tomato, egg, and toast. “This is good.”

Trevor gazed at her plate, his lip curled in disgust. “It’s coronary inducing.” He stroked his smooth jaw with one hand. “Mmm, maybe I should let my father request it. In fact, I think I’ll encourage it.”

Allie laid down her fork. “That’s not fu

“What’s not fu

Trevor rose from his seat and held a chair out for his mother. “Father’s demise. I would find it very amusing.”

Arnold walked to the sideboard.

“Just coffee and dry toast, Arnold.” She turned to Trevor. “You have a treasure in that man, darling.”

Arnold set the coffee and toast before Mags as she examined Allie. “Why are you wearing that very ugly clothing, dearest?”

“This is my work uniform.”

Mags’s eyes shifted from Allie to Trevor. “I thought she was your mistress. Isn’t that enough to keep her occupied?”

Trevor tapped on his phone. “One would think so.”

“Apparently you’re doing something wrong, darling, otherwise, she’d be in bed until noon.”

Allie pushed away from the table and stood. “Please quit talking about me like I’m not here. It’s a

“Good morning, Miss Campbell,” Simmons said, waiting for her. “Mr. Blake said you have to take the limo.”

Allie rolled her eyes. “Of course he did.”

She had Simmons drive her home first. Letting herself in with a key, she walked into the living room. “Hello,” she called.

“Al?” Her dad stepped out of the kitchen. “What are you doing here? And why are you wearing your uniform?”

Damn, she’d forgotten about being Trevor’s assistant. She was having a hard time keeping track of all the lies. “It’s a part-time thing. I wanted to see Bry

“She didn’t, and no phone call either.” He sighed and turned back toward the kitchen.

Allie followed. “What are you going to do, Dad? Are you going to let this go on?” She wanted him to take the lead for once. Make a stand. Be a parent.

Leaning his hands on the counter, he sighed. “I wish I knew what the right answer was. What’s your take on it?”

She gazed out the window. She was used to this, making decisions that affected her sisters. But she didn’t like it. She never knew if she was doing the right thing.

It started when her dad worked crazy hours and her mom lay in bed, sick from chemo. Allie would decide where the girls could go, coordinated schedules, and checked their homework. Taking care of her mom on top of it had been exhausting. Some days, the responsibilities were almost too much.

“Maybe you could invite Brad over for di

“I already suggested that.” Brian pushed off the counter and crossed his arms. “She won’t introduce us. She comes and goes at all hours. She has no consideration.”

Allie nibbled her lip. “You could always give Monica an ultimatum.”

Brian laughed. “Yeah, ’cause that always works so well. If I paint her into a corner, I’m going to lose her.”

Allie had a sinking feeling they’d already lost Monica. What would her mom do in this situation? Allie didn’t have a clue.

Her father remained silent for a few minutes, then nodded. “You’re right. If she can’t follow the rules, she can’t stay.” He stared at the floor, shaking his head. “But I can’t tell her. Will you talk to her?”

Mutely, Allie nodded. Looked like she was going to have to play bad cop. Again.

“I need to get ready for work.” He patted her shoulder as he walked by. “At least you’re doing okay for yourself, Al.”

But Allie wasn’t doing okay. She was floundering. She regretted having to make the hard choices. She had virtually abandoned Bry

She couldn’t think about that now. No time to wallow. Focus. First, Monica. Then make breakfast for Bry

With a sigh, Allie set down her mug and dug her phone out of her pocket. She left a message for Monica before grabbing a skillet and a couple of eggs. She’d finished slathering butter on the toast when Bry

“What are you doing here, Al?”

“You know Dad always overcooks the eggs.”

Bry

Allie was tired of hearing about that damn job. She set a glass of juice and the plate in front of her sister. “It’s part-time.”

Bry

Allie sat across from Bry

Wide-eyed, Bry

“They’re not crazy. I don’t think.” She glanced at the rooster clock. “More eccentric than loony. Mags is over-the-top glamorous, and Nigel is…” She shrugged. “I’m not sure what he is, exactly. But apparently they’re getting remarried. Oh, and I had baked beans for breakfast.”

“Gross.” Bry

“Yeah.” Allie wondered how old Trevor was when his parents split and how he’d gotten along with all of those stepfathers. Had Nigel remarried too? She felt a little sorry for Trevor. That kind of background had to be rough. Poor little rich boy. She blinked at Bry

She asked Bry

As Bry