The Ghosts of Ravencrest (The Ravencrest Saga Book 1) Read Online Free PDF Page A

works out. She swallowed hard.
    “I’ll be honest, Miss Moorland …”
    The sentence hung in the air. Anxiety coursed through her. “Yes?”
    “I think you’re a fine fit. If I were to offer you the position, would you accept?”
    “Yes.”
    “How soon might you start?”
    Belinda, barely able to contain her glee, blurted, “Immediately!”
    Mr. Manning looked amused and she wondered what he was thinking. “Immediately? As in right now?”
    She felt her own smile falter as reality set in. She thought of Billy, her boss at Lizzie’s. The good thing about working for such a lecherous bastard was that she didn’t owe him a thing. But what about the apartment? What about Randi?
    “Well,” she said, trying to find the right words. “I think I’ve gotten ahead of myself. I hadn’t planned to start so soon. See, I really want this job - very much - but I am renting an apartment with a friend of mine …” She thought of Randi and shuddered. “She’d be very upset if I broke the lease.”
    “How much longer do you have on it?”
    “Another two months. I’m sorry. I didn’t expect-” She almost said she didn’t expect to be hired, but thought better of it.
    Mr. Manning’s eyes twinkled.
    God, those eyes.
    “How about I make you an offer you can’t refuse?” His devilish grin lent even more beauty to his chiseled features. “What if I were to pay you two months’ wages upfront and you pay off your lease out of that?”
    Belinda blinked at him. “Really? You’re serious? Why would you do that?” Maybe he has kids from hell and they killed the last governess.
    “I get the impression your roommate is a bit difficult. Am I correct?”
    Belinda’s jaw almost dropped. “How- how do you know that?”
    “Just the way you spoke about her. I know I’m no fan of drama and I suspect you aren’t either.” He paused. “You can move in tonight and begin tomorrow, if that suits you. But the choice is yours. We can wait through the formality of two weeks or longer, if you prefer.”
    Move in tonight? Really? Belinda felt unsettled by the suddenness of it all. “If I take your money to do that, I’m obligated to stay in your employ for at least two months.” She thought of Mrs. Heller. “What if you - or I - decide we aren’t a good fit?”
    “Good point, Miss Moorland, though I don’t expect that to happen. Do you?”
    “No.” She blushed. “I mean, it’s unlikely.”
    “We’ll draw up a brief contract stipulating that if either of us wishes to void our agreement, we can, and you won’t have to pay back the advance. I’m willing to bet on you. Are you willing to bet on me?”
    “I am.” She blushed harder. Am I ever.
    “Did you drive here?”
    “No, I took a cab. I don’t own a car.”
    “It’s not a problem. I’ll have Walter - my chauffeur - take you in the limo to pick up whatever you need. Tomorrow you can get the rest.”
    “A limo? That will fit everything I own. In one trip.”
    He nodded and Belinda watched his neck muscles flex. “And how much do you need for your two months of rent?”
    She did the math and gave him a figure.
    “I’ll make out a check to your landlord and mail it off tomorrow, and you can let your roommate know tonight.” He gazed at her a long moment. “Are you certain we haven’t met before?”
    “I’m positive,” said Belinda.
    Mr. Manning stood. “I’ll send for the chauffeur.”

Moving Night

    Belinda watched as Walter Hardwicke placed her last bag in the trunk of the black limo. It had been a long afternoon because, as it turned out, Randi had the day off and had complained the whole time.
    “I can’t believe you're doing this.” Randi Tucker stood at the edge of the sidewalk, a hand on her plump hip. “What about your job at Lizzie’s?”
    “It’s already been taken care of,” Belinda replied. She turned and looked at Randi. “I don’t owe him anything. He’s a scuzzball.”
    “What you do mean?” Randi’s voice shrilled.
    “He