The Wrong Side of Midnight Read Online Free PDF Page A

scanned her neighbor’s guesthouse for any signs of Matthew. Even though Chloe couldn’t see him, she knew he was up there. Her stomach had butterflies, her pulse quickened. Suddenly aware she was standing outside with her hair a mess and worn pj’s , she slipped inside the pool house and put on her baby blue bikini and smoothed down her hair. When she was almost out the door, a thought occurred to her. Why am I worried about how I look? I don’t want another Edmund. Throwing her pj’s back on, Chloe ran back to her room and changed into a pair of old shorts and a plain t-shirt instead. Walking quickly back through the kitchen, a familiar voice made her jump.
    “You didn’t even get your coffee, but I knew you’d need some. Here you go.”
    “Thank you, Lois.” Chloe took the steaming cup and the two women stepped outside to the pool.
    Lois Shepherd was the cook for the Burlington's. She was about the same age as Chloe’s mother, though that was their only similarity. Lois was loving and kind, and had raised Chloe from infancy. She was the woman who put bandages on the little girl's knees and made sure she was kept warm and fed. There were nannies that stepped in after her shift ended, but they never bonded with the young heiress. Lois never married or had children of her own, but she always wanted a family. Even though her child bearing years were way behind her, it seemed natural for her to step in for the absent parents.
    Lois hated the way Sylvia and Earl ignored their only child. She knew there’d be problems from the get go when the young mother barely held baby Chloe. It wasn’t because Sylvia was mean or resentful. She was fearful, uncertain, and lacked knowledge. Lois always knew that Sylvia wasn’t raised with doting parents either. When conversations about mothering arose, Mrs. Burlington would inevitably fake an illness or walk off.
    Watching Chloe grow up to become a fine, loving young woman made Lois smile. She was happy that, despite Sylvia's absence, Chloe still rose above.  Every time Sylvia or Earl called the house, Lois always asked if they wanted to talk to their daughter. By the time Chloe came running to the phone full of excitement, the call was disconnected. It got difficult coming up with excuses as to why the call ended or why her parents stayed away. Eventually, Lois just held her while she cried. It was easier when she was a young child. Children believed whatever they were told. But when Chloe became a teenager, there was no hope in any cover-ups to protect the young girl’s heart. She bit her tongue through the years, no matter how hard it was to do. She knew how powerful the Burlington’s were, and they wouldn’t hesitate to fire her. If that happened, who could she trust to take care of Chloe? Hiding her anger was a difficult task to say the least.
    Chloe knew that Lois had spotted her running through the house and only came outside to see what all the excitement was. She looked up and saw Matthew standing on the rooftop waving at her.
    “Oh my…”
    “Lois!" Chloe laughed as her cheeks reddened. "Well, actually I don’t blame you for staring. He’s pretty cute, isn’t he?"
    "I think I would’ve run like the wind too if that’s what I was off to look at.” Lois playfully elbowed her, chuckled, and turned to go back inside.
    Chloe stood there staring at the neighbor's guesthouse roof, wishing she could just go up there and talk to him. Matthew was definitely easy on the eyes, and she loved the sound of his soothing, deep voice. But there was something else about him. Something…
     
     
    Matthew wished the job was finished so he could just go down and talk to her. Hell, dressed like this, I’d be lucky if the guards even opened the gates. He woke up this morning looking forward to getting on the hot roof, which was totally not like him. His curiosity was growing. Curiosity. Yep, that’s all it is…
    “Who are you waving to?” John asked as he walked over and stood