Free One Real Man (Entangled Bliss) ) by Coleen Kwan Page B

little outburst earlier.”
    Paige almost snorted. If Owen was embarrassed, what about her?
    “It’s an awkward situation.” Ally leaned against a kitchen stool, looking like she was about to settle in for a long chat. “It can’t be easy for you being the housekeeper here, but at least you’re in your own home.”
    No, she wasn’t. She was banished to a hovel. She slept with a can of bug spray under her creaky old bed, while the rhododendron bushes scraped and screeched against her tightly shut windows. She wasn’t home; she was in a nightmare.
    “It’s strictly temporary. I won’t be here for very long. I’ll be returning to Sydney soon.” As Paige spoke, she realized how important it was to hear herself say those statements. Verbalizing her goals made them more concrete. She would escape from this hellhole. She would pull herself back to where she belonged—which was definitely not being Owen’s damn housekeeper.
    Ally nodded, her expression even more sympathetic. “I heard what Seth did to you,” she said softly. “It was despicable. I can’t believe he’d be so callous. He wasn’t like that before.”
    Paige drew in a breath, her chest too tight. “You mean, before he met me.”
    “Oh, I didn’t mean that!” The other girl’s face dropped. “I mean…before you and he went to live in London. From what Nate’s told me, it sounds like that’s when he changed, when he started mixing with a different crowd.”
    Reaching for another plate, Paige wearily rubbed the back of her arm across her brow. She was so tired of analyzing her failed marriage. What did it matter when or why Seth had changed?
    “I’ll get over Seth.” She pulled back her shoulders, lifted her head. “After all, you did.”
    Ally nodded. “It’s good you’re Owen’s housekeeper.”
    The plate almost slipped out of Paige’s hands. “Good? Afraid I have to disagree with you on that one. The pay stinks and Owen isn’t nice.”
    “Aww, I know he was blunt with you earlier, but that’s just his way of hiding his insecurities. He may not admit it, but he’s lucky to have you as his housekeeper.”
    “Insecurities? Owen has insecurities like I have pimples.” As soon as Paige said that, she sneaked a quick peek at her reflection in the nearby stainless steel toaster. No, no pimples, thank God. She straightened to find Ally gazing at her, head tilted in speculation.
    “He’s not looking forward to all the business entertaining he’ll have to do soon, especially in this town where everyone knows what he used to be. You could give him a few tips, maybe even be the hostess for him.”
    Paige threw back her head and burst out laughing. She couldn’t help it; Ally’s suggestion was so ridiculous. As she sobered up, she realized Ally looked a little peeved. “Sorry about that.” Paige shrugged, returning her attention to the dishes. “But the idea of me playing Owen’s hostess is just so…” She shook her head. “So bizarre.”
    Ally chewed her lip for a while. “Maybe I’m wrong, then.” She pushed herself upright and headed for the door. “I’d better get back to the party.”
    Damn, Paige thought. Now she felt bad for mocking Ally, even though it hadn’t been intentional. She’d even begun to appreciate Ally’s presence in the kitchen, but now she’d pushed her away. “Uh, sorry, I didn’t mean to…” Shoot, she didn’t even know what she wanted to say.
    “No worries.” Ally paused at the door, her expression thoughtful and not unkind. “If you ever need any help or just want to chat, you should stop by my store. It’s called Java and Joolz, right where my old gift shop used to be.” She disappeared before Paige could say anything.
    Alone, Paige exhaled slowly, puzzled by the conversation and her reactions to it. Ally was the kind of girl she’d never have considered possible friend material in the past. They were so different, and yet Ally had invited her to drop in at her store, as if she