Free The Billionaire’s Valiant Rescue by Nic Saint Page A

dirt, keeping the place as clean as her own small apartment on the outskirts of Paris.
    Taking care of a place this size demanded the work of three, and luckily Jack didn’t stint on hiring all the help she needed. The cook hadn’t come in today but would do so tomorrow if Jack decided to stay the weekend, and the maid had helped her prepare the guest bedroom in time for Jack’s arrival.
    Working for Jack for going on ten years now, she’d come to appreciate the young man’s quirks and demands. Fresh flowers in every room was not something one usually associated with a bachelor, but it showed that Jack was his mother’s son. Mrs Carter, for whom Magali had worked before taking over Jack’s household, had been an avid fan of floral splendor throughout the house, even if her husband seemed too busy to notice.
    When Mrs Carter had passed away, Magali had felt as if she hadn’t merely lost a fine employer, but a personal friend.
    Going to work for Jack, therefore, had been something of a mission to her. Taking care of the young man now that he’d so suddenly lost the most important person in his life.
    Jack had been close to his mother, and when Mrs Carter had passed beyond the veil, Jack had had a couple of very tough years.
    What the boy really needed, though this sentiment certainly wasn’t shared by Jack himself, was a woman in his life. And not just a girlfriend, but a wife, who would turn this house into a real home in ways a mere housekeeper never could.
    For Magali knew her place. Though she loved the boy dearly ever since she’d come into the Carter family employ twenty-five years ago this spring, she could never take the place of a good woman at his side.
    She’d eyed Melanie Harper with curious interest, therefore, knowing full well that she was the first girl Jack had brought into this house in ages. If Jack wanted to fool around with the fairer sex, he always did so in Brussels, where he had a running tab at the Carlton. Magali didn’t know if he did it out of respect for her or simply for reasons of discretion, but she did appreciate not having to clean up after one of Jack’s hussies when they spent the night.
    And now this Melanie. At first glance, she’d pursed her lips appreciatively. The girl was beautiful, albeit it a bit on the thin side. But even though she could use some fattening up, she was clearly not one of Jack’s usual photo model types. This one had a head on her, and spoke and behaved in a way that had led her to believe she’d enjoyed an excellent education and a fine upbringing in a fine home.
    She could but guess at the reason Jack would bring her here, though the fact that he put her up in the guest bedroom, and had her put the doctor on call in case Melanie needed medical help, had her tingling with curiosity.
    It wouldn’t be long before Jack would confide in her, she knew. He always did, considering her a loyal part of the family. For now, she merely did as she was told, and was gratified when Melanie rewarded her kindness at pointing out the ins and outs of the house with a radiant smile.
    Whoever she was, she liked the young woman already.
    After a last glance around the kitchen, she hitched up her coat, took a firmer grip on her pocketbook, and stepped out the back door, locking it behind her.
    Reaching the street, she walked away fast. She still had plenty of errands to run, and darkness was already descending on Paris.
    She hadn’t walked ten yards, however, before a man fell into step beside her. Looking over, a sense of dread filled her at the sight of him. He was broad, tall and ugly as hell, and hazarding a guess, she immediately pegged him as one of Paris’s growing band of lowlifes and other scum.
    Picking up speed, she threw nervous glances left and right, looking for a shop to disappear into before this man dragged her off into some dark alley and had his way with her.
    “ Madame ?” the man said, also picking up his pace. “You work for Jack Carter, don’t