Free Take Two: An Erotic Romance (Book 1) by Maddie Bennett Page A

the past couple of weeks). “Here’s a
package for you, miss.”
     
    “Thanks,” I said, grabbing the little rectangular package quickly
and shoving it under some files so that my nosy co-workers couldn’t get their
eyeballs all over it.
     
    “Have a nice day, miss,” the mailman grinned.
     
    “You too,” I murmured with an absent smile. “Have fun delivering
mail.”
     
    “Always do, miss. Always do.”
     
    As the mailman walked across the room towards another lucky
recipient of his services, I made a quick survey of the room: Daisy’s ample
bulk was shielding the photocopier, Kyle and Jill were flirting like crazy in
the cubicle opposite and, from the gentle snores coming from the cubicle next
to me, I figured that David was probably taking his customary day-long nap.
Those were the worst gossips accounted for – I would risk my other coworkers
and open my package now.
     
    With slightly trembling fingers, I took the little package from
its snug nest of month-old files. It was addressed to me in Uncle Andy’s
elegant, precise handwriting. Although the sight of his writing tugged at my
heart a little, I knew there was no danger of tears – I’d already cried all my
tears at his funeral; there was only so much salt water a human body could
produce, especially considering the chronically under-seasoned fare available
from the company cafeteria. Besides, I’d never cry at my office. It had been my
number one objective never to be the subject of lunchtime gossip and so far,
the conversation over limp chicken salads and tasteless quinoa had been
entirely Amanda-free.
     
    With one last glance around the room, I deftly opened the little
package, lifting off the wrapping with care. Inside, I found a book and an
envelope, the book wrapped in crinkly white tissue paper, and the envelope,
with its typewritten address and little plastic window, looking very much like
the bearer of bad news. I opened the envelope first, pulling out a very
official looking slip of paper from Williams, Williams and Slopey, my uncle’s
lawyers. A quick scan of the paper told me that it was about his will. At least
I wasn’t in any kind of trouble.
     
    I started over from the beginning, the part where it said ‘to whom
it may concern’ instead of my actual name, and tried to separate the details
from the lawyer-speak. After a few minutes of intense struggle, I surmised that
my uncle’s will was going to be read and that I was supposed to be present. The
details of the place, date and time were all there – a huge, fancy building I
had never so much as set foot in before. I decided to worry about it at a later
date. I’d probably have to go in wearing a full suit and some shiny court
shoes. Well, if it was what Uncle Andy wanted, I would be there.
     
    Laying the envelope to one side, I turned my attention back to the
“package” part of the package. Tearing off the thin layer of tissue paper, I
carefully lifted out an old book, dog-eared and careworn, the spine slightly
cracked and the pages discolored from years of use and multiple re-readings.
While the letter had failed to raise much interest, this book more than made up
for it. I remembered the book well.
     
    It was Martin Eden , by Jack London, a book I had read
countless times. Not just any book either – this exact copy. I could remember
Uncle Andy lending it to me for the umpteenth time, his lips quirked into an
indulgent smile as he gestured to his vast library. “You know where it is,
Amanda – you read it frequently, after all. Why you don’t invest in your own
copy, I’ll never know…or has your copy disintegrated?”
     
    “I dropped it in the bath,” I answered glibly.
     
    “Well, you’d better be careful with this copy, young lady. It’s a
first edition. It won’t react well to bathwater.”
     
    Despite my previous certainty that I would remain stoic, I felt
tears pricking in my green eyes. Before I could get weepy, though, I was
distracted by a