Richmond-Banks Brothers 1: A Hopeless Place (BWWM Interracial Romance) Read Online Free

the last time I got excited about food, or anything else, for that matter.
    She situated the tray over my lap and handed me the remote to the T.V. I flipped to an afternoon newscast and nibbled at my sandwich.
    “I’m finished,” I announced after a few bites.
    “You didn’t even eat half. You sure?”
    “I’m done. Take it.” I pushed the tray down toward my knees.
    She carried it back down to the kitchen and returned a couple minutes later. “Do you want to watch a movie, or something?”
    “Like what?” I asked, shocked that she actually wanted to spend time with me. Eleanor and I always had an understanding. She’d make sure I was good and comfortable, and then she’d disappear into the depths of the mansion, awaiting my next page.
    “What do you like?” Amara asked. “Pick something.”
    “Historical dramas,” I replied without pause.
    “Should we head to the theater room?” she asked, nodding toward the door.
    “No, we’ll watch it here,” I said. I grabbed the remote and brought up the DVR screen, selecting a movie I’d recorded weeks ago but hadn’t yet watched, some World War II drama. Amara situated herself at the foot of the bed, keeping a careful distance from me as if I might bite.
    “You can sit up here, if you’d like,” I said, patting the pillow next to me. “I don’t mind.”
    She scooted toward the tufted leather headboard and propped herself up against a pillow next to me. “Hey, Bennett? Would you mind if I planned a little something for us to do tomorrow?”

 
     
     
     
     
     
     

     

 
     
    AMARA
    I awoke Tuesday morning to the sound of my bedroom door creaking open. In the pitch black darkness stood a lanky figure, and my heart pounded hard in my chest until I remembered where I was.
    “Sorry to wake you,” Ingrid’s frosty voice whispered. “I just wanted to let you know that Sterling and I are leaving for the airport. We have to meet with a prospective client in New York. We’ll be back late Sunday night. Numbers are on the refrigerator.”
    So much for having most weekends off. “Have a safe trip.”
    “I’ll let you get back to sleep,” she whispered. “You still have a couple of hours before you need to be up for the day. I’ll call to check on Bennett when we get to the hotel later tonight.”
    With that, she closed the door, and I listened as her footsteps traveled down the hall toward the stairs and then to the foyer. As soon as the front door closed, I realized I was wide awake. A jolt of adrenaline at six in the morning would do that to a person.
    I rolled over in a vain attempt to get comfortable again but it was no use. It had taken me two hours to fall asleep the night before, and I was as good as up for the day. After a quick shower, I headed downstairs to make Bennett’s breakfast, fully intending on avoiding anything egg-related.
    So much for having any kind of life now, I thought before quickly reminding myself that I was making almost double the salary of most registered nurses in the area, and for a fraction of the amount of work they had to do.
    I carried his breakfast, oatmeal, and sliced banana with a mug of hot, English breakfast tea up to his room, waking him slightly earlier than usual.
    “You look tired,” Bennett said as I sat the tray down by his bedside.
    “I’ve been up since six,” I said with a yawn. “I didn’t know your parents were going out of town this weekend.”
    “They’re pretty much gone every weekend.”
    I placed the tray of food over his lap and prepared his nebulizer treatment. As he ate in silence, I hoisted myself onto his bed next to him and rested my head on the pillow. Maybe it was unprofessional of me, but I was too tired to think clearly.
    Within minutes, I popped up, woken by my own faint snoring and my dry, scratchy throat. “Oh, my God. I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to fall asleep.”
    Bennett smiled. “You’re officially the first girl to ever sleep in my bed.”
    It was the first