“
This is from me.
”
I peeked inside and squealed in cheer.
“
Books!
”
I was overjoyed at finding paperbacks inside.
“
It
’
s mostly Sophie Samuels
’
s books, but there are a couple of others
…”
“
Oh my gosh, I love her. Thank you! I promise to return them to you when I am done reading them.
”
“
Keep them. They
’
re doubles from my collection anyhow.
”
Birdie shrugged, throwing her long hair off her shoulder.
“
I couldn
’
t.
”
“
Anne, this place has no TV. Trust me, you can keep the books,
”
she told me, smiling brightly, her kindness making my nose sting. It had been so long since I
’
d had a girlfriend. Someone I could talk to and hang out with. Sensing my emotions, she put her arm around me.
“
This is from Mr. Davenport.
”
She handed me a bright green gift bag and winked at me.
“
What?
”
My eyes widened as I stared at the bag.
“
He called to invite me over to a BBQ, and then he asked if I could please stop at Etoile in Beverly Hills on my way here and to ask for the owner, Suzanne. I got there and Suzanne could not stop raving about Mr. Davenport. How he called, described a woman to her and made her FaceTime with him as she walked around the store so that he could pick out the perfect outfit! She said in her whole career working retail, never has a man been so persistent about getting a woman the perfect outfit. She had it all set and ready to go for me to give to you.
”
Her green eyes were dancing and I blushed.
“
What is it?
”
“
I don
’
t know. Open it!
”
We sat on the couch, and with slightly shaky hands, I took out piece after piece of clothing.
A white sundress that had tiny bunches of melon-colored flowers all over it, with thin straps and a V-neckline, a matching melon cardigan, melon-colored strappy wedge sandals, and even a pretty necklace and bracelet that matched the outfit. Looking at everything in front of me, I tried to catch my breath.
“
I can
’
t accept this,
”
I whispered, looking at the beautiful dress. It was perfect. It was exactly something I would have chosen for myself.
“
You have to!
”
Birdie chimed in, excitement clear in her voice.
“
No
…”
I shook my head, looking at the soft melon cardigan and the shoes.
“
Honey
…”
“
He
…”
I started to say, panic filling me.
He
’
d
bought sweet gifts to help placate me into becoming who he wanted. John. John was different. I knew this. But what would he want in return? How much of myself did I even have left to...
“
Anne.
”
Her calm voice snapped my attention. She grabbed my hand and it was as if she filtered strength into me.
He
had been trying to buy me. I
’
d been so charmed, thinking he was such a prince that I
’
d let him. But I couldn
’
t let that happen. Not again. From the moment I
’
d met John I’d known he was a beast, a gentle one, but a beast nonetheless. A man like John Davenport would chew me up and spit me out without thinking twice.
“
Breathe, honey. Look. I know that you went through something. I can see it in your eyes, the fear you try to hide. I saw the bruises, Anne. Davenport, he isn
’
t that kind of man.
”
The kindness in her voice made me look at her.
“
How do you know?
”
“
I just do.
”
She smiled sadly and then kept talking.
“
When you grow up around people like that, people who play hide and seek with the beast they hide, it helps you see what is inside of someone else. He doesn
’
t have that. He
’
s his own kind of tortured, the way you have fear in your eyes, his are filled with sadness.
”
Birdie told me, amazing me with her words and it makes me sad to know she knows this. Birdie’s a good person and didn’t deserve ugly in her life.
“
I
…
You have a beautiful way with words, Birdie Morgan.
”
She smiled at me,
“
You should write a book,
”
I told her, leaning my head on her shoulder, feeling calmer, the panic subsiding as I stared at John’s gift. I felt her body shake with laughter and her round face flushed pink.
“
I
’
ve been told that a time or two. So, you okay?
”
“
Yeah.
”
“
Let
’
s get you dolled up, yeah?
”
“
Okay,
”
I agreed, smiling, feeling excited and hopeful.
John
Everyone started showing up suspiciously on time. Mike and Sabrina with their brood were the first, Nick had come with them, smiling like an asshole at me. Then Holly and Robert Montgomery showed up with their sons. Holly was Mike
’
s ex-fianc
é
e, who
’
d always been a better friend than spouse-to-be. Even now, how they managed to stay friends was beyond my ability to comprehend. Cara, Sabrina
’
s younger sister with her doctor husband Jerry, were the next to show.
Everyone was having a good time talking and socializing as they drank and ate appetizers the catering company had set out. The kids were running around, and I was standing next to Mike as he was talking about Mark
’
s baseball game, but I was not paying attention. It was half past one and I had no idea where Anne was.
Why did I kiss her? Maybe I scared her away? Or maybe having Bernadette pick up an outfit for her wasn
’
t a good idea. What the hell had I been thinking?
Immersed in my own inner turmoil, I stopped paying attention to Mike or anyone around me. A breeze picked up, and I breathed in deeply, trying to calm my nerves. Her soft scent floated around me just as I felt a delicate hand on my shoulder. Turning around, my heart suddenly lodged in my throat.
Anne was beautiful in her jeans and tees, but in the outfit I
’
d picked out for her, she was breathtaking. The dress fit as if it had been made for her and I tried but failed at not looking at her generous breasts. Looking at her amused glance, I noticed Bernadette behind her holding Zoey in her arms and talking to a very nosey Sabrina, who seemed to be watching us as if we were the next summer blockbuster.
“
Sorry, we
’
re late.
”
Another breeze blew, picking up her hair that she
’
d worn down, cascading down her back, and I smiled at her.
“
Don
’
t worry. Everyone was early.
”
“
Umm
…
Thank you, for the outfit,
”
she told me, a blush on her face, and I nodded.
“
You look beautiful,
”
I told her, my hand skimming hers. Her eyes widened as they stared at me, her creamy cheeks turning a brighter pink. I was enjoying making her blush.
“
I hope you liked it.
”
“
It
’
s all very beautiful, if you give me the rec—
”
Before she could finish her sentence, I put a finger at her lips and shook my head.
“
It was a gift.
”
“
For kissing you?
”
She blurted, her eyes worried, and I shook my head, moving in close and leaning my head down until my lips were right by her ear to ensure this was only between the two of us.
“
No. The gift was just because I thought it would be something you
’
d like,
”
I told her, and she let out a shaky breath, my hand somehow moving to her waist.
My face now closer to her, my lips a hairbreadth away from her ear, I couldn’t help but take a deep breath. A soft vanilla scent filled me, and it was so intoxicating that I couldn’t help but lick the shell of her ear. My blood started stirring when I heard a small purr coming from her mouth. It made my body instantly hard, and I looked around to see everyone
’
s gaze on us. I had to gain some control or I was going to give everyone a show.
“
We’re going to talk about that kiss later.
”
We both moved back, her huge eyes meeting mine, and she nodded slightly.
“
Come, let me introduce you,
”
I told her, wrapping a hand around her shoulder, wishing I hadn’t purchased the cardigan so that I could feel her skin under my hand. Shaking my head, I walked around, introducing her to everyone there.
***
The afternoon turned into night and the catering company even provided dessert. Someone suggested building a bonfire. Everyone was sitting around, talking and laughing as they enjoyed their coffee and slices of chocolate cake. Unfortunately, Nick had somehow finagled talking to Anne most of the day. I had watched her closely. I liked the easy way she was smiling now, the fear in her eyes mostly gone.
“
She looks like she
’
s having a good time,
”
Mike leaned over and told me. I rolled my eyes.
“
She should, she works hard.
”
“
Hmm.
”
“
What?
”
I clipped, and he smiled and shook his head, sipping on a bottle of water.
“
You should just admit how you feel, help her with whatever problem she
’
s running from, and live happily ever after.
”
“
You
’
re a fucking idiot.
”
I narrowed my eyes at him.
“
I
’
m not the one watching her as if I can
’
t breathe without her nearby.
”
“
It
’
s
…”
I didn’t even know what to say. Was I looking at her like that? "It
’
s not like that.
”
Not even I believed myself.
“
It isn
’
t?
”
“
Nope. She
’
s my housekeeper. She
’
s nice. We
’
re friends.
”
“
Friends?
”
He asked incredulously, his elbows resting on his knees, his face tilted towards me, and I looked away, right to the beautiful kitten who was now laughing at something that idiot Nick Riley had just said and now leaned in closer. I gripped my coffee mug tighter, not liking him that close to her. He was a good guy, but too much of a passive aggressive over-grown nerd for a girl like Anne.
“
Yeah, friends,
”
I told him without really paying attention to what I was saying.
Why is she sitting so close to him? Why does she smile so much with him?
“
Interesting,
”
Mike said, chuckling.
“
So you won
’
t care that we
’
re watching Zoey tomorrow and she is going out with Nick?
”
“
Nope,
”
I answered, gritting my teeth as I watched Nick tuck a loose strand of her long dark hair behind her ear.
What did Mike just say?
“
Wait. What?
”
“
Nick
’
s going to take her out tomorrow. We
’
re watching Zoey at our place.
”
Nick Riley was taking my Kitten out? All I could do was grunt in acknowledgement and gulp down my now flavorless coffee.
Anne
Nick Riley was funny and incredibly smart. Accidentally overhearing about a problem he was having with a new software he was developing, I couldn
’
t help but voice my suggestion on how to fix it, and he seemed to like it. So much, that he wanted me to go with him to his office tomorrow so that I could work with him. He even offered to pay me. I was excited to be able to use what I
’
d learned through my years at Berkeley. I loved computers and creating software. That had always been my dream; well, before I let myself get caught up in a different kind of daydream that turned into a nightmare.
Shaking my head, I smiled as Nick talked with Birdie, who was laughing next to me. I looked over the flames of the fire pit and caught John's eyes staring right at me.
He could easily be one of the most alluring men I had ever laid eyes on.
His strong body, the darkness of his eyes and hair, even the rigid way he carried himself, made him appealing. It added to the mystery of the man that hid beneath the gruff exterior of hard muscles and tanned skin; muscles I now knew how they felt pressed up against me and under my hands. Still staring at him, and unable to break the glance, my fingers had a mind of their own and touched my lips.
Remembering the kiss we'd shared this morning. Remembering how good his mouth had felt on mine, how good it had felt on the skin of my neck. I shivered, and heat flooded my face as I realized that we'd been fixedly staring at one another. His eyes slightly squinted, then narrowed and looked back at Mike Crown as he answered him.