Page 101 of Controlled
“As my brother would say citing his wife’s favorite movie, patience, grasshopper. All will be revealed on this bright, sunny day.”
“Boy, oh, boy. Maybe I need to find a girlfriend.”
I laughed at Kane’s summation, hoping that Walter came through or my sunny outlook would become someone’s darkest nightmare.
And just like clockwork, or maybe from divine intervention, the moment I stepped out into the sunshine, my phone rang. A smile crossed my face.
“Walter. I do hope you have good news.”
“Let’s just say I hope you’re sitting down.”
CHAPTER 30
Bella
Flowers.
I loved them, more than I’d realized. I’d almost felt silly cutting a basket full of them from the small flower garden I’d found hidden on one side of the property. Maybe that was because not one, but two soldiers had gone with me, acting as if monsters could jump out from behind the bushes at any time.
I laughed softly as I finished the arrangement in the gorgeous vase I’d found in the living room. When I placed the last vivid stem, a bright pink poppy, into the mix, I was thrilled with bringing a little color to the rather drab kitchen. It was expensive but lacking any color. At least I’d fixed that for the time being, even if I’d wiped out a solid twenty percent of the flowers in the small landscaping pad.
Nothing his landscapers could handle.
I backed against the counter, grabbing the second mug of coffee for the day. The night had been sweet, which I doubted was a typical word in the powerful man’s vocabulary.
I’d dared watch the news, longing to learn about Jonas’ funeral. My best friend’s name hadn’t even been mentioned, but his father was still on a roll, more determined than ever to take down every crime syndicate in the country. I’d been disgusted, wishing ill things on the man until I forced myself to turn off the news.
In my mind, I blamed the man for Jonas’ death. Irrational? Maybe but that’s how I felt. Was I mourning the loss of my father? In truth, no, but I hadn’t known him. What would be terribly hard was letting my mother know. I had a feeling she’d blame me for his death like she did everything else. It was time I came to grips with that.
There was no such thing as an easy life for anyone.
I took another deep breath, hating the ugly vibes. At least the amazing fragrance of the flowers brought a smile to my face. Seconds later, a cold prickle rushed down my spine and I slowly turned my head toward the kitchen door. Finding him with his feet crossed at the ankles, staring at me intently wasn’t a surprise. But seeing his genuine smile, mischievous look, and the fact he appeared less like a panther and more like a relaxed lover did.
“The flowers are lovely. Where did you get them?”
“Lo and behold, you have a garden, albeit sinfully small.”
He laughed, his upper lip curling at the edges. “So you need a larger garden?”
“Yes, along with more color in this house. It’s too… stuffy.”
As he slowly walked in, I could see an envelope sticking out of his jacket. “So, now you’re a decorating expert.”
“Well, if I’m going to live here, I do deserve some say in the matter of design, furniture, artwork. The whole deal.”
“My, aren’t you demanding?”
“Why, yes, I am.” I was being playful, but I had a sense he was taking me slightly seriously. “Were you out hunting people?”
“Mmm… Not this morning.”
“You should turn your hunting grounds into a lush garden full of flowers and shrubs, water features and other locations for animals to find food and safety.”
“You want the hunting grounds to become a peaceful sanctuary?”
“Sounds good to me.”
He took a deep breath, narrowing his eyes. “I’m curious. What if I asked you to consider running the art facility the Creed family is building? You could establish the various dance, music, and art programs while still performing as often as you’d like.”