AllFreeNovel
Share Us
***
After leaving the apothecary shop on Ivy, Christian peered at his cousin who was unusually quiet. “Have all my packages arrived?”
“Uh-huh,” Sasha replied, staring out of the passenger window.
Christian stopped for a red light. “When will my piano be delivered? I would like to start playing again.”
“Uh- huh.”
What the hell was wrong with Sasha? “I’ve decided to quit acting and take up quilting.” Again, his cousin answered with the same tone. “You’ll join me of course. Collecting scraps, sewing edges. Shaving dogs for the stuffing.”
“Uh—what?” Sasha’s lips rose on one side. “Have you gone mental?”
“No, but I think you have. Anyway, what’s the status on my things?”
Sasha pulled out his blackberry and touched the screen. “Quite a few have already arrived and are waiting for you at Chesson House. The rest should be here by the end of next week.”
The light turned green and Christian drove to the town’s one grocery store. “Fantastic. The sooner Zoe sees I’m here to stay, the better.”
“Uh-huh,” Sasha said, once again distracted by something. Or was it someone?
Rose Holland, one of the owners of Carolina Dreams, had had an uncommon effect on his cousin. Sasha had been virtually silent as soon as he saw her, then rude. To a woman he’d never met before.
Christian had apologized profusely to Rose before they left, but it didn’t look like that had helped. Rose had fixed Sasha with a look so cold that even Christian had shivered. Almost as if the room had dropped about thirty degrees. At one point Christian could have sworn he saw his breath coming out.
“Rose got your tongue?” Christian teased.
Sasha rubbed the back of his neck. “She’s got more than my tongue.”
“You know her?”
“Not really,” Sasha said, then tapped his fingers against his thigh. “Let’s get the rest of your honey-do list over with. I need to fly back to London this evening.”
“Summoned by Vladimir?”
“What do you think?”
Well, that was that. “Have you found out any more information about who’s scooped the pictures of me? Currently, my agent and I aren’t speaking.” Martha hadn’t bothered to answer the last three emails Christian had sent her either, but she hadn’t ended their business relationship. Yet.
“The two bloggers that have it are holding out until confirmation. Perhaps this can be contained after all? Why don’t you let me put out a statement about you and the wife. Generate some buzz.”
The second and last stop light at the town’s only major intersection changed to red. Christian slowed the SUV to stop. “Absolutely not. I’m not using her for personal gain.”
“But this could be the end of everything,” Sasha protested, but Christian could tell his cousin’s heart wasn’t in it.
“Doesn’t matter,” Christian said. He’d find a way to keep B.T.S. funded, without them knowing about it. He didn’t need their approval anymore, only his wife’s.
His cousin clapped him on the shoulder. “Proud of you, mate.”
“Quite sentimental of you, Alexander.”
“Don’t get all watery. I think you’ve completely lost it.”
The light turned green. Christian slammed down on the gas pedal, laughing as Sasha was unceremoniously thrown back against the leather seat. “I hope to God I never find it.”
Chapter Thirty-Two
It had taken Christian longer than he’d like to get all of his errands accomplished and by the time he’d returned home—yes, he was most definitely calling Zoe’s house that—it was almost four in the afternoon.
He’d dropped off Sasha, who was still moody as hell, at the airport before driving like a bat out of hell, keeping his eyes peeled for any animals on parade.
Once again, he took some time to check out his new digs. The two-story home had gingerbread lattice work and large porches on the front and back. The siding was painted a bright white while the trim was a deep black with matching shutters. Spring flowers bloomed in wide flowerbeds along the front and side of the house. A large pecan tree sat off to the side with a sturdy branch hanging low enough for a tire swing.
He would push his children on that swing. Hear them laugh and play. And he would never pit them against each other. Never tell one that he or she was worthless. Never abuse them.
The thought of children startled him, but why shouldn’t he think about the future with Zoe? He’d done it all, seen it all (thanks to the duck and cat parade), and had it all.
With that thought in mind, he grabbed some of the bags from the back of his SUV and headed in the house. After unloading everything and still no sign of Zoe, he headed out the sliding glass door to look for her. Her black Camaro was sitting in the driveway, so she hadn’t gone that route. But anyone could have come and gotten her. She was surrounded by a family that loved her, and, most likely, wanted to murder him.
Which made them rise in his estimation.
He found her, sitting on a large quilt under a flowering tree with her hands over her face. She had flowers and ribbons sticking out of the loose braid she wore.
Zoe’s shoulders shook. The straps of her pink sundress had fallen down to rest on the each side as she trembled. It was the same dress she’d worn when they’d gotten married. Dammit, she was crying. Again. If he wasn’t the biggest ass on the planet, he didn’t know who was. He could have taken her with him instead of needing to prove himself to her. He made a move in her direction.
She jumped to her feet and yelled, “Ready or not, here I come.”
He stopped short and looked around. A little girl’s giggle sounded to the right of him and he could just make out the blonde curls that were visible over a green bush with yellow flowers. A bright pink bow wobbled at the top as the toddler moved.
He stayed hidden on the porch, watching as Zoe chased her niece around the back yard, flowers falling with each step. High pitched shrieks punctuated the air until Zoe captured her in a big hug.
“I hungry, Aunt Zoe,” the little girl said.
He studied the child. She had to be SmithAnn.
“Me, too.” Zoe grabbed the child’s hand, walking to the back porch. “I have all your favorite things in my pantry.”
So his wife hadn’t needed the groceries after all. Or she thought she was sending him off on a wild goose chase. It didn’t matter, because if that’s what it took to earn her trust, then that’s what he’d do.
