AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I have to go make a call.” Sliding my chair back, I stood, reaching out for my plate.
Jenna peered into my eyes, worried. “Are you not going to finish eating?”
“Thanks but,” I sighed, “I’m not really that hungry.”
Without giving either of them a chance to respond, I rinsed my plate off, put it in the dishwasher, then sprinted upstairs to call Tobyn about the film.
7
DARK HEARTS
AMBER
Alejandro was on the phone when I entered the oversized, double doors of his office. “I have to go, but we’ll catch up later.” He hung up, adjusting his tie. “Good morning, Amber.”
“Morning.” I pulled my pink Victoria’s Secret robe tighter around my body. He was dressed formally, while I only had purple satin shorts and a white crop top underneath.
Striding to the front of his desk, he perched on the edge. “How did you sleep?”
“Fine, thanks.”
Examining the room, I noticed two things. Number one, he must’ve liked to read or loved the appearance of books. Number two, the ambiance of the office gave me the impression of someone who was hiding something big. I didn’t know how to explain it, but it was clean. Too clean, as if it was all a façade and he didn’t even live in the mansion.
“Something catch your attention?”
Startled, I pivoted around to see him bending toward me with his hands buried in his pockets. He leaned back. “Do you like to read?”
I nodded, taking a step closer to one of the ceiling-to-floor, built-in bookcases. I loved to read. Books were one way I escaped my abusive ex before Chance.
“I collect them.”
He prowled behind me, following me as I roamed the room, taking note of the hundreds of books within the espresso bookcases lining the octagon-shaped room. The titles were in alphabetical order and the series were split up, which drove me insane. There were a lot of horror and true crime books. Not a speck of dust was present on the shelves. He was either OCD or had a remarkably high-quality maid.
“What are you thinking?”
Whipping around to see him in my personal space again, I gulped. “Uh, just noticing how clean the shelves are.”
He laughed. “I have a team of people who clean things for me. I don’t like dirt at all. Dirt gives me panic attacks.”
“Makes sense.” Odd, yet I nodded because I was a neat freak as well. Continuing to stalk the titles, I took notice of his preference. “So, you actually read the books you collect, or do you just love that open book smell?” Coming to a stop, I folded my arms over the front of my robe with a smile.
“Well, a little of both, maybe.” Lurking closer, he sealed the gap between us. Cupping my cheeks in his palms, he peered into my eyes. “When I see something I like, I want to own it.”
Laying my hands on his chest to create an inch of distance between us, I swallowed hard. “You’re not talking about books any longer, are you?”
Taking a couple of steps, he forced me backward, pinning me between one of the bookcases and himself. His overpowering demeanor made me feel exposed. Even in my clothes, I still felt naked.
Leaning closer to my face, he sneered. He stopped short of almost kissing me, reaching behind my head, and then taking four steps back. “What?” He held up a book with a sly grin. “Did you think I was going to kiss you?”
Exhaling, I tucked my arms against myself. “What’s that?” I changed the topic.
“My favorite book.” He held it out in front of him.
Gently taking it from his hands, I traced the abused corners, running my fingertips around the rough edges. “Dark Hearts?”
“You can have it.” He nodded once toward the novel. “That copy is translated to English.”
“What’s it about?”
