AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Have a good evening, Gwen.”
“You too.”
As usual the drive home was a nightmare. She hated downtown traffic and was glad when she left Houston city limits. Arriving at the Seavey property, she turned down the music and closed her windows. The house was as dark as usual, not one light shining in the top floors, yet all of their cars were parked in the driveway.
She grabbed her things and walked inside. She didn’t have much food left since she hadn’t bought much the first day, so she had grilled cheese for dinner. She checked the schedules for the next day one last time before running a hot bath.
Her muscles relaxed instantly as she sank into the hot water. She grabbed a towel, placed it under her neck and started reading on her phone. She preferred real books but never wanted to spend the money on them. Instead, she’d downloaded the Kindle app on her phone and shopped for the free books. She soaked until the water went cold and wrapped herself in a towel. Before cuddling up in bed and falling asleep, she grabbed an oversized shirt and panties.
She woke up with an excited fluttering in her chest. After meeting Rayen, she was now eager to see him again. Usually, she dreaded her morning check-ups with Mr. Seavey, but with Rayen being so open she was looking forward to it today. She gathered the schedules and her notepad before heading to the office.
As she knocked and opened the door, she heard their conversation fade. Rayen greeted her with glowing green eyes and a bright smile, his voice light and easy.
“Ms. Moore, I was waiting for you to join us.”
“I didn’t mean to be late,” she said, giving him an apologetic look as she walked closer.
Silas and Amon–she internally cringed calling him by his first name–were both in the same spots as the day before. She handed Mr. Seavey his schedule, while Rayen took Silas’s and his, laying that of his brother on the desk again.
“Sit, Ms. Moore. I think that would be more pleasant for all of us.”
Was he winking at her? She sat on the chair next to him as he leaned closer.
“Is that your schedule?”
She nodded.
“May I?”
She nodded again and watched as he studied it.
“I see we have to be in the office at the same time.”
That wasn’t technically true–his first meeting started an hour after hers.
“We all should drive together. What do you think, Amon?”
Out of the corner of her eye she saw Mr. Seavey stiffen and quickly said, “Mr. Seavey’s last meeting ends at one, while mine starts at two I don’t mind driving.”
“I’m sure Amon doesn’t mind and will find something to keep himself busy while we wait on you.”
Mr. Seavey didn’t seem pleased, and she didn’t want to force herself on him like that. “I really don’t mind driving myself, Mr. Seavey.”
“How confusing to call us all ‘Mr. Seavey’.” He reached his hand out to her. “Call me Rayen, Gwendoline.”
Before she could say or do anything Mr. Seavey got up and gave his brother an angry glare. “You’re being unprofessional as usual.”
“I’m sure Gwendoline will understand not to call me by my first name in the office.”
Gwen’s eyes flickered between the two of them. While Rayen relaxed, not one tad bothered by his brother’s reaction, Mr. Seavey was clearly losing his temper. “That’s not the point and you know it.”
Rayen ignored his brother and turned his full attention back to Gwen. “How about we meet out front in ten minutes, Gwendoline? Is that enough time for you to grab your belongings?”
Gwen quickly got up, nodded, and walked out.
For her ten minutes was more than enough, but she wasn’t sure it would be enough to calm Mr. Seavey’s anger. She was standing ready by her door within a few minutes and waited to hear movement outside before stepping onto the driveway and locking her door.
Mr. Seavey was already getting into the driver’s seat of his dark SUV, while Rayen smiled at her as she walked closer. He was slightly taller than her, his stature bear-like with his broad shoulders and big arms. He opened the passenger back door for her and took her hand to help her climb in. His hand felt cool, as if he had been out in the cold for too long, though the air around them was cozily warm.
