Page 45 of Stolen Bride for the Don

CHAPTER 28

ANDREA

After eating breakfast in the kitchen with Diane and Walker, who are fast becoming my friends, I decide to take a stroll around the grounds.

“I’m not so sure that’s a good idea, Andrea.” Diane looks almost scared at the prospect. Does she think I might make a run for it if I’m outside the house? Now that I’ve involved my family in this engagement, I’m as committed as ever. There will be no backing out unless I plan to come clean, and that’s a hard pass.

“It will be okay,” I assure her, but she looks scared, so I tell a little white lie. “Hud–Massimo gave me permission to go outside. It’s been over three weeks since I’ve felt the sun on my face. I’m going stir crazy cooped up in here, Diane. I might resort to screaming into pillows if I don’t get some fresh air.” The last part isn’t a lie and seems to be the one that convinces her.

“I understand how you feel.” She gives me a small smile and glances at Walker who gives her a not-so-subtle shake of his head.

I glare at him and beckon, “Come on, Walker.”

“Well, it’s her head if the boss finds out.”

“If he finds out, I’ll deal with him,” I snap. “He’s not going to hurt her.”

Diane nods once, seeming to believe in my power over Hudson. “Come on. Let’s go.”

I quickly get off the stool before she changes her mind. “I hope you don’t mind clearing my plate, Walker.” I wave my fingers at him with a smirk as I leave the kitchen with Diane.

She presses her thumb on the front door panel and again an eye scanner pops up. “What’s with all this extra security? This place is locked up like Fort Knox.”

She winces as she opens the thick glass door. “I know, but it’s a necessary measure. In case someone unwelcome were able to bypass the front gate and the men, they can’t just walk into the main house.”

I harrumph, even though–now that I think about it–Alex’s house has similar measures in place. never gave it much thought before because I had access to it. Shit, even my apartment above my bar has something similar, although not as intricate. My heart gives a little pang as I remember my bar, closed for over two weeks now.

I put that thought on hold as the soft morning sun hits my face. I inhale the fresh air with a small smile, my eyes sliding shut in pleasure. Ugh, finally. Freedom. When I open my eyes again, I notice two armed men walking around the grounds. They give me a polite nod and continue on their way.

“They’re on patrol,” Diane explains like it’s a normal occurrence, and I’m starting to learn that it is. “Come, you’ll love the garden.”

She leads me around the house. I gasp as I get my first glimpse of the side of the property. My bedroom faces the backyard so the only view I have is of the pool, some trees beyond it, and a thick fence.

“This is beautiful!” I exclaim as I rush ahead into thick oak and cedar trees, and rows upon rows of flowers surrounding a grass path. I take off my shoes, eager to feel what looks like the plushest lawn in the world on my bare feet. I sigh as my feet sink into the soft, wet, grass. A slight shiver runs up my spine and I toss a big grin at Diane who’s staring at me in amusement.

“This might just be my favorite place in the house.”

She giggles in response and then toes off her shoes to join me. She points out bulbs and shrubs and varieties of flowers; the only thing I recognize are roses. And there are quite a variety of them, in every shade imaginable.

“I would never have taken Massimo as a man who would cultivate such a beautiful garden,” I tell her about half an hour later after exploring every nook and cranny of it.

Now we’re lying side by side on the soft grass. At some point, Maximus came to join us with a happy woof, so I’m using the soft fur of his belly as a pillow while he dozes off. I foresee spending many a lazy evening here in my future. We’ve bonded, Max and I. He’s my dog now. I’ll try to think of a way to convince Hudson to let him come inside the house more often.

“He’s a man of many layers,” Diane remarks. “Although, rumor has it that his mother used to have a large garden, which is what he replicated here.”

“His mother?” I lift my head off Maximus to stare at her. This is the first I’ve heard of his parents. The article I read about him talked about running away from the orphanage; I assumed he grew up without parents.

She shrugs. “I don’t really know much. She died when he was fourteen I think, and he was taken by child protective services. But someone powerful must have pulled some strings because he was taken in by a privately-run orphanage where he stayed until he was seventeen.”

Hmm. I return my head to Maximus’ belly, and he lets out a soft grunt. Before I can question Diane more, footsteps approach. I sigh, hating that our interlude is about to end.

“What the hell are you doing?” the man we were just talking about asks, his voice incredulous. Next to me, Diane scrambles to her feet and I sigh again.

“Speak of the devil and he doth appear,” I murmur then respond, “Why are you shouting? I’m trying to relax here. You’re disturbing, Max. Go away.”

“Max?” His piercing gaze flies up to his dog, and his brows draw together. He shakes his head and commands Diane to excuse us in rapid Italian, but I’m beginning to catch more words and phrases.

“No, what the hell?” I push off the ground and grab Diane’s arm. “We were enjoying our time together.”

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