Page 25 of Wanted

My bees are at home and need to be taken care of, but my mother can help with that. It will be a good distraction for my mother while I’m away. Having something to do besides attend church and playing bingo is going to be good for her.

“I have some conditions,” I say, expecting him to refute.

In return, Lionel smirks and something in me breaks. “I didn’t expect anything less.”

It seems that we are starting a new life. What it means, honestly, I don’t know.

* * *

“You know I can feed myself, right?” Lionel laughs as he gulps down the chicken soup I just put in his mouth.

I don’t say a word, just look at him with raised eyebrows. I know he can eat on his own, but after ten days at the hospital, I need to do something with my hands.

Lionel’s stay was extended because when he was about to be discharged, he got a fever that just wouldn’t break. Doctors had to run some more emergency tests and change his medication.

Luckily, they moved him to a more comfortable room, so I’m able to stay with him at night without sleeping in a chair. The futon is far from comfortable, but at least I don’t wake up with a stiff neck.

“You should be thankful that I’m feeding you the soup and not gouging your eyes out with the spoon.”

We’ve had time to talk about some things, but the tension is still there, ticking like a time bomb, waiting to hit zero, and explode.

Lionel stares at me, while he takes my hand, bringing me closer to his body.

“Stella…”

The air has become thick, loaded with what has been brewing between us the last few days.

Lionel pushes aside the wheeled table the soup is on. Our lips are about to touch. I can feel his breath on my skin.

“I see that you feel much better already.” Lionel’s mother enters the room with a smile that doesn’t reach her eyes. “I hope I didn’t interrupt anything.”

The woman ends the sentence with a touch of sarcasm in her voice, of course she knows she interrupted us and she’s happy about it. Even though we’ve made progress in making the best of our situation, one thing my dear mother-in-law has made clear to me—with her, I’m far from winning.

I hear Lionel growl and a giggle comes out of my mouth, I can’t help it.

“Hadley is waiting with some paperwork you asked her for.”

Yes, Hadley Weston, his assistant, whom I met a few days ago.

“Well, it’s time to work,” says Lionel, rubbing his hands together. “After all, I got a wife to have and to hold, right?”

Chapter Nine

“Here, we are!” Lionel announces, patting me on the leg as if I hadn’t seen the white house in front of us. His smile lights up everything. These last few days, I’ve noticed many of his quirks. The way he frowns when he’s studying his documents or the way he closes his eyes before responding to something important.

The house is stunning. It’s not the stereotypical millionaire home that appears on TV, but it’s still pretty big, and is located on top of a hill surrounded by beautiful, meticulously kept landscaping.

“Here we are,” that’s the only thing I can think to say.

It’s past noon and the sun is beating down on us. My hands are sweating, so I have to wipe them several times on the cotton fabric of my dress.

I’m nervous. The last few days have been a revelation. We talked a lot and figured out a plan for what would happen after receiving the green light to go home.

One of my conditions for not returning to Carrollton was that I would start studying for the SATs. And it wasn’t up for discussion. I’m not going to put it off anymore.

So Lionel called his assistant. As if by magic, not only one but four books appeared in the hospital room, including some blank sheets, notebooks, highlighters, pencils, and many other supplies. For a moment I felt like a schoolgirl about to start the school year. That was a refreshing change, because the other times I tried to talk to Lionel, he wouldn’t even let me plead my case.

Mrs. Kral almost had a heart attack when she found out I didn’t have plans to return to the hellhole I came from—her words, not mine—my mother-in-law has no problem expressing her opinion. Lionel respectfully told her that while he appreciated her concern, he’s a married man and his place is next to his wife. That ended the discussion.

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