Page 84 of Rosabel and the Billionaire Beast

I was touched. If what he’d said was true, that was sweet. Sweeter than I knew how to express at the moment.

I knew buying things for people was no excuse for bad behavior, but I didn’t think that was what his actions meant. It was an effort to show his feelings when he didn’t know any other way.

That didn’t mean it was the best way, but I was still touched by his thoughtfulness. He hadn’t been a jerk to me on this trip. He’d changed—just like I asked him to. Even the times he’d snapped and nearly reverted back to his old self, he’d caught himself and stopped.

He’d been kind. He wastrying.

I took the remaining steps toward the door beside the garage and paused.

“Thank you for telling me. But he can’t buy my affections,” I told Clive.

“Maybe that’s all he knows how to do.” Clive tipped his hat toward me and then strode back toward his car.

There was no sign of Duncan once I entered the house. I made a stop in the kitchen just to check the fridge again. Sure enough, when I opened it, an entire row of flavored waters were there.

I hadn’t yet found the book room, but that would have to happen later.

Curiously, I wandered down the hall in the direction I’d seen Duncan go. I wasn’t exactly sure which room was his—I’d never needed to know before.

But as I edged closer to a pair of closed doors and heard movement within the one on the far left, my heart wedged in my chest. I knew I shouldn’t eavesdrop—and in all honesty, there wasn’t much to listen in on.

He was moving around; that much was evidenced by the occasional sound of shuffling. What was he doing in there?

I lifted my hand and almost knocked on the door but thought better of it. He hadn’t talked to me at all during the drive home.He’d rushed away the instant he could. He’d made it more than obvious that he wanted to be alone right now.

So I let him sulk. Or brood. Or whatever he did when he turned all surly like that.

Quietly, I traipsed back out into the open area and made for the stairs, grateful for the barrier wall keeping me from the chatter I now heard in the kitchen. Probably Nicole and Pat, prepping dinner.

Once I was up the stairs, I headed down the hall toward my room.

Everything looked to be about the same as I’d left it. I’d nearly forgotten about the package Clive had mentioned earlier, but the small black case sitting on the end of my bed brought it back to mind once more.

That wasn’t the only addition to the room.

In one corner near the large window overlooking the lake was the same cushy armchair that was there before. There had been nothing in the other corner, but now, a music stand stood there.

A music stand? Duncan had bought me a music stand?

Several yellow books that appeared to be compilations from different music eras were stacked on the stand’s lip. I turned back to the bed, to the narrow black case and the single red rose wrapped with a black ribbon draped over it.

“Oh, my gosh.”

Our conversation by the lake this morning came shouting back through my mind. It had only been hours ago that we’d talked.Hours.

He must have sent for this right away—before our misunderstanding.

I stalked to the bed and let my fingers run the length of the narrow black case. Then I sat on the bed and placed the case on my lap.

Little tremors overtook my body. With my thumbs on the clasps, I unlatched each and tipped the lid open. There, sitting on the red velvet cushion with spaces specifically for each piece, were the silver pieces of a flute.

“He didn’t.”

Except, he did.

He bought me a flute—and not just any flute. He’d gotten me a top-of-the-line instrument, better than the one I owned, than the one I’d taken a student loan out for in college to purchase. So what?

So, it meant he cared. He listened. He’d opened up to me, and he was trying to be the friend I’d asked him to be.Maybe that’s all he knows how to do.

---