Page 15 of Desolation

Interesting.

“Don’t be silly. It would be a pleasure to show you around.”

“I bet,” I hear her mutter under her breath.

Wendy claps her hands. “Well now that that’s all settled. I’ll leave you two to it.”

I watch as Wendy walks away and see the scowl on Mr. Cartwell’s face. I win.

As soon as Wendy is out of view, Marianne pulls her hand from me. “What the hell?”

“What?” I ask perplexed.

“Do you come to this place to flirt with women?”

“Only the beautiful ones I can’t take my eyes off of.”

She rolls her beautiful whiskey ones at me before storming off in the direction of the garden.

I run after her, catching up to her in a few short strides with my long legs.

“Leave me alone,” she snaps.

I cross in front of her and hold up my hands in surrender. “Look, I’m sorry. I’ll stop flirting. I couldn’t help it when I saw you.”

She sighs and taps her foot. At least she isn’t moving.

“Look, I love this place. I find comfort in hearing the stories of these men and women. I honestly don’t come here to flirt. I usually get verbally insulted by Mr. Cartwell but I still come back. I didn’t mean to offend you. Please let me show you around. I’ll even tell you who to avoid.”

She purses her lips at me and I remind myself I can’t try to kiss them but they look kissable as fuck when she does that. “Fine,” she acquiesces. “But you keep your hands to yourself.”

“Promise.” Giving her the boy scout salute.

She raises a brow at me. “I find it hard to believe you were a boy scout.”

I move next to her as we walk around through the garden. “Got me there. But I am a Navy SEAL.”

She snorts. “That explains a lot.”

“What the hell does that mean?” I ask her, only partly offended.

“I know a few. They are all cocky as hell and all tend to flirt with everyone.”

“Fair enough.”

She stops walking. “You aren’t going to disagree with that statement.”

“Nope,” I say popping the p. “I one hundred percent agree.”

“Hmm.”

We walk around the gardens. It’s small and not awe-inspiring but it has enough leafy vegetation to keep the residents happy. I show her all the nice spots to relax where the sun doesn’t get too hot. We make our way back inside and I introduce her to a few of the women at the facility.

“Well, thank you for the tour, Landon. I think I am going to hang out with Georgia.”

Georgia bats her eyelashes at me. The woman flirts with me relentlessly. Which might help me out. She has nothing but good things to say about Landon Thompson.

“Are you going to stay too?” Georgia asks.