Page 32 of Greed
“Lilo is above physical expectations, she’s aesthetically attractive and of a similar age. I’d say her personality is also acceptable. Perhaps she’s a little too talkative, and she likes to touch, but one can expect that from a generous person.” He thought about it for a moment longer. “She chewed gum. I didn’t like that. It was too fragrant.”
“None of these things seem like deal-breakers. So, what’s holding you back?”
“I told you. I don’t like relying on something we know little about. This mate business is unpredictable and new to us all.”
At least with his protocol, he had precise implications for each action he made versus the response on his tattoo marker. Steal a piece of jewelry, the marker would shift into the dark. Do something selfless, it would shift to the light. Lilo had saved his life, but he’d shielded her with his body when the explosion went off. Was that enough to equalize their debt to each other?
Griffin peered at his tattoo, still equal parts black and white, and that concerned him. It had been hours since he’d been with Lilo. If it were anyone else who had saved his life, his tattoo might have tipped toward the dark side—the selfish side. Especially if the marking believed heletLilo save his life for selfish reasons. Following his current protocol for keeping balance, that would mean that Griffin had to do something equally selfless to put him back to center, but with the tattoo in its current state, he had no evidence to suggest he was out of balance.
Unreliable.
The entire protocol he’d built over countless years would be null and void if he couldn’t get accurate readings from his tattoo anymore.
Without understanding his new situation, he felt as though he waited for a bomb to go off. Would he suddenly tip into the dark-side when least expected? Or did her proximity reset his internal equilibrium, as though wiping a slate clean? How much of his life would be controlled by his need to be near her? And on the flip side, how many of her feelings would be controlled by the pheromones he released around her? Both of them would be living their life according to a specific set of rules someone else had written.
“Can I make a suggestion?” Flint asked. “Do what you’re good at. Gather evidence and make an informed decision before you write this woman off. In the mean time, be nice to her. You don’t want her to turn off you before she’s had a chance to meet the real you. Change is good, Griff.”
But it wasn’t easy.
“I’ll think about it,” Griffin said. “I have to go. Mary will be waiting for me soon.”
“While you’re at it, apologize to your mother. Your behavior was uncalled for earlier.”
“I agree.”
“Good chat.” Flint clapped Griffin firmly on the shoulder and then let go. “See you at dinner tomorrow night.”
Chapter Twelve
When Lilo got back to the Cardinal Copy, she sat at her desk, staring into space, trying to decide if she trusted Griffin enough to send the message churning in her mind. He tried to save her cousin.I have to help him, he’d said. Not,Get him, orRUN!His first instinct had been to save the criminal. Any man who acted so selflessly must be good. With her resolve hardened, she typed into her phone:
We need to talk.
He didn’t answer. Probably because he had no idea who she was.
This is Lilo, by the way,she added.Lilo Likeke.
Still no answer. Maybe he was freaking out because Grace gave her his number.
Grace gave me your number. Hope that’s okay.
Griffin?
Lilo tapped her finger on the phone screen, waiting. Maybe he was busy. She could probably just phone him, but she was at work with a thousand prying eyes. Plus, if she didn’t start work on the story soon, Fred would start to worry. Fred would come over and discuss. Then Lilo would blurt out something she shouldn’t.
She turned on her computer then promptly distracted herself by ordering her old housekeeper a birthday present. It was a necklace she’d spotted in the lifestyle section that Candy had recommended. Renata had always been kind to Lilo when she grew up. Because Renata was poor, Lilo never worried her affections were paid. She didn’t have to be kind to the spoiled princess Lilo, but she was. And now that Lilo had seen the truth behind her family money, she always did what she could to let Renata know she was thinking of her.
Good. Paid. Express delivery so it arrived today. God she loved same day shipping. It helped every time she forgot someone’s birthday.
When it was all done, and Lilo checked her phone. Still no response from Griffin. He had left the hospital in such a rush. What if he was sitting at home bleeding, and that’s why he couldn’t answer the phone? She tried texting again:
Griffin?
Hello?
Just when Lilo was about to find a supply closet in which to call him privately, her phone finally pinged back.
Hello.
