Page 11 of Bella and Her Beast
“What?” I respond.
“Um, your water is about to spill out your sink.”
I look down and notice the level of rising water was at the counter edge. I quickly shut it off and open the drain to release it to a safe level.
Joy and I are off today, and we are having lunch at my place. I’m cleaning as we go, so there will be no dirty dishes later.
“You have been like this for the past few days. What’s up? I’ve never seen you this doe-eyed.”
I hadn’t told her about my visit to Devereux Manor, mypersonal nickname for his home. She would always think too much into something that is nothing.Is it nothing,I think to myself. “Joy. You know the other day when I went to see Greyson and take him that book?”
“Yeah. What happened that day?”
“Nothing, really. He had an injury on his side from getting into a bar fight.”
“Bar fight? He’s not that type of guy.”
“Same thing I said, but he told me he’s full of surprises.”
“Oh, he’s one of those. You know, undercover lover types.”
“Why would you say that?”
“Cause, anytime a man says he’s full of surprises, he is usually a veritable beast in the sheets.”
We laugh at her comment, but I have no idea if it is true to her theory.
“Anyway, as I was saying, we kinda shared a tender moment. We walked around his property, I applied my special healing ointment to his wound, and he picked a fresh rose from his garden, and placed it in my hair. He speaks Spanish, which is a major turn on and seems well read. Nothing like the image of him at the library.”
“Oh.”
“Is that all you, of all people, have to say?”
“I’m just thinking. Now hear me out. Are you attracted to him?”
“I mean, he is attractive, and he had on a button-down shirt that was open. Like you know he put it on to not appear bare, but he has tattoos all over and that hoodie he always wears is hiding his blond hair plus a very toned and fit body.”
“Oh, my. Keep going.”
I shake my head to remove the thought of his sexiness. “I’m just saying, what we see every day wasn’t what I became acquainted with when I went to his property. He’s a different person; more relaxed even.”
“Seems like he has a thing for you.”
“How? We hardly even speak when he comes into the library.”
“Maybe that one moment you approached him and then you showed up at his house, was all he needed to be more open with you.”
Joy isn’t far from my own thoughts. Since then, he’s haunted my dreams, even giving me a feeling of lust, which I never have. “I could just be overthinking this, as usual.”
“True, or there could be something there. Maybe you should go back over there. You know, like a follow-up visit.”
“No. That’s too much. I already went out there without an invitation.”
“And he didn’t throw you off his property. So, I say go. I’m sure he would love to see you. I mean, the guy plucked a rose and gave it to you.”
I kept the flower and placed it in its own biosphere I found at a local shop. I use a dropper and place a few droplets of water and food to keep it happy and healthy every day. It seems to continue to flourish.
“I don’t know. That would seem a bit too much your thing. You know how things always end with me and guys. And since he is a frequent visitor, I don’t want to ruin that relationship.”
