Page 7 of Reaching His Heart (The Sartoris 3)

Ezio’s brows crashed low over his eyes. “Oh? You’re under the impression that my wife is on staff to serve you? You forget that she has my son and daughter to take care of as well as making herself available to spend time with me.”

Cason tried snapping his fingers but failed. Nerves in his right hand were damaged, and he’d had to learn to use his left. The most he could do with it so far was hold a cup. “That’s right. What was I thinking? She’s your servant.”

His brother’s eyes held a dangerous glint, and Cason almost hoped he’d try something. Not that he thought he could take Ezio, neither in this state nor before his accident. He’d always handled his older brothers with words.

“Solette will take care of you. End of discussion. If you don’t like it, you can sulk in your room and starve to death. Shakarri has been forbidden to bring you anything from here on.” Ezio stood. “I’ll leave you two here to get acquainted and work out her schedule. Shakarri, let’s go.”

Shakarri hesitated. “Wait, Ezio. Are you sure about this? She doesn’t look… I mean…”

He wrapped an arm about his wife’s shoulders and compelled her toward the house. Cason ran a hand over his head and sighed. He gazed at the woman on the opposite side of the table who hadn’t spoken at all since he met her. “And there you have the Sartoris. Don’t put your resume away too soon.”

Big caramel eyes met his, and he was startled for a minute.

“I’ll do what I was hired to do, Mr. Sartori. I promise you.”

He looked away from her toward the wildflowers. None of the detail met his gaze, but he made out the purples and blues and yellows and greens. “No one calls me mister.”

“I-I couldn’t…”

“I could fire you.”

He looked at her in time to see her raise her chin just a hair. “You can’t. The first rule Mr. Ezio gave me was that you don’t have the authority to fire me. Only he does.”

Cason swore. He checked on her to see if she was offended, a soft thing like her. She didn’t react at all. “What are the other rules?”

“I’m to make sure you attend every meal your family eats together and make sure you leave your bedroom for at least two hours every single day.”

“You work seven days a week?” He shrugged. “Sounds like you’re not smart enough to be my nurse.”

No reaction.

“Every single day I’m here.” She stood and placed her purse on the table then moved around to take a seat closer to him. “Mr. Cason, I’ve seen people in your position many times before, and the ones that were assigned to me I’ve helped to live better lives than they could have imagined. I’m sure I can help you too.”

He scoffed. “I hope your bonus doesn’t depend on it. If you think I’m going to get a better attitude forget it. I’ve lost everything, and I don’t have anything left.”

“What have you lost?”

He gaped at her, surprised she could even ask, and he gestured to his legs. “I can’t walk. I’m blind in one eye. I have more lines on my body than a map, scars left over from the accident and from the surgeries. You name it.”

“You have a family that loves you. You’re still rich. Every medical bill is paid, and you live here in this beautiful place. All you’ve mentioned are physical things.”

“So have you,” he snapped back.

“Love,” she repeated.

He waved a hand. “Is one of the rules that you can smart off to me?”

To his surprise, she appeared fearful, but then her countenance cleared. “No, I apologize. What I want you to understand is it doesn’t matter how hard it is, I’ll be here with you, and we’ll get you to a good place.” She allowed a tiny smile to touch full lips and took his breath away. “Your bonus is you can cu

ss like a sailor. It won’t bother me at all. So, why don’t we get started?”

Cason started to think his brother was far cleverer than he realized, and he was in for a load of trouble from here on.

Chapter 3

Solette squeezed the steering wheel of her old clunker and let out a heavy breath. She glanced over at her son. “Okay, Joe, baby, just keep your head down when we go in. Don’t call attention to yourself. Hopefully, no one will notice you, but if they do, don’t say anything. Act like you belong.”

Her son groaned. “Mom, call me Joseph. It sounds more dignified.”

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