Total pages in book: 127
Estimated words: 117505 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 588(@200wpm)___ 470(@250wpm)___ 392(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 117505 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 588(@200wpm)___ 470(@250wpm)___ 392(@300wpm)
She stared at him in shocked disbelief. “But I’m nobody! You don’t even know me that well. Your loyalty is and should be to Drake.”
“Now you’re just pissing me off even more,” he growled. “If I allow an innocent woman to suffer for doing nothing more than be a beautiful person inside and out, that doesn’t make me much of a man. And if that costs me my relationship with Drake, then so be it. I’m quite used to being a lone wolf and not answering to anyone. Now, enough of this ridiculous conversation. The food is getting cold.”
Shaken by his emphatic statement, she went to the cabinet and pulled out several plates and gathered utensils from the drawer. When she returned to the bar, Silas was opening the various takeout containers.
“I wasn’t sure what you were in the mood for, so I got a variety. I have all your favorite Thai and Chinese dishes as well as finger foods and appetizers, including chicken wings, cheese sticks, spinach dip, queso and chips, two kinds of chicken strips and a few other things I threw in for you to try.”
Her mouth watered and her stomach grumbled appreciatively.
“It looks wonderful,” she said softly. Then she met his gaze and stared sincerely at him. “Thank you, Silas. This means the world to me.”
His expression softened. “Next week, I’ll get something different for us to try. This time I wanted to get food I knew you’d like.”
“I’m looking forward to it,” she said honestly. “I hate being cooped up in here. I’m going stir-crazy.”
He frowned. “Then perhaps it’s time you stop hiding in Drake’s apartment and get out more. You have no reason to be ashamed with me or any of Drake’s men. They know he was an asshole. I know he was an asshole. And none of it was your fault. Tomorrow morning Maddox will be by to take you shopping along with a few of Drake’s other men.”
“For what?” she asked, even more flustered than before. “I don’t need anything.”
He chuckled and she stared at him in astonishment because Silas wasn’t a man prone to laughter. It transformed his entire face, making him look younger and extremely handsome.
“Who says shopping is all about need? Shopping is supposed to be fun, or so women tell me.”
Her brow furrowed as she became pensive.
“I supposed I could get started on my Christmas shopping,” she said awkwardly, thinking of her limited cash and wondering how far she could make it stretch now that she had considerably more people to buy for.
Silas was staring at her, as if he could read her like a book. When his eyes narrowed and he suddenly got up and walked over to the drawer where she’d stashed the credit cards and cash he’d given her, she realized he’d done exactly that. Read her thoughts as if they’d been broadcasted in neon lights.
“Did you forget about the money and credit cards?” Silas asked.
She shook her head miserably.
“Then you know to use them,” he said pointedly.
She sighed unhappily. “This isn’t easy for me, Silas. I hate the idea of being a kept woman and doing . . . nothing.”
His expression softened and he closed the drawer before returning to his seat at the island. “I understand pride when I see it, Evangeline. And I respect it. Drake has more money than he’ll ever use in ten lifetimes. He won’t even miss what little you spend of it. But if he knows that you refuse to use his money or credit cards, he will not be happy. He already feels guilty enough over what happened to you that night and his part in the whole sordid mess. Will you continue to punish him by refusing the things he wants to give you?”
She stared at Silas with an open mouth, acknowledging the points he’d scored with his statement. She had no desire to punish Drake any more. They’d both suffered enough, and all she truly wanted was to be able to move on and forget that night ever happened.
“It’s that important to him?” she asked softly.
“Wouldn’t it be to you?” Silas asked. “If someone you cared about refused to accept any of the things you gave them, wouldn’t it bother you?”
She bit her lip but slowly nodded.
“I have it on good authority that Drake will be taking you out one night soon. Perhaps you can use tomorrow’s shopping trip to buy an appropriate dress and shoes and all the other accessories. Drake is a very important figure in the circles he travels in, and though he would cut off his tongue before ever telling you how to look or dress, I’ve learned enough about you to know how much pride you have and that you would want to make Drake proud of you.”
Her mind began racing a mile a minute. “Taking me out? Where are we going?”