by Amie Nichols
“I will never get tired of this,” he purrs in my ear as he bites my earlobe gently.
“Hmmmm,” is the only sound I can muster. “I hate to get up, but I have some things I need to take care,” Luke says as he rolls out of bed.
“No stay with me,” I whine reaching out on the bed where he was just laying. He’s standing next to the bed with his back to me. I stare at the perfect man standing before me. His back muscles are sculpted, his butt is perfectly shaped and very muscular. He is an amazing specimen of a man. He pulls on his jeans and leans down grabbing the rest of his clothes and shoes.
Turning around, he sees me staring at him. “You like?” He gives me a wicked grin. He looks so sexy in his faded jeans and no shirt. Oh, I could eat him up.
“I like very much.” I raise my eyebrows up in down. “Where you going?” I pout pushing out my bottom lip.
"Don’t pout. I’ll be back soon. I’m going to shower in the cottage since all my clean clothes are in there." He leans down biting my pouting lip gently.
“I have some errands to run,” he sits on the bed and takes my cheek between his index finger and thumb and squeezes. “You’re very cute when you pout you know. But I have to get to work before my boss fires me. I think she can be a hard ass,” he smiles and leans down to give me a quick kiss before he rises to leave.
“Fiiiine,” I say rolling onto my back with my arms sprawled out. “But I don’t think you need to worry about being fired, Mr. Hansen. In fact, I think you are up for a big raise,” I shout at him as he walks out the door.
“Love you baby, I’ll see ya later,” he shouts back and he’s gone.
Chapter 16
After I shower, I search my closet for something to wear. I have plenty of sexy clothes after shopping with Emma a few times. I find a light blue sundress that comes just above my knees with spaghetti straps. This should do. I slip on matching blue lace panties and bra. I slide into the dress and look at myself in the mirror. It must be humid today because my hair looks much frizzier than normal. I pull it back into a messy ponytail, and after putting on a little makeup, I walk into the kitchen. While grabbing a cereal bowl, I hear someone talking outside.
Walking over to the French doors, I see Luke discussing something with his dad. Luke is showered and clean-shaven. He is wearing nicer clothes than what he would usually wear to work in. Still wearing jeans, but they are not ripped or faded. He has on a nice button up, long sleeve white shirt with the sleeves rolled up halfway between his wrists and elbows. I wonder why he is more dressed up than usual. He looks so handsome.
When he finishes his conversation with his dad, he heads for his truck. It’s an old truck, the same truck he had two and half years ago. I wonder if it has the same bungee cord holding the door shut. He gets in and I can hear him try to start it, but the engine won’t turn over. He tries 2 more times then I see him hit the steering wheel with frustration. Trying it again, it finally roars to life and he is gone from my view in a flash. I think my handyman needs a new truck I smile to myself.
“Hey gorgeous, you are glowing,” Jacob teases stepping next to me. He kisses my cheek and looks out the glass doors with me. “What are we looking at?” He says not seeing anything.
“Will you do something for me today?” I turn to Jacob who is holding a cup of coffee still searching the back yard.
“What’s up?” He inquires and decides there’s nothing of interest outside. He takes a seat at the table.
“Will you go buy the best truck money can buy?” I ask heading to the chair by the entrance to the garage, where I always drop my purse when I come in.
“Ummm yes, is it for me?” He calls after me chuckling. I return back to the table and search my wallet for my platinum American Express card.
“It’s for Luke silly,” I say handing him the card with no limit. I put his name on the card also so he can buy security equipment for the house, and whatever else he needs.
“Oh, of course, for lover boy. I assume he is the reason you are glowing this morning.” My face burns hot with embarrassment at his ribbing.
“Stop it!” I squeal at him as he starts poking my side to get a reaction out of me. I can’t help but laugh at his candor. “You’re so immature,” I say slapping his hand away.
“So, must have been really good to get the best truck money can buy out of it.” Jacob, still teasing, raises his eyebrows up and down.
“It was really great.” I confess smiling, not looking at the goofy look he’s giving me. “But that’s not why. His truck is a piece of crap and I want to give him a gift,” I tell him sticking my tongue out when he makes a lovesick face at me.
“I would love to go buy another man my dream truck,” Jacob says overly dramatic.
“Thank you.” I ignore the way he’s acting and get up. “I’m going to the study. Can’t wait to see what you’ve picked out,” I tell him grabbing a cup of coffee before I go.
Walking into the study, I sit at the desk noticing the safe still ajar. I don’t want to deal with that at the moment. Jacob has already taken the money to the bank this morning. At least that part is taken care of. There was 2.5 million dollars in cash. The bank said the bills were 17 years old, new, and never circulated. I have to wonder why Ted had so much cash on hand, but it’s just another mystery to add to the growing pile.
I go through my emails and notice Elliott had sent me some resumes for personal assistants he’s been on me to hire. I read through them, deleting the ones that I know I don’t want, and writing down the names of the ones I want to interview.
I can’t seem to get the safe out of my mind, though. Getting up, I walk over to it. I stand in front of it for a minute before I open the door and sit on the floor in front of it.
Seeing the newspaper clipping again makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up. It’s so horrible what that poor woman went through. I move the article aside and grab the folder.
Opening it, I see it’s a deed to a plantation in Lafayette Parrish. Why’s this in the safe? All off daddy’s properties are in the file cabinet. This property doesn’t seem familiar to me. I grab the logbook and search the pages for any payments to staff or taxes for the address. There is nothing to no one.
All of the properties have some staff. Some of them are rented out and there are payments coming in. There's nothing going out or coming in for this property. It doesn’t make any sense. Do I own this property? The deed is old and yellow, not like the ones that have been rewritten and notarized in the file cabinet.
I leave the study to look for Miss Finnegan. I want to ask her about it, but when I walk into the kitchen there’s a note on the counter.
Lilly, I went to the Market. Miss. F
I head outside to search the grounds for Jeffrey. He’s worked for my father since before I was born. Surely he knows something about this plantation. I hear the mower, but I can’t see him. I walk around to the side of the mansion and see him on the riding mower about 200 yards from me. I start to walk toward the mower when he notices me and turns off the engine.
“Everything okay, Lil?” He yells toward me. I usually don’t stalk him out in the yard when he’s working
“Yeah, everything’s fine,” I yell back. I continue walking toward him. I see Simon out of the corner of my eye coming up in the Gator. The back of it has a pink dogwood tree with a huge root ball. There are still a lot of trees to be planted, and I’m glad Jeffrey finally has the help.
As I reach Jeffrey, he hops off the tractor mower I purchased for him. He had a small ancient rider that took him forever to mow the yard. If Jane had her way, she would have made him push mow the whole property. He was so grateful. He’s done mowing in a couple of hours with his new toy.
“What’s up?” He says walking toward me as Simon pulls up.
“Miss Sumnor,” he nods and looks me up and down again inappropriately. I still can’t decide if he’s just a creep or socially awkward. I avert my eyes from him not wanting to encourage the be
havior.
“Simon, I think you need to get back to your work,” Jeffrey sternly tells him. I can tell he is not pleased with the ogling I just received. He nods my way and gives me a smile. This was more normal conduct and it makes me feel a little better. He drives the gator over to the fresh hole in the ground about fifty yards away.
“What’s that?” He says looking at the folder in my hands.
“Do you know anything about this property?” I ask handing him the deed. I had asked him to go to all of daddy’s properties a few months ago to check up on things. He was to take pictures so I could go through them to decide which ones I wanted to keep, and which ones I wanted to sell. He takes the deed studying it.
“No, this one wasn’t on the list,” he answers. “I didn’t know about this one,” he says looking at me with confusion. “Where did you get this?”
“It was in the safe. There is no record of money coming in or going out for it,” I tell him as he hands the deed back to me. I take it and look at him waiting for his thought as to what it’s about.
“That’s strange. Your father was very good about keeping logs of his properties,” he says scratching his head. He’s baffled, too. “I can drive over tomorrow and see what’s there if you like,” he offers.
“I’ll let you know. I’m going to call Elliott and see what he knows about it,” I tell him. “I’ll let you get back to your mowing,” I turn away with a puzzled look on my face.
"I’m sure there’s a reasonable explanation for it, Lil,” he encourages me seeing my concern.
As I walk back toward the house, I see a new, shiny black truck pull in the drive. It’s a huge Ford F250.
Jeffrey runs to catch up with me seeing the truck. “I wonder who that is.” He says as he catches up, walking with me. “I don’t know that truck,” he says cautiously, and I can tell he is being protective.
“Well, that is Luke’s new truck I bought him.” I look at him smiling from ear to ear.
“What?” He asks astonished. “What did he do to deserve that?” He questions and then immediately looks away. “Never mind I don’t want to know.” I nervously chuckle at his comment, and think to myself, no you don’t want to know.
“I want to surprise him with it tonight,” I say as we reach the driveway and Jacob hops down out of the huge vehicle. “Pull it into the garage. I don’t know when he’ll be back and I don’t want him to see it yet,” I tell Jacob and he climbs back in. Jeffrey walks to the garage door and punches in the code to open it.
“Is it what you had in mind?” Jacob asks after getting out of the truck again, joining Jeffrey and I after we walk into the garage to admire it.
“It’s perfect, Jacob, thank you.” I give him a quick hug.
“That’s a nice truck, Lil,” Jeffrey says, “but Luke is not going to accept it you know.” He looks at me eyebrows raised, and gives me the I-know-my-son look.
“Why?”
“Because it’s too much, and he’s way too proud to take such an extravagant gift,” he explains.
“We’ll see about that. I think I can be pretty persuasive,” I say, Jacob and Jeffrey looking at me awkwardly.
“Lilly we don’t need to hear about how you’re going to ‘persuade’ him.” Jacob rolls his eyes and starts laughing.
“Well, that’s my queue to leave,” Jeffrey says uncomfortably, laughing at Jacob.
“Grow up, would you.” I push on Jacob’s arm after Jeffrey leaves the garage and we walk into the house.
“Sorry sister, you bring out the worst in me,” Jacob retorts. “What’s that?” Jacob asks about the folder still in my hand. I explain to him that it was in the safe and it’s a deed to a mystery property.
“Do you want me to go check it out?” Jacob asks suddenly more serious.
“I don’t know, maybe. I want to check with Luke first and see what he says.” I tell him, which makes him instantly pout.
“I remember when my opinion was all you needed.” He sounds like a little boy. “But I guess I’ve been replaced with lover boy,” he grates.
“No you haven’t. I value your opinion just as much, but I just want to discuss it with him. I might want to go check it out first anyway,” I point out and head toward the study. “I have some work to do, so stop distracting me,” I tease to lighten the mood.
“Change the subject, I see how it is.” His joking mood back, and we go our separate ways in the house.
I spend the next couple of hours calling references for some of my must interview applicants. I decide on two that I really want to have come in. Calling the numbers listed, I set up two interviews back to back to take place in a few days.
Chapter 17
I walk into the kitchen when I hear Miss Finnegan in there. It smells so good. She’s making some clam chowder.
“Hi dear,” she greets me as I sit on the stool at the kitchen island. I notice it’s almost four, and Luke’s not back yet. I check my cell, no texts or missed calls.
“Hey!” I greet back, feeling a little depressed that he has been gone all day.
“You want something to eat, honey?” Miss Finnegan offers as she chops some vegetables.
“I’m good thanks. I’m going to sit on the patio.”
I walk out the French doors and sit in one of the Adirondack chairs on the patio. Crossing my legs, because my short dress doesn’t leave me much modesty, I thumb through my phone checking emails. I hear the loud roar of Luke’s truck pull up the drive to the cottage. Finally, I’m so glad he’s back. I stand and walk over to meet him. He gets out of the truck and my heartbeat quickens at the sight of him.
“Hey baby,” he grabs me by the waist lifting me so I am eye level with him. “You are a sight for sore eyes. You look beautiful,” he says and makes his way to my lips, his tongue instantly in my mouth with intensity. I wrap my hands around his neck and return his kiss with the same passion. My belly tightens, that familiar burn starts rushing through me.
He pulls away from the kiss and rubs his nose against mine smiling. “That makes my bad day so much better,” he coos, our foreheads touching.
“Why was it a bad day? Where have you been?” I ask him as he sets me down. We walk towards the patio, his arm around my shoulders and mine around his waist.
“I’ve been to about four banks to get a loan for a new truck,” he admits and frowns. “No one will give me one, no credit. So I guess I’ll just tape the old one up some more and live with it.” He shrugs like it’s no big deal, but I can tell he’s upset.
“You went to banks for a loan?” I ask instantly mad. “Why didn’t you ask me for the money?” The anger in my voice throws him off.
“Calm down baby! I’m not taking your money, Lil!” He exclaims firmly.
I stand up and grab his hand with so much force. He doesn’t say a word, and I lead him around to the garage door that his new truck is behind.
“Now I am only going to say this once!” I say firmly so he will take notice, which he does.
“And I am not going to take no for an answer, understand?” I stand there and wait for him to respond. I am very nervous that Jeffrey was right and he won’t accept my gift.
“Okay, calm down. You’re very sexy like this, you know, all feisty,” he chuckles and pulls me toward him, kissing the top of my head. I wiggle away from his grasp so he knows I’m serious.
“I bought you something and you will accept it. There will be no arguing. What’s mine is yours, Emma’s, Jeffrey’s, Miss F’s, Jacob’s, and whoever else I choose to spend my money on,” I finish taking in along breath. He has that wicked grin on his face at my little tantrum. I walk over and punch the code in and the garage door starts to open revealing his new shiny truck.
“Wow! Lil, I can’t.” He stops when I whip around and face him, upset that he is about to turn me down.
“You can.”
“I really don’t think I can accept this,” he says sheepishly. “This is a very expensive truck, Lilly.”
“Well, I inherited all this money, and have no family. So I guess I should lock myself up in my big mansion keeping every damn cent for myself.” I frown sticking out my bottom lip in a pout.
“Lilly, come on. I just don’t feel right about this,” he says grabbing my hand swinging it back in fourth.
“I guess if I can’t share my wealth with the people I love then I might as well give it all up.” I pour it on thick still pouting. “I bet Jacob would be happy to take it off your hands.” I change up my strategy.
“Not fair,” he points his finger at me.
“Well I bought this truck and it is staying. You can either accept my gift or I’m giving it to Jacob,” I say triumphantly knowing I have him.
“Oh, you are good.” He smiles shaking his finger at me and steps closer. He grabs my bottom lip with his index finger and thumb pulling gently. “You’re so damn cute.” He leans down and kisses the tip of my nose. “I love the truck and I love you.”
“Now, how about we take it for a drive?” He does an instant 180. I love the excitement on his face now that he has decided to accept the truck. He takes my hand and leads me to the passenger side door and opens it for me.
“Up you go,” he says as he lifts me up into the very tall truck.
“Oooh, I like this.” As I get in my legs spread a little and he can see up my dress.
“Blue lace panties? I’ll be looking forward to taking those off later.” He grins at me raising his eyebrows.
“As will I be looking forward to you taking them off.” I giggle.
“Oh, what you do to me.” He growls, his voice low and sexy. Hot pools run through me. He runs around to the driver side and climbs in.
“This is a really nice truck. Is there anything it doesn’t have?” He asks impressed, as he looks around at all the amenities. It has leather seats, moon roof, towing package, and the list goes on and on. “This is exactly what I would have picked out, you know.” He smiles at me telling me I did a good job.
