Stay tuned...
Who the hell was Charlie? I didn’t want to look too eager, but it was like I was hearing something that shouldn’t matter, but the curiosity clawed at me. "How about we make it a celebratory lunch instead, that way Love can be here." Sebastian cuts through my thoughts. "That works for me." Her voice chirped as she extended her hand to touch Marley's back, her delicate fingers ran through his fur, and never in my life have I ever wanted to be a dog more. "Thank you for everything, Love," Sebastian said again, his voice steady but filled with gratitude. "This means more than I can say." She smiled, a soft, humble expression washed over her angelic face as she retrieved her hand and wrapped her palm against her cane. "You dont need to thank me. Just focus on what is in front of you. And right now I think Marley is up for a walk. How about we show him around, I'm sure he is going to love the garden." She didn’t seek any praise or recognition. Why? What made her so humble? I knew
I wanted to enter the room and break that bond that was forming so beautifully in front of my eyes yet I couldn't. I've already taken enough for him and perhaps this was the way the universe was finally going to punish me. Love, my perfect little fragile snowflake, my angel of light, someone who I can only call mine in my tortured thoughts. Then another thought hit my chest like a pound of rocks. What if the reason she won't let me get close to her is because she likes Sebastian? Perhaps she felt more identified with him... and what if my brother finds in her the meaning of companionship again? Will I be able to be happy for him? Will I be able to stand looking at that without going crazy? Will I have to put on a scale my love for my brother and the feelings I have for Love? I already know I will choose Sebastian, even if it kills me. My brother. My flesh and blood. The one I’ve always shared my life with, my thoughts, my past, my dreams... and now, possibly my future with
"I think Christian is also fine if you call him by his first name, all of this formality is unnecessary," Sebastian says as he pets Marley's head. "I've asked her to call me by my name many times now yet Miss Bennett is stubborn," I say as I watch Love bite her lower lip before pressing them in a tight, uncomfortable smile. "It's just that I... I..." It's obvious she was struggling to find an excuse, she didn't have one no matter how much she wanted to justify herself in her ways. "Well, I hear you calling Mrs.Swan formally and she addresses you accordingly and like her, I am also a part of your staff..." "Mrs.Swan saw us in diapers, that is why we address her formally. When we were little Christian was afraid of her, perhaps he still is." Sebastian jokes, at least I hope it was a joke. "Please Seb, do I need to remind you how you hid in the fireplace when you didn't eat your brussel sprouts? If anyone was afraid of her it was you." "No need to go down memory lane, the point is y
Love's POVI was touching him.My hand was on his skin.He put it there... and now I have no way of living after this. I'm stuck.And I would like to freeze this moment forever, with his warm skin underneath mine, the edge of his beard slightly poking me, my thumb dangerously close to his full, nude, lush lips.I avoided looking at his eyes, I rather focused on the vase behind his back while the dryness of my eyes reminded me to blink."Go on," Christian said as he inched himself closer to me to the point where our knees touched.His scent, his warmth, and his strength surrounded me and I swallowed hard, but my throat was dry, my body trembling as I fought against the gravity of this moment.My heart beat louder, thrumming in my chest, filling the space between us like it could drown us both. “Christian...” He smiled at the sound of his name leaving my lips not knowing it slipped out before I could stop it, barely a whisper as if it was the last breath I would ever take.“Shh.” His voi
"Christian, I dont want to be anything more than an employee to you. Best case scenario I can give you my friendship but that is it." But my words seem empty to him like he is sure he can make me change my mind and I kept feeling like we had this conversation many times before... or perhaps I did have it like a hundred times playing out in my head. "Love, I will change your mind," Christian says as he takes my hand into his. "But I dont want you to change my mind. I like it just the way it is." Because it's the only way it can be. "And I do not believe that. I think you have your very well-hidden reasons not to let me in your life the way I want but that doesn't mean you dont feel this pull that is happening between us." My reasons? I have but only one. And that is the lie I told you, the lie that the longer it goes on have greater potential to hurt you but if I tell the truth now you will most probably kick me out of your life and I am still not done with Sebastian."Christian, ple
"Thank you for the lunch, Grace. Everything was delicious." I say as I gather my things ready to leave."Thank you for everything, Love. And I hope your leg feels better tomorrow." So do I but at the same time, my leg is at the bottom of my list of problems. Tamara was currently at the top. No matter how much I wanted to escape this mansion I was not looking forward to talking with her."Are you ready?" Christian asks as he appears behind me."I'm sorry?" I ask as I slowly turn around to see him holding his car keys."The driver left so Christian will drive you home," Grace says as she puts her hands on my shoulders. Arguing with her would be as pointless as arguing with him.Christian moved toward me, his footsteps light but deliberate. "Shall we?" he asked, his voice smooth, as he gently nudged the door open."We shall."...Christian opened the car door for me with a practiced ease, his hand lingering just a moment longer than necessary on the edge of the frame breathing me in. I sl
"You have some explaining to do." Tamara says as she sits on the couch, Charlie in her lap enjoying how her hand passes through his fur. "I know," I say as I put down my bag... and the cane... and take off the sunglasses."Ohh I'm really looking forward to hearing what you have to say... I mean how will you justify getting that job on false pretences? Lying to people with such power could destroy you, and all of your dreams... I just dont know what were you thinking Love. How do you plan to get out of it?" I let out a heavy sigh, feeling the weight of her words settle around me like a thick fog. Tamara’s gaze is sharp, eyes filled with disappointment and concern. "It was a chance to help someone but at the same time help myself, help Mira. We would have lost this apartment that no matter how crapy it is it's still better than the street. I was in a tight spot so I just did it." It is the best I can do to justify myself. Is it good? Perhaps not, but lies aren't usually meant to have
Today marks the fiftyth day of my working for the Callahans. It went by so fast and so intense, with me helping Sebastian be more independent each day while at the same time falling in love with Christian more and more. I discovered he is funny, kind, talented, generous, committed, driven, stubborn... so human, in the best way possible. Yet still I didn't let myself allow him to get closer to me. I was still able to use Charlie as a way to run away from him. That little lost puppy helped me a lot but it now had Mira and me in a lot of trouble. "You can't kick us out... it's six days until Christmas where the hell do you want us to go!" Mira yelled, her voice shaking with frustration as she stood in front of the landlord, trying her best to look confident "The rules on your lees were clear, no pets allowed. That filthy mut probably ruined the place." This place was ruined even before we got here, quite frankly he was lucky we were so desperate. "Number one, our dog is not filthy. N
Christian's POV"So it's done?" I ask Gwen over the phone as I sit in my home office."Yes, Mr.Callahan. The contract is signed on a three-year lease and they will be moving in tomorrow." She says and it's a good thing I'm alone because the smile on my face must look ridiculous. But it didn't matter, I did it for her, for Love. "Great Gwen. I'll wire you the difference you knocked out the rent and your commission. Thank you for this favor." I lean back in my chair, my fingers drumming lightly on the armrest, a surge of satisfaction filling my chest. I did it. Love would never have asked for this, but I couldn't stand the thought of her struggling, not when I could help. A part of me wonders if she’ll even notice, or if she’ll simply think it’s just a coincidence, a stroke of luck."You're welcome, Mr. Callahan," Gwen replies, "I’ll have everything processed on my end by the end of the day. You don’t need to worry about a thing.""Good," I say. "Make sure they’re settled in, and let m
"Are you seeing what I'm seeing?" I whisper to Mira as the lady from the real estate walks further into the kitchen. This apartment was not only in a nice secure building, but the layout was also open, with a spacious white kitchen that then washed into a gray-stoned-themed living room. Not one but two bathrooms, each for every room. The closet space is out of Mira's dreams, completely furnished and perhaps best of all pet friendly. I mean Charlie was already loving it here."If you are seeing heaven, then yes," Mira whispers back as we walk through the kitchen island the lady starts to spread some papers on the surface."So what do you think of the place?" Is that question supposed to be a joke? Who wouldn't love to live in a place like this?"It's absolutely amazing... but before I further fall in love with it tell me the rent price," Mira tells her and the woman smiles."Well I have the contract here, so take a look." She slides the paper closer to Mira. Mira pauses, her fingers ru
"I'm sorry, what?" I ask in shock. "I'll make an appointment with the doctor if you do it with me?" Yeah, that's about exactly what I heard the first time. This brings this situation to a whole new level of messed up. So this will be my downfall... there is no way I come on top this time."Bash, I..." I have no words to get me out of this. If I say no he won't do it, but if I say yes... I lose..."It's up to you, Love. You hold our future in your hands." Why is he saying all these words that just make this worse by the second?"I can't afford your doctors but I can be there for you every second of the way.""Please, money is not the issue here. I will cover any expenses but I just dont see how I could do this without the person who inspired me to try in the first place." Money... I can't have them waste any more money on me, I feel like I'm robbing them as is. But how do I make Sebastian do this without agreeing to his proposition? I promised Christian and Grace I would help... I hav
"Morning, Bash." Yes, we went down the road of nicknames. It's what friends do after all. "Good morning, Love." My name makes it hard to give nicknames. But my dad once upon a time called me Bug... "Not sure is a good one but I'll take what I can get," I say as I put down my bag and sit down next to him. Marley came to my knees and leaned its head over my leg as I pet his head, "Why? What happened?" Sebastian asks. "I... well, my friend and I got kicked out of our apartment today. So when I leave here today there is a lot of packing in store for us." Sebastian's eyebrows frown as he listens to my words, and his body leans forward. "What? What are you going to do now? If you need a place to stay you are more then welcome here." Who knew that people of such wealth would be so kind as to offer their hearts to someone like me... "Thank you, Bash, but it is not necessary, we are moving some of our things to Tamara's place and Christian gave us a card from a friend of his that ca
"Are you sure it's not too soon? I was thinking of easing him into that conversation especially since you said it was such a delicate topic." I asked Christian as he let me know exactly what Grace wanted me to do."Well, my mother made an appointment for him in the middle of January so you have a little bit over three weeks to talk him into it," Christian says it so effortlessly like he just knows I can do it. A part of me is flattered but the fraud part of me is always there to not let me enjoy but one second of anything that happens between us."I'll see what I can do..." So far all I know is that Sebastian hates doctors for the amount of times they gave him false hope... but hope really does mean fifty-fifty. Hope is just another word for giving it a chance.Christian’s expression softens slightly, his eyes studying me with that familiar intensity. “You can do it,” he says. “Sebastian respects you. He listens to you.”"It's because I listen back. Two-way street, you know..." "I get
"What are you doing here? I thought the driver was gonna pick me up like always?" I ask Christian trying to reclaim his attention back from Charlie while Mira just realizes how she ruined my line of defense. "I have taken care of some busses with Aiden close by so I thought I would pick you up. It's good that I did... why dont I find someone to help you pack later and both of you can stay at my house while you get things sorted out." Me? Staying over at his house? Absolutely no. I have a hard time staying away from him and accepting that offer would throw all of that out the window. I shake my head, trying to keep my voice steady. "No, that’s really kind of you, but I’m not sure that’s necessary. We’ll be fine, will move our things to our friend's place and look for a place to stay in the meantime."Christian gives me a sharp look, his gaze unwavering. "Are you sure? I’m more than glad to help, and I'm sure Sebastian would actually love to have you with us. Mother even more." His to
Today marks the fiftyth day of my working for the Callahans. It went by so fast and so intense, with me helping Sebastian be more independent each day while at the same time falling in love with Christian more and more. I discovered he is funny, kind, talented, generous, committed, driven, stubborn... so human, in the best way possible. Yet still I didn't let myself allow him to get closer to me. I was still able to use Charlie as a way to run away from him. That little lost puppy helped me a lot but it now had Mira and me in a lot of trouble. "You can't kick us out... it's six days until Christmas where the hell do you want us to go!" Mira yelled, her voice shaking with frustration as she stood in front of the landlord, trying her best to look confident "The rules on your lees were clear, no pets allowed. That filthy mut probably ruined the place." This place was ruined even before we got here, quite frankly he was lucky we were so desperate. "Number one, our dog is not filthy. N
"You have some explaining to do." Tamara says as she sits on the couch, Charlie in her lap enjoying how her hand passes through his fur. "I know," I say as I put down my bag... and the cane... and take off the sunglasses."Ohh I'm really looking forward to hearing what you have to say... I mean how will you justify getting that job on false pretences? Lying to people with such power could destroy you, and all of your dreams... I just dont know what were you thinking Love. How do you plan to get out of it?" I let out a heavy sigh, feeling the weight of her words settle around me like a thick fog. Tamara’s gaze is sharp, eyes filled with disappointment and concern. "It was a chance to help someone but at the same time help myself, help Mira. We would have lost this apartment that no matter how crapy it is it's still better than the street. I was in a tight spot so I just did it." It is the best I can do to justify myself. Is it good? Perhaps not, but lies aren't usually meant to have
"Thank you for the lunch, Grace. Everything was delicious." I say as I gather my things ready to leave."Thank you for everything, Love. And I hope your leg feels better tomorrow." So do I but at the same time, my leg is at the bottom of my list of problems. Tamara was currently at the top. No matter how much I wanted to escape this mansion I was not looking forward to talking with her."Are you ready?" Christian asks as he appears behind me."I'm sorry?" I ask as I slowly turn around to see him holding his car keys."The driver left so Christian will drive you home," Grace says as she puts her hands on my shoulders. Arguing with her would be as pointless as arguing with him.Christian moved toward me, his footsteps light but deliberate. "Shall we?" he asked, his voice smooth, as he gently nudged the door open."We shall."...Christian opened the car door for me with a practiced ease, his hand lingering just a moment longer than necessary on the edge of the frame breathing me in. I sl