Aris: A Sexy Romance Novel (Thief of Hearts Series Book 1) by Elody Knight Page A

counter.  She had to have been well over six feet, probably pushing seven feet tall.  Aris stood there waiting on her for a minute.  He was patient for a minute or two.  Saoirse noticed a wicked grin come over his face, as he looked at the floor, waiting on Celeste. 
    “Ah, you don’t want any of that, it’s got bugs in it.”  he had barely looked up from the floor before Celeste jumped like she’d been hit with electricity.
    “Bugs!  Who said bugs?  Aris!  You scruffy scamp!”  Celeste started making her way out from behind the counter, “Where have you been?”
    Aris laughed as Celeste hugged him,  “I’ve been away on business.  How have you been?”
    “Don’t get me started!  Marley’s been such a handful lately if he don’t quit he’s not going to see fifteen.”
    “Mischief?”
    “And how!”
    “He’s at that age Celeste.”
    “He better start watching his ‘at that age’.  He’s not too big for his momma to break his backside.  You want coffee?”
    “Three, please, Celeste.  You have eggs this morning?”
    “Eggs, sure I got eggs.  You want pie?  Three?”  Celeste looked up realizing there were two women standing behind him.  “Now where did you steal these ladies from?”
    “Yes, please.  Spinach.”
    “I get you spinach, you don’t worry about nothing.”  Celeste waved him off as she came around the counter again.  Celeste approached the women.  “You better be on your best behavior, cause this one’s sweet.”  she said to Aris pointing to Denise.  She grabbed her hands,  “No, not for no boy!  I’ll find you a water name.  Oh honey!  You ain’t leaving this island.” Celeste patted Denise’s cheek.  Celeste stepped in front of Saoirse.  She arched her left eyebrow looking at Saoirse from under it,  “Mmmm. Mmm. Mmm.”  Celeste shook her head.  She reached out, taking both of Saoirse’s hands in her own, looking at her palms.  “Girl.”  Celeste shook her head.  “No. No.  Aris love, you best leave it alone!  This one’s got your number.  She’s got hell fire bad enough.”  Celeste fingered lines in Saoirse palms, “She destroys worlds.  You send her back to wherever she came from right now.  Pain--it ain’t enough.”  Celeste looked at Aris shaking her finger. “She’s gonna bleed you before she’s gone.”  Celeste looked over at Aris again shaking her head.  “Mmm.  Mmm.  Mmm.  You send her back, now, Aris love.”  Celeste went back behind the counter putting cups together.
    “It’ll be fine Celeste.  I trust her.”  Aris looked at Saoirse.  She was still looking at the palms of her hands frowning.
    Something about Celeste’s words reverberated inside her.  ‘She destroys worlds.’   It was true wasn’t it?  She did the Witrif case three years ago didn’t she?  Hostile take over.  Eugene Witrif shot himself after his attorney lost in court to her.  What about the Anderson Stiles case?  He lost his company and his right to practice his trade in a hundred mile radius.  And what about Aris?  She thought about calling the Feds the night before she left.  If she had done that, if they grabbed him, wouldn’t that have destroyed his world?  Is that what Celeste saw in her hands? ‘She’s gonna bleed you...’ Would the Feds have had to shoot him to take him?  Was that the blood on her hands?
    “Saoirse?  Are you feeling alright?”  Aris had an arm around her waist.  His other hand was holding her face.  His thumb affectionately stroked her cheek while he waited for her to answer.
    “Of course I’m alright.  Why wouldn’t I be?”  Saoirse pushed her way out of his arms and out the door.  She stopped on the edge of the porch.  The sunlight felt warm on her face.  Her body seemed to absorb its heat demanding more.  She closed her eyes, holding her face up to the sun.
    “Saoirse.”
    She opened her eyes.  Mata was calling her from the walk below the steps.  She had her usual