dark-haired.
He
reached out his hand. “I’m Ashe Aleksandrov. You must be Wilhemina. Pleasure to
meet you.”
Way to go, Ebony. Her friend had snagged her a looker. A looker with money, no
doubt.
“Yes.
Good to meet you as well.” She met his hand, and he shook hers firmly but
gently.
So
this was Marcus’ father. Ebony was one lucky woman. If little Marcus grew up to
amount to half of his daddy, Ebony and Ashe would be beating off the girls left
and right.
“Avril,
I think your husband is up to something again,” Ashe said with a scowl.
Avril
rolled her eyes. “Damn Aiston and his pranks,” she muttered before looking at
Wilhemina. “Aiston loves to play jokes on people. And when I say people , I mostly mean he loves to
torture his brothers. I swear I’m constantly running interference to keep them
from skinning him alive.”
“I
see.” Wilhemina smiled, amused by the admission.
Ashe
took her bags, and opened the back door for Avril and her.
“Oh.”
Wilhemina hesitated. “Do you mind if I run over to Mrs. Chatterfield’s before
we go?” It was only half a block down so she didn’t think they’d mind. “I’d
like to send a little something to Mr. Clark.”
“Take
your time.”
Ten
minutes later, she’d put in an order that would keep Mr. Clark in pastries and
hot coffee for the next month, and was in the backseat of the Escalade. Marcus
was strapped into his car seat in between Wilhemina and Avril. Ashe drove, and
Ebony sat beside him. She couldn’t help but admire what a striking couple they
made. She turned to the window to watch the passing trees as they made their
way to St. Louis, hoping her stay with Ebony proved to be the quiet atmosphere
she craved.
Chapter Seven
“Wow.
Are you expecting the apocalypse or a zombie invasion? That’s some serious security.”
Wilhemina gaped at the tall fence surrounding the property.
They
had pulled into the drive and were sitting in front of two huge metal gates.
Ashe rolled down the window, punched in a code on the security panel, and the
gates slowly swung open. After driving through, they closed behind them.
“Ashe
takes security seriously. There are a lot of burglaries and…stuff around here.”
Ebony said quickly. “At least you know you’ll be safe.”
“Or
in prison,” Wilhemina mumbled under her breath.
The
estate was no less impressive. A perfectly manicured lawn surrounded the huge
mansion that sat back off the road and away from prying eyes. Although she
doubted prying eyes could make it over that security fence that looked strong
enough to hold a T-rex. She supposed if she lived someplace like this, she’d
want to feel secure as well.
Once
they parked, she stepped out of the SUV and gasped. “It’s gorgeous.”
Up
close, she could see the stone siding of the huge house. The muted gray and
brown colors gave the mansion a look of old world charm while the huge windows
gave it a hint of modernity. The term modern-day castle came to mind.
“Thank
you. I hope you’ll feel at home here,” Ebony said.
Ashe
retrieved her suitcases from the back while Ebony got Marcus from his seat before
they all made their way inside. The view inside was no less impressive. She had
been to some awesome places on the East Coast, but nothing quite this posh. The
grand staircase was breathtaking, and the dark wood, marble, and rich, neutral
colors in the foyer all blended to make a commanding yet welcoming entrance.
“I’m
speechless. It is absolutely stunning. You have the most beautiful home I’ve
ever seen.” Wilhemina was flabbergasted. She twirled around slowly, not
believing that she was getting the chance to stay in a place like this. She
hadn’t been poor by any means. She’d made a decent living, but this was
straight from a dream.
Ebony
handed Marcus to Ashe, and Ashe kissed her on the cheek.
“Welcome
to our home, Wilhemina. If you need anything, all you have to do is ask,” Ashe
said.
“Come.
I’ll show you to
He
reached out his hand. “I’m Ashe Aleksandrov. You must be Wilhemina. Pleasure to
meet you.”
Way to go, Ebony. Her friend had snagged her a looker. A looker with money, no
doubt.
“Yes.
Good to meet you as well.” She met his hand, and he shook hers firmly but
gently.
So
this was Marcus’ father. Ebony was one lucky woman. If little Marcus grew up to
amount to half of his daddy, Ebony and Ashe would be beating off the girls left
and right.
“Avril,
I think your husband is up to something again,” Ashe said with a scowl.
Avril
rolled her eyes. “Damn Aiston and his pranks,” she muttered before looking at
Wilhemina. “Aiston loves to play jokes on people. And when I say people , I mostly mean he loves to
torture his brothers. I swear I’m constantly running interference to keep them
from skinning him alive.”
“I
see.” Wilhemina smiled, amused by the admission.
Ashe
took her bags, and opened the back door for Avril and her.
“Oh.”
Wilhemina hesitated. “Do you mind if I run over to Mrs. Chatterfield’s before
we go?” It was only half a block down so she didn’t think they’d mind. “I’d
like to send a little something to Mr. Clark.”
“Take
your time.”
Ten
minutes later, she’d put in an order that would keep Mr. Clark in pastries and
hot coffee for the next month, and was in the backseat of the Escalade. Marcus
was strapped into his car seat in between Wilhemina and Avril. Ashe drove, and
Ebony sat beside him. She couldn’t help but admire what a striking couple they
made. She turned to the window to watch the passing trees as they made their
way to St. Louis, hoping her stay with Ebony proved to be the quiet atmosphere
she craved.
Chapter Seven
“Wow.
Are you expecting the apocalypse or a zombie invasion? That’s some serious security.”
Wilhemina gaped at the tall fence surrounding the property.
They
had pulled into the drive and were sitting in front of two huge metal gates.
Ashe rolled down the window, punched in a code on the security panel, and the
gates slowly swung open. After driving through, they closed behind them.
“Ashe
takes security seriously. There are a lot of burglaries and…stuff around here.”
Ebony said quickly. “At least you know you’ll be safe.”
“Or
in prison,” Wilhemina mumbled under her breath.
The
estate was no less impressive. A perfectly manicured lawn surrounded the huge
mansion that sat back off the road and away from prying eyes. Although she
doubted prying eyes could make it over that security fence that looked strong
enough to hold a T-rex. She supposed if she lived someplace like this, she’d
want to feel secure as well.
Once
they parked, she stepped out of the SUV and gasped. “It’s gorgeous.”
Up
close, she could see the stone siding of the huge house. The muted gray and
brown colors gave the mansion a look of old world charm while the huge windows
gave it a hint of modernity. The term modern-day castle came to mind.
“Thank
you. I hope you’ll feel at home here,” Ebony said.
Ashe
retrieved her suitcases from the back while Ebony got Marcus from his seat before
they all made their way inside. The view inside was no less impressive. She had
been to some awesome places on the East Coast, but nothing quite this posh. The
grand staircase was breathtaking, and the dark wood, marble, and rich, neutral
colors in the foyer all blended to make a commanding yet welcoming entrance.
“I’m
speechless. It is absolutely stunning. You have the most beautiful home I’ve
ever seen.” Wilhemina was flabbergasted. She twirled around slowly, not
believing that she was getting the chance to stay in a place like this. She
hadn’t been poor by any means. She’d made a decent living, but this was
straight from a dream.
Ebony
handed Marcus to Ashe, and Ashe kissed her on the cheek.
“Welcome
to our home, Wilhemina. If you need anything, all you have to do is ask,” Ashe
said.
“Come.
I’ll show you to
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