neck.” Thomas checked me over.
Cole stalked across the patio.
Thomas ushered me inside.
The ballroom sounded lively. There was no one to be found anywhere else. Loud laughing and music filtered down the hall.
Once in the light of the grand entrance, Thomas got a good look at my dirty face and less than acceptable appearance.
“This is unacceptable. How could you let this happen?” he said to Cole, then turned to me. “I am so sorry, Miss Knowles. If there’s anything I can do to make this up to you…”
“You could start with calling animal control. There’s a big, black cat lurking around out there. What’s for dinner?” Rubbing his stomach, Cole looked to the kitchen.
Food? Seriously?
“I’m surprised you haven’t had dinner yet, as long as you were gone.” Thomas’s voice was hard.
“I was sort of interrupted,” Cole said, flashing me a smirk. “Mary Poppins there took a little fall, and she’s right. If I hadn’t been there, she’d have probably ended up fish food in the bottom of the pond, cat or no cat. I think she’s new to walking.”
Thomas shook his head and took my other arm.
I stared down at the dirty blood on the strips of white cotton. Some looked brown and dried, some looked fresh.
“Let’s get you bandaged up and worry about dinner later. Do you think it needs medical attention?” Thomas gingerly took the piece of Cole’s shirt off the wound.
“It’s a superficial laceration. The rock only breached the dermis. The wound has already closed. It looks worse than it is.” Cole passed us.
Almost-lawyer, business consultant, over-zealous yard care manager, raving lunatic. Covered in dirt and looking like a homeless person, he did not fit the doctor persona.
“Thank you, Dr. Kinsley, for that fine evaluation.”
“Anytime, Dr. Phil.” He disappeared through the door.
He could be such an—ugh!
After I cleaned up, and Cole did whatever people with multiple personality disorder do in their down time, Thomas insisted we all sit together in the dining room. He sat at an empty place setting, staring between Cole and me.
“I hope you’ll excuse me for not eating. My appetite was spoiled when you didn’t come back from your walk, Miss Knowles. I thought the worst.”
“You’re perfectly fine. I’m sorry I worried you.”
“I’m just glad you made it back in one piece. I should have never left you alone.” He flashed Cole a curious glare. “Other than the mishap, I hope you took good care of Miss Knowles.”
Cole’s mouth was gorged, so he didn’t answer.
“And hopefully you remembered your manners,” Thomas said.
“Other than inviting me to skinny dip in that nasty pond, I was virtually unoffended. He needs to learn how to deliver a line. He’ll never get a date that way.”
Cole made a garbled choking noise but finally found air to speak.
“I did not,” he said through half-chewed food. His glare could have sliced metal.
“He didn’t really, but he isn’t the best welcoming party I’ve ever encountered.” I smirked at Cole. Served him right for the trailer park remark.
“Well, that dreadful hole should be filled.” Thomas looked at Cole with deep set meaning.
Cole rattled his fork in his plate like a two year old. “It’s so far back on the property, other than the occasional idiot who isn’t watching where they’re going, it’s yet to bother anyone.”
First trailer park. Now idiot. That was okay. I’d fix him.
Thomas’s head swiveled back and forth between us as I stood from my place setting.
“If you’ll excuse me, I’m quite tired.” I turned a pointed glare at Cole. “I’m sure you wouldn’t mind finishing up the tour tomorrow morning, would you? Uncle Thomas barely made it to the rose maze this evening without gasping for air, it was so hot.”
Cole flashed a Please-Save-Me look to his uncle.
I slid my chair in and clapped my hands happily. “Then it’s settled. See you bright and early.”
Cole’s face paled.
Cole stalked across the patio.
Thomas ushered me inside.
The ballroom sounded lively. There was no one to be found anywhere else. Loud laughing and music filtered down the hall.
Once in the light of the grand entrance, Thomas got a good look at my dirty face and less than acceptable appearance.
“This is unacceptable. How could you let this happen?” he said to Cole, then turned to me. “I am so sorry, Miss Knowles. If there’s anything I can do to make this up to you…”
“You could start with calling animal control. There’s a big, black cat lurking around out there. What’s for dinner?” Rubbing his stomach, Cole looked to the kitchen.
Food? Seriously?
“I’m surprised you haven’t had dinner yet, as long as you were gone.” Thomas’s voice was hard.
“I was sort of interrupted,” Cole said, flashing me a smirk. “Mary Poppins there took a little fall, and she’s right. If I hadn’t been there, she’d have probably ended up fish food in the bottom of the pond, cat or no cat. I think she’s new to walking.”
Thomas shook his head and took my other arm.
I stared down at the dirty blood on the strips of white cotton. Some looked brown and dried, some looked fresh.
“Let’s get you bandaged up and worry about dinner later. Do you think it needs medical attention?” Thomas gingerly took the piece of Cole’s shirt off the wound.
“It’s a superficial laceration. The rock only breached the dermis. The wound has already closed. It looks worse than it is.” Cole passed us.
Almost-lawyer, business consultant, over-zealous yard care manager, raving lunatic. Covered in dirt and looking like a homeless person, he did not fit the doctor persona.
“Thank you, Dr. Kinsley, for that fine evaluation.”
“Anytime, Dr. Phil.” He disappeared through the door.
He could be such an—ugh!
After I cleaned up, and Cole did whatever people with multiple personality disorder do in their down time, Thomas insisted we all sit together in the dining room. He sat at an empty place setting, staring between Cole and me.
“I hope you’ll excuse me for not eating. My appetite was spoiled when you didn’t come back from your walk, Miss Knowles. I thought the worst.”
“You’re perfectly fine. I’m sorry I worried you.”
“I’m just glad you made it back in one piece. I should have never left you alone.” He flashed Cole a curious glare. “Other than the mishap, I hope you took good care of Miss Knowles.”
Cole’s mouth was gorged, so he didn’t answer.
“And hopefully you remembered your manners,” Thomas said.
“Other than inviting me to skinny dip in that nasty pond, I was virtually unoffended. He needs to learn how to deliver a line. He’ll never get a date that way.”
Cole made a garbled choking noise but finally found air to speak.
“I did not,” he said through half-chewed food. His glare could have sliced metal.
“He didn’t really, but he isn’t the best welcoming party I’ve ever encountered.” I smirked at Cole. Served him right for the trailer park remark.
“Well, that dreadful hole should be filled.” Thomas looked at Cole with deep set meaning.
Cole rattled his fork in his plate like a two year old. “It’s so far back on the property, other than the occasional idiot who isn’t watching where they’re going, it’s yet to bother anyone.”
First trailer park. Now idiot. That was okay. I’d fix him.
Thomas’s head swiveled back and forth between us as I stood from my place setting.
“If you’ll excuse me, I’m quite tired.” I turned a pointed glare at Cole. “I’m sure you wouldn’t mind finishing up the tour tomorrow morning, would you? Uncle Thomas barely made it to the rose maze this evening without gasping for air, it was so hot.”
Cole flashed a Please-Save-Me look to his uncle.
I slid my chair in and clapped my hands happily. “Then it’s settled. See you bright and early.”
Cole’s face paled.
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