bedroom, “Willow, will you get that please?”
“Uh, okay…” I answered as I tried to wipe the glaze off my lips. With one hand holding the remains of my sticky bun and with the other I opened the door to see Haven standing there looking at me. He was wearing a black turtleneck and a black riding jacket which complimented his coloring. I stood there embarrassed, irritated even, and wondered if I should close the door in his face. Amused, he politely looked me over. “May I come in?”
I held the door open for him but tried to keep my distance since I was positive I didn’t smell nearly as good as he did. There was something about his scent. I couldn’t get enough of it. As he passed by me and turned around I sighed. “You’re timing couldn’t be better.”
“You did say 10, right?”
“Oh, it’s 10 already?” I stammered. Without warning, Pandora pushed in the back door, which I hadn’t completely closed, and came charging towards Haven. Her growls were low and furious. Haven stood there and didn’t budge an inch.
Horrified, I dropped the rest of the sticky bun and grabbed Pandora’s collar, yanking her back as she lunged towards him.
“Pandora, bad!” I scolded, “Don’t be rude!” Turning my head to look up at Haven I apologized. “I’m sorry; I don’t know what’s gotten into her.”
He was completely unaffected. “You’re lucky. No human is getting by her.”
He turned his attention to me, making me aware once again of my less-than-ideal appearance.
“You look cute in pink,” he remarked as he stepped closer.
Feeling a little panicked, I backed away and towards the stairs, pulling an irate Pandora with me. “If you’ll excuse me for a few, I’m going to tie her up outside and then I’m going to shower and get dressed. I’m sorry I wasn’t ready, I should have paid more attention to the time.” I remembered the coffee and pointed, “There’s coffee if you like.”
He casually turned his head to see where I was gesturing.
Still holding Pandora’s collar, I walked to the back door and secured her to a line outside. She was furious and still growling. Without looking at Haven and wishing I was somehow hidden from view, I brushed past him and hurried up the stairs. When I closed the door to the bathroom I looked into the mirror with a groan. How could I have gone from the glamor of last night’s dance to this?
I showered in a rush, lathering my body and letting the warmth of the water rinse away my worries. While the fog cleared from the mirror I ran into my room and chose an appropriate outfit: A crimson colored sweater and a dark pair of jeans. I ran back into the bathroom and determined my hair was hopeless. I twisted it and secured it with a big jaw clip, letting a few loose tendrils frame my face. Feeling somewhat presentable I walked down the stairs and heard voices coming from the kitchen. I peeked around the railing and saw Haven and Anne sitting at the bar high table talking. Anne, of course, even in her red satin robe, looked impeccable. On cue, Haven noticed me. I guessed it would be impossible to surprise the likes of him.
“Oh Willow, you look lovely,” Anne gushed. Holding her mug up, she mouthed a thank you. As I walked closer I moaned inside. Anne had a photo album on display and was showing Haven photos of me as a little girl. He looked at me with an expression of understanding but turned his attention back to Anne who was pointing out a photo of me crying. “Look here, she was having a temper tantrum.”
Haven chuckled under his breath.
“Really Anne, must you?” I pleaded.
She ignored me because she turned the page and when she did, Haven stiffened. Intrigued by what prompted his odd reaction, I leaned over to see what he was looking at. It was a black and white photo of my mother. She was wearing a white blouse and was reclining on a chaise, looking tenderly towards whoever was taking the photo, most likely my dad. Even though the lighting
“Uh, okay…” I answered as I tried to wipe the glaze off my lips. With one hand holding the remains of my sticky bun and with the other I opened the door to see Haven standing there looking at me. He was wearing a black turtleneck and a black riding jacket which complimented his coloring. I stood there embarrassed, irritated even, and wondered if I should close the door in his face. Amused, he politely looked me over. “May I come in?”
I held the door open for him but tried to keep my distance since I was positive I didn’t smell nearly as good as he did. There was something about his scent. I couldn’t get enough of it. As he passed by me and turned around I sighed. “You’re timing couldn’t be better.”
“You did say 10, right?”
“Oh, it’s 10 already?” I stammered. Without warning, Pandora pushed in the back door, which I hadn’t completely closed, and came charging towards Haven. Her growls were low and furious. Haven stood there and didn’t budge an inch.
Horrified, I dropped the rest of the sticky bun and grabbed Pandora’s collar, yanking her back as she lunged towards him.
“Pandora, bad!” I scolded, “Don’t be rude!” Turning my head to look up at Haven I apologized. “I’m sorry; I don’t know what’s gotten into her.”
He was completely unaffected. “You’re lucky. No human is getting by her.”
He turned his attention to me, making me aware once again of my less-than-ideal appearance.
“You look cute in pink,” he remarked as he stepped closer.
Feeling a little panicked, I backed away and towards the stairs, pulling an irate Pandora with me. “If you’ll excuse me for a few, I’m going to tie her up outside and then I’m going to shower and get dressed. I’m sorry I wasn’t ready, I should have paid more attention to the time.” I remembered the coffee and pointed, “There’s coffee if you like.”
He casually turned his head to see where I was gesturing.
Still holding Pandora’s collar, I walked to the back door and secured her to a line outside. She was furious and still growling. Without looking at Haven and wishing I was somehow hidden from view, I brushed past him and hurried up the stairs. When I closed the door to the bathroom I looked into the mirror with a groan. How could I have gone from the glamor of last night’s dance to this?
I showered in a rush, lathering my body and letting the warmth of the water rinse away my worries. While the fog cleared from the mirror I ran into my room and chose an appropriate outfit: A crimson colored sweater and a dark pair of jeans. I ran back into the bathroom and determined my hair was hopeless. I twisted it and secured it with a big jaw clip, letting a few loose tendrils frame my face. Feeling somewhat presentable I walked down the stairs and heard voices coming from the kitchen. I peeked around the railing and saw Haven and Anne sitting at the bar high table talking. Anne, of course, even in her red satin robe, looked impeccable. On cue, Haven noticed me. I guessed it would be impossible to surprise the likes of him.
“Oh Willow, you look lovely,” Anne gushed. Holding her mug up, she mouthed a thank you. As I walked closer I moaned inside. Anne had a photo album on display and was showing Haven photos of me as a little girl. He looked at me with an expression of understanding but turned his attention back to Anne who was pointing out a photo of me crying. “Look here, she was having a temper tantrum.”
Haven chuckled under his breath.
“Really Anne, must you?” I pleaded.
She ignored me because she turned the page and when she did, Haven stiffened. Intrigued by what prompted his odd reaction, I leaned over to see what he was looking at. It was a black and white photo of my mother. She was wearing a white blouse and was reclining on a chaise, looking tenderly towards whoever was taking the photo, most likely my dad. Even though the lighting
Similar Books
