Chapter 74: Did He Even Miss Me?
“Paying you back?” I said as Soren and I walked along the path to my cottage. I had only started my work a few days ago, and I didn‘t have enough savings yet.
But he wanted me to pay him back? And he was leading me home.
I felt panicked. What if he wanted me to do something I wasn‘t ready for?
Rosalie, stop thinking like that! I scolded myself.
Soren wasn‘t that kind of person, I should have known by now!
He had a crooked grin on his face, and even though I had never had a reason before not to trust him, all of the thoughts before that I‘d kept in the back of my mind about how odd it was that he was being so nice to me, resurfaced.
Who would do all of this without expecting something in return?
No one.
So.. did he want something from me after all?
No, no, I kept shaking my head. He wouldn‘t. I must have thought it wrong, but what if…
I felt like I was about to cry. What should I do? I regretted so much that I didn‘t insist on not buying that expensive furniture.
“Come on, Ro,” he said, reaching over and tugging on my hand. “Come into the cottage. I have something I want you to see. I think you‘re going to like it.” He made that last statement in a sing-song voice.
Cold chills ran down my spine. “I think I might not,” I thought to myself. To him, I said, “I am pregnant, you know?”
“I know,” he said, his eyebrows furrowed. We paused in the foyer. “What difference does that make?”
“A lot,” I told him. I knew I was just making excuses when I should‘ve been honest. “It wouldn‘t be… comfortable.”
“Well, you can always just scoot back.”
so far,” I reminded
“Your tummy‘s not that big, and your legs are pretty
had to do with anything, so I just stared at him for a
would fit. It‘s pretty big. And the
eyes bulged, “How
to the living room. “The rear entry was even tighter than the front. But
then
don‘t like it, I can have it taken back out, but
moved aside, that‘s
A baby grand piano.
the living room. One of the
sunlight coming in the front windows. I covered my mouth at the
you like it?” Soren asked
beautiful piano I‘ve ever seen!” That might not have been completely true. I remembered that white piano back at the Drogomor pack. But this one? This
Or was it?
steps into the room, turning to look at him and remembering the conversation we‘d just had and
this, though,” I told
forehead crinkled. “Why not?” He looked like he was a child, and I‘d just ripped his
had to cost a fortune!” My fingers longed to brush over the smooth ebony surface of the lid, which was open, ready for me to sit on the bench and play. I wanted to run my fingers over the keys and
so that you can start
buying me another gift helping me
and you play piano, remember?” he said, grinning at me but still looking exasperated. “I want to hear it. I imagine you have a beautiful voice. If you‘ll sing for me, then you can start paying me back. My own private concerts
By singing?” It didn‘t seem like a real request. It wasn‘t like I was a
the child now, one that didn‘t listen very well. “You sing, I‘ll listen, and that‘ll help repay your debts.”
that‘s much of a repayment,” I admitted to him. “I love to sing–and I love playing the piano.
for a moment before he dropped them again. “Not every business transaction has to be painful, Ro. I‘m glad you like to play. I may join you sometimes, but I‘d rather sit in that comfy chair and listen to
man who knew how to let things go and separate work from the rest of
another job offer. If you feel that bad
now, I‘m gonna pour myself a scotch and you a nice ice water–and sit in that chair and listen
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
The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!