The Beast Within (The Elite Series) - By Jonathan Yanez Page 0,4
are you doing at my mother’s shop?”
“Connor, it’s really not that mysterious. I work for my father, who owns a lot of real estate in the area. My brother and I are just here making sure his assets are in order.”
“And earlier today you were at a meeting in the woods?”
“Granted, not the most professional of settings, but yes.”
“What were you talking about with my mother when you said ‘the men who visited you would be dealt with?’”
Laren chose her next words carefully. “Another large company has recently moved into the area and is trying to buy our properties by scaring our renters off or strong-arming them into signing bogus contracts and giving them illegitimate rights to our land.”
“And why didn’t you want my mother to know we met before?”
“The less people know about what’s going on, the better. My father values discretion above all else. It just didn’t seem important to tell your mother about our meeting earlier today.”
Connor was a great judge of character and he knew when people were lying to him. The subtle shift in tone, the wandering eyes, the hesitation, all told him that Laren, though maybe not lying, wasn’t revealing the entire truth. Connor knew Laren’s cryptic answers should have sent up warning signs, but instead something urged him to find out more about her. “You said that if we met again, it would be fate.”
“I was wondering when you were going to get to that. I do remember saying something along those lines.”
“Tomorrow night? There’s a new restaurant downtown on Main and First, six o’clock?”
Laren hesitated, but then gave in. “Okay, Connor, you have yourself a date.”
Connor watched Laren drive away and couldn’t help but wonder what the odds were that their paths would have crossed again so soon. He was interrupted by a familiar voice.
“Penny for your thoughts?”
He recognized this voice all too well; he’d looked forward to hearing it every morning for years. Yet now, it held pain, not pleasure.
Connor turned to see Katie, his “friend,” behind him. Fashionable as always, she wore a new pair of white shorts, a loose-fitting top that hung off one shoulder, and a headband that gently held back her honey blond hair.
“Just thinking, Kat,” he said using his pet name for her. “What are you up to?”
“Out with a to-do list for the day. Going to stop by your mom’s shop to pick up some insect repellent. We have an invasion of ants in our guesthouse and it’s gross. Oh, by the way, have you told your mom yet?”
Connor knew what she meant. He’d been admitted into numerous universities on athletic scholarships, but he knew he couldn’t leave his mother and the shop. Instead of moving away from home, he’d elected to attend the local community college. He chose to keep this information from his mother. Connor knew she would insist he travel away from home, getting the full college experience, so he was still waiting for the right time to tell her.
Katie, on the other hand, didn’t have a care in the world when it came to deciding on a college. Her father and mother were both attorneys and very wealthy. She didn’t have a second thought about leaving for school and pursuing her dream. Katie had wanted to be a doctor as long as she could remember. She had been admitted into a leading university in that field. It just so happened this university was on the west coast, on the other side of the country.
“No,” Connor said. “Just haven’t found the right time.”
“You know, the longer you wait the harder it’s going to be, right?”
“I know, I know.”
“If you want, I can be there with you when you break the news.”
“Thanks, you’re a great friend.” He added just enough emphasis on the last word for Katie to take notice.
“Connor.”
“What? I love being your friend. It’s great.” With that he winked at her and they both couldn’t help but laugh.
“It’s for the best, Connor, you’ll see.” She reached up and placed her hand on his left cheek. “I gotta get going but I’ll call you soon.”
When she left, Connor was more confused than ever. He resented her for breaking up with him, although a small part of him couldn’t blame her and even understood. And as much as he didn’t want to admit it, he still had feelings for her.
Heading into his mother’s store, he finished the day by helping her clean, perform inventory, and fill purchase orders.