Cherry Creek - Dani Matthews Page 0,14

happens to be mine. Khristos opens it and stands back, expecting me to step in first.

I cautiously step through the threshold, and my eyes widen. Oh...my. I gaze around with wonderment. There's no way my mom could have explained in such detail my dream room. There's just no way. She knows my favorite color is a cross between pale blue and ocean blue. She knows I like floral accents, but I've never gone into much detail. My head turns as I look at the large room with amazement. How had he known? I have a bit of a tendency to window shop. I like to look at things and make a mental checklist of the things I'd buy if I had the money. I've always been prone to white furniture, and everything in the room is white. There's even a white fireplace. And speaking of the white fireplace, there's a large, elaborate floral painting hanging above its mantle. It looks like a white magnolia with a darker, blue background than what the pale blue walls are. As I continue taking it all in, I swear I've seen the blue lamp before that sits on the nightstand, but I can't place where. Some of the accents seem familiar.

I turn and glance at the bed, noting that it's huge. At least a king. Holy... Wow. Is that a real chandelier hanging above the bed?

Khristos enters the room, drawing my attention back to him. He walks over to a white door and opens it, motioning for me to look inside. “This is the closet.”

I walk over and peer inside the walk-in closet. There are clothes already inside. “Someone's left some clothes in there,” I say with a frown.

“Those are yours.”

“No, they're not...” I glance at him to see that there’s a hint of a smile on his lips.

“I thought you might enjoy a few new things.”

Oh. “Uh, thanks.”

Khristos moves away and opens another door on the opposite side of the room. “This is your private bath.”

I have my own bathroom? Since he seems to be enjoying this little show and tell scenario, I walk over and peer around his shoulder. The bathroom is as large as my old bedroom. I can't help but gaze at the large, sunken tub longingly. A bath. A real bath. I may not want to be here, but that's the first thing I want to do. I quickly scan the bathroom and see that it's accented like the bedroom in pale blue and white.

“You also have a balcony.”

“I do?”

He leads me back into the bedroom and walks over to what I had originally thought was a large, floor to ceiling window. He pulls back the curtain and unlocks the glass door, opening it wide. I can't help walking over to peer outside as fresh air greets me. I do indeed have a balcony. It's small, with only enough room for a small, round table with a matching chair. I see that the balcony overlooks a large, pear-shaped pool complete with a small waterfall.

This is crazy.

“I also took it upon myself to supply you with your own laptop. I'm sure once school starts in the fall, you'll need it,” Khristos announces as he goes back in my room and motions to a large dresser with a vanity mirror above it. I see a light blue laptop sitting on the white surface. My mouth wants to fall open. He bought me a laptop that matches my room color?

“There are two credit cards and one debit card in your name. No limit,” he explains as he holds up the small plastic cards. He sets them down and picks up a pale blue cell phone. “I want you to keep this cell phone on you at all times. Just a safety precaution, I'm sure you had one back in Missouri.” He trades the phone for a set of keys and gives me a knowing smile. “These are the keys to your car. Your mother assured me you have your license. I think you'll like the vehicle I chose for you.”

I can't help but stiffen up slightly as I gaze at him incredulously. “Excuse me?”

“I said you have a car. Enjoy it.” His eyes gleam as he waits for me to say something.

All I can think in this moment, is that this man has some audacity to try to buy me off. He wants something from me, that much I know for sure. Guys like Khristos Deveroux don't spend this kind of money