just to please a seventeen-year-old girl.
I'm also smart enough to know that outright asking him what's going on will get me nowhere. Khristos won't tell me a thing until he's good and ready. Until then, I have to figure out how to handle the situation without causing it to deteriorate. Right now, he's asking nothing of me. But sooner or later, the other shoe will drop, so to speak.
“Thank you,” I manage to say politely.
He studies me, as if he can tell that he's done something that displeases me. He nods, deciding to let it go. “Roman won't be back until morning, so you'll meet him tomorrow. I think you two will get along well, especially since he's your age.”
“Roman?” I echo.
“Yes. My son. Did I neglect to mention you have a cousin?”
“But… You don’t look old enough…” I stare hard at him, searching for age lines or something to give me a clear idea as to his exact age.
He smiles slightly. “I’m older than I look. You’ll be thankful for our impeccable Deveroux genes once you hit your thirties.”
Chapter Three
It's disorienting waking up in a room that is not your own, in a home that resembles a hotel rather than an actual house. As I lie there, I stare at the room that will be mine for at least three months. It's nine in the morning, and the sun is shining brightly through the pale blue curtains. The room has a hazy, sunny glow to it. Honestly, it feels welcoming, but yet I feel lost. There's something about this room that bothers me, but I can't quite put my finger on what it is.
I do know that I'm uncomfortable with Khristos’s lavish gifts. The matching laptop and phone is a bit much. Who has computers and phones the exact shade of their bedroom walls? Evidently, rich people.
With a soft sigh, I sit up in bed, my long hair falling over my shoulder. Perhaps the bed is about the only lavish item in this place that I am thankful for. It's the softest, most comfortable bed I've ever slept on.
Nature is calling, so I climb out of the bed and walk to the connecting bathroom. When my eyes land on the sunken bathtub, I can't help the silly grin that spreads across my face. Okay, so maybe the bathtub is right up there with the bed. Make that two things I am thankful for.
By the time I've taken a quick shower in the corner shower stall—which is made of glass with a waterfall shower head that hangs from the ceiling—I slip on my favorite pair of jeans and a tee. I haven't opened up the closet door since Khristos had shown me the interior with all those new clothes. What kind of man buys his niece a brand new wardrobe? How would he know my size? Suddenly, a thought hits me, and I tilt my head, studying the dresser drawers. He wouldn't... Would he? I walk over and pull back the first drawer. My eyes widen. He had. Lingerie of every color is folded neatly in the first drawer. I slam the drawer shut.
Okay. I'm officially weirded out.
After a moment of deliberation, I cautiously open the next drawer. I find an obscene amount of silk and satin lounge wear.
“Mom, what have you done?” I whisper as I close the drawer.
Unease trickles through my veins. Am I prisoner here? Wait, Khristos bought me a car, right? Why buy me a car if I'm not allowed to leave? I can feel myself relaxing slightly as I try to look at the situation logically. I have a car, I can leave when I want. He hasn't requested anything of me, and once he'd shown me my room last night, he'd left me alone. In fact, I hadn't seen him the rest of the evening.
I fold my arms over my chest and look around the room. I think today I'll test out my theory. I hate the idea of taking anything from Khristos, especially since I have no idea what he's up to, but I am going to use the car he's offered me and familiarize myself with Cherry Creek. A back-up plan is also on my list of things to do. Does the town have a bus station? Or a train station? It would be wise to know where they are so that if I have to run, I know exactly where to go and what will be the fastest way out of