Total pages in book: 71
Estimated words: 68004 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 340(@200wpm)___ 272(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 68004 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 340(@200wpm)___ 272(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
The living room had two plush sofas, a wide screen television hanging on the wall, and Alanna noticed an electric fireplace.
“The space is much roomier than I expected from the outside.”
“That’s why Jody bought it,” Silas said, coming to a stop at the kitchenette. “The refrigerator and freezer are full. Ginny checked to make sure you had all the staples. Tomorrow, I’ll show you where we keep our supplies. You can take anything you want if you find nothing that appeals to you here.”
Moving past the table with four chairs, they went down a small hallway. A pretty vase had been filled with a variety of flowers and sat in the middle of the table.
“The flowers are beautiful.” Alanna paused long enough to touch one of the delicate blooms.
“Ginny must have brought them when she was here,” he said before moving on. “This is a half-bath.” He didn’t open the door as he walked forward another couple of steps to another door. Opening it, he entered to turn on the light. “Jody emptied the dresser and closet for you.”
“I don’t need that much space. I actually don’t have any clothes other than what I’m wearing.” She might as well be honest about it, she told herself. It’s not like Silas and his family members wouldn’t begin to notice when she showed up to work each day wearing the same pair of light denim slacks and blue lace sleeveless top.
Silas was unfazed by her admission. “Diamond took care of that for you. She said you didn’t have any of your own things, so she picked out a few things to tie you over until you’re able to go shopping. Said just to call her when you want to go shopping, and she would arrange it with the sheriff so you wouldn’t get in trouble with the judge.”
“I’ll have to call and thank her.” Looking at Silas, she lowered her pride enough to explain, “I’m afraid I don’t have any friends where my things are, or I could have asked them to send me a few of my clothes. The majority of my time was spent working.” Alanna felt herself turn red. Several of the men and women whom she had worked with had made attempts to become friendlier , which she had sidestepped with a variety of excuses to keep a distance between them.
She hated the thought of Silas thinking she was a total loser.
He gave her an understanding smile, which soothed her ruffled pride. “Diamond said you live in Ohio?”
“Yes.”
“I don’t expect the judge is going to give you a pass to leave the state anytime soon.”
“No, he won’t,” she agreed. “When I get paid, I’ll buy what I need.”
“The boys are always up for a road trip. Go through the clothes Diamond gave you and make a list of items you want from your home. Ginny and the boys can go on Saturday.”
“Ginny? I can’t ask—”
“Ginny’s been waiting to go baby shopping for a couple of weeks. This will give her an excuse to visit a big city to shop. She’s having a girl this time around and wants to buy all the girly stuff she missed out on buying with Freddy.”
“Still …”
“Boys been needing a few things, too. You’d be doing them all a favor.”
Dispirited, Alanna knew she had little choice but to accept their help. The more she talked with Silas, the more she was beginning to realize that on the surface, he came across as laidback and affable, yet he somehow managed to lead her in the direction he wanted her to go. The thought had her jerkily walking to the closet to disguise her reaction. She was just overreacting, she told herself, staring inside the closet at the clothes Mrs. Bates had sent her.
Something was bothering her about Silas. It was unexplainable, but there was an inkling at the back of her mind trying to get out, and the more she tried to interpret what it was trying to tell, the more the feeling retreated.
“Ginny’s got dinner on the table. I hope you’re hungry.”
She was about to deny she was, but Silas didn’t give her the opportunity to refuse.
“Ginny’s been cooking all day, so you would have your choice of options,” he said wryly. “She didn’t want to offend you if you’re vegan, or there is a type of food you don’t like, so she covered her bases.”
“Your sister shouldn’t have gone to any trouble for me. I don’t want to impose myself on your family’s gatherings—”
“It’s not an imposition. You can meet everyone, and I need to give you the cell phone when you’re there. We won’t keep you out too long, I promise.” Silas motioned her toward the bedroom door.
Left with no choice other than acting like an ungrateful bitch, Alanna left the room and made her way out of the trailer. Only when they were retracing their steps to Silas’ house did it dawn on her that she had given in to him again. She nearly stumbled over a protruding tree root when her subconsciousness warned her that Silas might be coming across as laidback and understanding while in reality, he was more of an iron fist in a velvet glove.