Total pages in book: 158
Estimated words: 144908 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 725(@200wpm)___ 580(@250wpm)___ 483(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 144908 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 725(@200wpm)___ 580(@250wpm)___ 483(@300wpm)
“I wouldn’t use frogs for that, Keys,” Seychelle denied. “Lizards would be better. Or snakes. Something that is much flatter than a frog and would crawl or slither, not hop.”
“You’re a wicked little thing.” Keys nudged Savage. “You’d better look out, brother. She’s liable to really do something like that. It just goes to show you what a bad judge of character I am. All this time, I thought she was such a sweet little thing.”
Savage sighed. “I’ve seen her when she gets riled up. I live with her, remember?”
“Ignore them,” Seychelle said. “They like to annoy me for some reason.” Seychelle turned away from them, but Savage caught her arm.
“Really? You think you’re going to get away with that? You’d better rectify that mistake immediately.”
Seychelle rolled her eyes but then burst out laughing again, tipping up her face, one palm sliding up Savage’s chest as he leaned down to capture her mouth with his.
The moment went from fun to intimate in the blink of an eye. Savage might seem a powerful, dangerous man, just as Master seemed—and was—but it was obvious to Ambrielle that he truly had feelings for Seychelle. That made her happy. She was drawn to Seychelle, felt a connection with her, mostly because she knew the woman had tried hard to draw her heavy sorrow away when the police were questioning her by sending her soothing vibes with her music.
It was Savage who finally broke the kiss. As he escorted Seychelle and Ambrielle to the larger table where the older women were seated, he deliberately spoke in a louder voice. “Now you’re really going to get into trouble with that crew.”
The women broke into laughter. “Savage, you’re so terrible. Come here, please. I have a huge favor to ask of you.”
“Mama Anat.” Savage leaned down and brushed a kiss on her cheek. “Your favors always get me into huge trouble.”
“Mama Anat,” Seychelle began introductions, “this is Ambrielle, Master’s new bride. Ambrielle, Mama Anat Gamal. She’s Zyah’s grandmother. Zyah is married to Player. This is Inez Nelson. Inez owns the local grocery store. Doris Fendris and I have been friends forever. She makes amazing cookies, and I walk miles to keep from gaining weight after I visit her, but trust me, it’s well worth it. This is Lizz Johnson. She’s new to our group and a wonderful addition, although too good at cards and I’m losing all the time.”
“Lovely to meet you,” Ambrie whispered, suddenly wishing Master was right there with her. She didn’t like the spotlight on her. She didn’t know how much these women knew about her, but they had too much compassion in their eyes. They couldn’t talk about her parents’ deaths. No one could say anything. For a moment her lungs refused to work.
“Savage lives to do you favors, Mama Anat,” Seychelle said. “Especially carpenter work when he’s using my tools. The pink ones.”
That brought another round of laughter and, with it, air that managed to make its way into Ambrielle’s lungs. Whether Seychelle knew it or not, she had successfully turned the focus away from Ambrie, allowing her to just be part of the group without having to be the center of attention in a way she wasn’t yet prepared to handle.
“Ha ha, angel.” Savage nuzzled the top of Seychelle’s head with his chin. “What can I do for you, Mama Anat?” He indicated the chairs to Seychelle and Ambrie.
Seychelle took the seat close to the window and Doris, leaving Ambrie the one beside her and across from Mama Anat. Ambrie felt an instant brightness just sitting at the same table with the women.
“We have a little church service that is nondenominational. Someone from the Crows Flying band comes every Sunday to provide music and sing for us. Master was supposed to sing next, but we heard his throat is really sore.” Mama Anat fluttered her hands in the air and looked very distressed.
“That leaves us without anyone at the worst possible time,” Inez finished for her.
“Of course, we’re terribly worried about Master,” Mama Anat added, looking at Ambrie. “I do hope everything goes all right with him. Player would do this for us, but he has other commitments.” She looked helplessly around the table, as if one of the women would suddenly become a singer.
“Isn’t Seychelle singing for you?” Savage asked.
Doris’ smile was that of a proud mother. “Yes. With her beautiful voice. But all the music is for duets. A man and a woman. We’d have to change the entire program.”
“Mama Anat wrote all the music herself. It’s so beautiful,” Lizz said, her voice shy.
Savage heaved a sigh and looked as if he’d rather pull out his fingernails one by one than stand there at the table with them. “This church is small? As in really small.”
“Yes.”
He glared at Mama Anat. “Woman, you get me in more trouble than anyone I know. And that includes Seychelle, which is saying a fuck of a lot.”