Page 178 of Filthy Hot Billionaire
The next day I received a bouquet ofcrème roses, pink spray roses, and pink miniature carnations in a teacup and saucer with a Victorian flower pattern. This time there was no card attached, nothing to indicate who had sent it. I decided I would wait to see if Kieran or Knox copped to it. They had yet to reveal who was so thoughtful, but I enjoyed the sweet gesture.
On Thursday morning, Thanksgiving Day, I received a vase of chrysanthemums delivered directly to my apartment. The card read: THE HOLIDAYS WILL BE BRIGHTER THIS YEAR.
Again, there was no signature on the card, but I assumed they were from Kieran since I had agreed to spend Thanksgiving with his mother and sister. Despite the fact I was still battling the anxiety at the mere thought of meeting his mother, I was talking myself back from the ledge each time. It helped to know that I would have both of them at my side.
I set the vase on the table in the living room, stared at it for a moment.
It wasn’t until I heard footsteps behind me that I realized I was still smiling, and some of my anxiety had lessened.
Kieran walked toward me, his gaze on the bouquet.
“They’re beautiful,” I told him. “Thank you.”
His frown was instant. “They are rather lovely, but I can’t take credit for them, love.”
“Oh.” I handed him the card when he stepped up beside me. “I guess Knox sent them.”
He took the card, skimmed it before looking down at the arrangement again. “Were they delivered here?”
I nodded. “Just a few minutes ago.” I smiled brightly. “Third one this week. The others came to my office.”
“What came to your office?”
Kieran and I turned to see Knox walking in. He was dressed casually for the holiday, wearing jeans and a thin charcoal-gray sweater that brought out the color of his eyes.
“The flowers you sent.”
Like Kieran had, Knox retrieved the card, skimming it. “I didn’t send these.”
I frowned at both of them. “Then who did?”
“That’s the question,” Knox mumbled under his breath, passing the card back to Kieran.
Two hours later, the flowers were no longer my main focus.
Nope. I was doing my best to keep from leaping out of a moving vehicle, my nerves rioting like they did when I had to go to the dentist.
The last time I’d spent Thanksgiving with anyone was three years ago before my life was turned upside down and my father sent me off without an explanation. The past two years, I’d been on my own with no family to share the tradition with at all.
To be fair, Thanksgiving wasn’t a holiday I cared much for. I never really had. Sure, I could understand the appeal of gathering with the ones you loved to give thanks for one another. Still, I had my own thoughts on the tradition, considering it was originally meant to celebrate what the Native Americans had done to help the pilgrims during their first year in America. I could argue all day how unfairly the Native Americans were treated and how unjust it was to celebrate something that ultimately resulted in persecution and death. Not that I wanted to think about the political repercussions today. Right now, there were more pressing matters at hand, like the fact that I was about to be introduced to Kieran’s family, and I had no idea what they would think about me.
“There’s nothing to worry about, love,” Kieran said from beside me.
Easy for him to say. I’d spent the past hour and a half riding in a car with him and Knox, letting my unruly imagination get away from me. Initially, I’d been excited about the drive, figuring it would be a relaxing way to get there, but now that we were approaching our destination, the only thing I wanted to do was turn around and go home.
I peered over at Kieran. “What are the chances they won’t be home?”
“Slim to none,” he said with a chuckle.
“I figured you’d say that.”
Twenty minutes later, I learned he was right. The house, a quaint seaside retreat with clapboard siding, oversized windows, and sea-blue shutters, was adorable. Any other time, I would’ve fawned over the two-story’s mix of contemporary and Victorian design. Not today. The only thing I cared about right now was getting through the introductions without making an ass of myself.
“You ready?” Kieran whispered near my ear.
I jumped, startled. “Nope,” I blurted, the truth coming out on a puff of air. “Not at all.”
“It’ll be fine,” Knox consoled. “Come on.”
