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“Laugh at what?” I giggle.
Michael brings the cart to a stop before reaching into his pockets, pulling out a folded paper and a small pencil.
“Don’t laugh at the fact that I keep paper on me. Never know when I will have a moment to sketch something. It helps calm my mind.”
His voice is quiet as his thumb fidgets with the corner of the folded paper. I place my hand over his and he looks up, giving his attention back to me.
“Will you draw me something?” I ask shyly.
He slowly unfolds the paper and that’s when I see that there’s hardly any space remaining. Ivy leaves make a border around the page, encapsulating an image of dense forest. There’s a couple of fallen trees with a stone path and a deer in the distance. I can tell time was spent on the image, but I’m not exactly sure when he would have had time to draw it, considering most of his morning was spent with me.
“I had the early-morning property line check. Once that was completed, I took a moment to myself.”
“You’re so talented, Michael. This is absolutely gorgeous. Your gifts are being wasted here,” I say softly, my hand still resting on his.
Michael chuckles. “No money in the arts.” He folds the page back down as though he isn’t creasing a masterpiece and hands it over to me. He stares for a moment, eyes flicking down to my lips. “You can keep it.”
The love or need of money has had so much influence over my life, and it sounds like over his. I look down at the folded page and imagine a different life for us both, because we deserve to live our dreams.
“Thank you,” I say with a shy smile, holding the folded page to my chest.
Michael nods his head, his eyes soft as he studies me, before starting the cart back up and continuing our journey around the property.
Chapter Six
FrancescaRose
Texas, 1996 - 6 Months Later
At no point in my life did I question having any control of my future. Over the past six months I could’ve wasted time daydreaming about the life Iwantedto lead. Instead, I’ve taken my mother's advice.Find happiness where I can get it.After Ashton and I set our expectations of each other, I woke each morning with the mindset of finding happiness in my new life as a criminal’s wife.
Most days I lounge in bed sleeping past noon. Once I’m up for the day, it’s a quick workout, followed by a swim in the pool. I usually leave the compound twice a week to prevent cabin fever, but it makes me anxious. Now that I’m a Rose, security measures have to be taken any time I leave the property. Walking around with all that security makes me imagine I’ll get shot in the head while grocery shopping. My biggest problem with this life, other than my husband, is that there is no purpose to this existence.
That lack of purpose has been overshadowed, more andmore, by the handfuls of happiness I’ve been able to hold onto. The fully-stocked library has provided me with a daily dose of disassociation. Most of my time is spent getting lost in other worlds to prevent acknowledging the misery of my own. I was elated when Kathy mentioned she was responsible for ordering the books that live on those shelves. She and I became fast friends after my first day here. So, ordering the bodice-rippers that I love to consume in one sitting became top priority.
The other piece of joy that I’ve been grabbing handfuls of is the 6-foot bodyguard that currently has me pinned to the library door with his tongue down my throat. Michael Ellis. Head of my security team and the biggest tease walking the Earth as far as I’m concerned. During my time here we’ve forged a genuine connection, and the chemistry I felt during our first days together only intensified. It didn’t take long for us to fall into the intoxicating feeling of sneaking around behind Ashton’s back.
He breaks our kiss, trailing them down my neck. “You need to be present for dinner soon.”
“There’s definitely something I’d like to swallow, and it isn’t food,” I respond while running my hand down the front of his pants.
He gathers my wrist, pinning my hands above my head. “Behave, Princess.”
“Such a tease,” I taunt, pressing my body into his.
It’s been three months of edging and teasing each other, but nothing has progressed. I think we both know once we cross that line, things become much more dangerous than either of us are prepared for. Especially since I’m not pregnant yet.
When Ashton said my sole purpose was to produce an heir, he meant it. The sexual interactions between us are clinical and underwhelming. Most days I stay out of his way until I’msummoned to his office. It’s a special kind of torture, that Michael is the one who Ashton usually sends to retrieve me. We both choose not to speak about the moments I’m in that office because we know why I’m here in the first place.
Michael fixes my dress and the lipstick that I’m sure is smeared across my swollen lips.
“Be a good girl and go enjoy dinner with your husband,” he says, watching me pat my hair back into place.
“Gross.” I push at his chest. “Don’t call him that. ‘Warden’ is more appropriate.”
He chuckles, one of my new favorite sounds. Another item to add to the list of happinesses I’ve found in this new existence.
“Listen, I won’t be at the dinner table tonight, so don’t piss him off. Things went bad with one of the crews today and I don’t need him taking it out on you.” His voice is stern, but I read the worry in his frown.
