Chapter 26
Angie tried to settle into the sofa and read one of the romance books that North had bought her. But she just couldn’t seem to get into it, maybe it was because North kept checking on her every five minutes to make sure she was still there.
To be fair, she had thought about trying to escape, but wasn’t sure how to do it without getting caught.
They’d sent a message to Zander on her phone with a photo. Which she’d refused to smile in.
She wasn’t making this easier for them.
After North checked in for the hundredth time, she decided to go and see if she could find a snack to eat while watching a movie. She just wasn’t going to be able to concentrate on her book.
Getting up she made her way through the house. She guessed the kitchen would be close to the dining room where they’d had breakfast. Easy. Peasy.
Except it wasn’t easy peasy. Finally, she thought she’d found the door that led to the dining room.
Only, when she opened it she found Jared sitting behind a large wooden desk.
He glanced up in surprise.
“Oh. Oops.”
“Everything okay?” he asked coolly.
Seriously. The man had more moods than a toddler had clothing changes.
Although he could be a bit annoyed with her because she’d told him that he was a bobblehead. Going back and forth on whether she could call her sister.
And that if Keira got upset and it affected the baby then she was going to make sure he could never have babies.
Yeah, upon reflection that might explain the frosty knickers attitude.
“Did you just say ‘frosty knickers attitude’?”
Easy, Angie.
“It’s something I read in a book. Knickers is another word for panties. Anyway, I’ll be going now.”
“Were you wanting to ask me something?”
“No. I was looking for the kitchen. Which I thought would be near the dining room we were in this morning. Only this isn’t the dining room. Why did you move it?”
His eyebrows rose. “I haven’t moved anything. The dining room is where it’s always been. You’re just confused.”
Did he think she was an idiot? Of course she knew the dining room was always where it had been. She just didn’t know where that was. He got up and walked over to her holding out his hand. She hesitated for a moment then took it.
Thank God he didn’t know that she’d been talking about him having a frosty knickers attitude.
Good save.
She was too busy congratulating herself to memorize where they were going.
Drat.
Left. Straight. Right? Why was this house so complicated?
And why was he so quiet? It was disturbing.
“Sorry to interrupt you,” she said. “I should have just asked my guard dog where to go.”
“Guard dog?” he asked.
“North has been checking in every five minutes to make sure I’m still here. I think he thinks I’m going to do a runner.”
“Are you going to do a runner?” Jared asked.
“I would if I thought I wouldn’t get caught,” she muttered.
“I would advise against it. I don’t want to lock you in your room. But if I have to in order to keep you safe. I will.”
Jared led her into an enormous kitchen. It was gorgeous. Sage green cabinets and white counters with a huge island in the middle. A strange man was working at the island with his back to her.
She came to a stop. Was this one of the family? Was it someone she’d met before? She didn’t want to be around anyone from her past life here.
Other than Jared and North.
But when he turned, she saw a stranger who had a kind smile.
Whew.
“This is our cook, Rex,” Jared said. “Rex, meet Angie. She’s staying for a while.”
Rex nodded to her. “Nice to meet you, Angie.”
“You too,” she replied.
“Rex has been with me a long time and he’s extremely loyal,” Jared said to her quietly. “He won’t betray me just in case you were wondering.”
Drat. That hadn’t occurred to her.
Idiot.
“Can you get her some snacks?” Jared asked Rex.
“Of course. Looks like she could do with some feeding up.”
Did everyone have an opinion on the way she looked?
Sheesh.
Rex loaded her up with snacks and she made her way back to the living room to find North waiting.
“Looking for me?” she asked sweetly.
“Just checking that you’re behaving.”
“I haven’t run. Yet.”
“And you won’t. You’re here to stay.”
“Jared doesn’t seem so sure,” she said.
“He will be. Don’t worry about that.”