Chapter 9
Zenia
Since Sawyer said I had clothes around here somewhere, I figured it was a good time to change into something more comfortable. The matching two-piece set he brought me to the hospital was adorable, but like he suggested, I needed a long nap.
It was just after one, and he wouldn’t be back until seven, so that gave me plenty of time to rest up.
Since I didn’t see my bag, I walked over to the wardrobe and opened it.
My mouth fell open as I took a step back and marveled at the packed closet.
It was so full that I had to shove to make space to pull something out.
I held up the most adorable jean romper from one of my favorite plus-size boutiques.
It had been a while since I bought anything from there, but I was absolutely in love.
I checked the label and smiled when I saw that it was a size twenty.
In fact, every single item in the closet was my size.
I recalled Sawyer saying he’d gone through my bags to find out what I needed.
Needless to say, the six boxes of shoes were all size eight and a half. There was a pair of sneakers, two pairs of sandals, and three different heels including a black pair of pumps like the nude ones I’d worn to Cashville. How was this selection so perfect?
I couldn’t wait to wear one of the flowy dresses, but at that moment, I just wanted to get naked and lay in that big comfortable bed and rest. The one from my other room felt like a cloud.
I knew a king-sized bed would be even better.
Opening one of the drawers on the wardrobe, I shook my head when I discovered that it was also full to the rim.
Various styles of panties and triple D bras filled the top drawer.
The other drawers contained T-shirts and loungewear.
I was so grateful to Sawyer and whoever he’d sent out shopping that I could cry.
Maybe I could get a new start after all. I couldn’t wait to try.
A knock on the door interrupted my exploring, so I closed the drawer and sauntered over to the door. My face heated as I swung the door open, expecting to see Sawyer. Instead, there was a middle-aged woman with a pixie cut and a big smile.
“Hey, Miss Iris, I’m Denise. I’m over the laundry department.
I see why Sawyer is so smitten with you, honey.
Look at all these hips and thighs, and you’re such a pretty thing.
I’m so glad to see him so happy that I just had to come up here and meet you.
How you doing, baby? He told me you had a health scare. ”
“I’m fine. Thank you for checking on me.”
“Well, Sawyer told me you were here and dared me to come up here and mess with you before you finished getting your beauty rest. Well that just meant that I had to check in.”
“Thank you for checking on me. Are you the one responsible for buying all this stuff?”
“Yes, ma’am. He gave me a list of stores to use to shop for you and gave me a nice little bonus to come up here and make sure everything was here before you got here. He must really like you.”
“I guess so.” I shrugged.
“Ain’t no guessing. I hear you’re looking for a job.
He told me that you wanted to start in the morning, but I don’t think so.
You just got out of the hospital. I don’t know what you were in for, and he didn’t get into all that.
The only thing I need to know is that you have gotten your proper rest. Don’t you come down there for at least two days.
If I were you, I would lay up in this room and run up a tab with room service as long as I could before I thought about working.
This place has some fabulous restaurants.
The staff eats free while we’re working and at a seventy-five percent discount when we’re off.
They take it out of your check if necessary, so have at it.
I have a feeling Mr. Ash ain’t gon’ let you spend your money anyway. ”
“I plan to get some rest and go from there.”
“Well, I’ll have someone to bring your uniform and shoes up later. That don’t mean you have to start tomorrow. Like I said, give yourself a couple of days to recover.”
“Yes, ma’am.” I nodded.
“Alright, baby girl, let me get out of your hair. I just wanted to introduce myself.”
“Thank you again.”
“You’re welcome. Try to get you some rest.”
I woke from a dead sleep right before six o’clock. My growling stomach pretty much dragged me out of bed. Since Sawyer was coming for dinner at seven, I picked out a cute dress and headed to the shower. It was actually sickening how eager I was to see Sawyer.
It had only been a few hours since he’d left, and I was straight giddy as I lathered my body with the strawberries and cream bodywash from the bag of supplies. I had been using hotel soap since I’d been here, so I was grateful to have some of the good stuff.
The Syre’s Elle skin-care line was expensive, but as I stepped out of the shower, smelling amazing and feeling butter soft before I even moisturized, I deemed it well worth the money.
After drying off, I used the strawberry body oil to moisturize my skin before putting on the fitted, seafoam green dress and gold sandals.
For the first time in a while, I felt pretty without someone having to tell me.
I knew that I was a pretty girl somewhere underneath all the sadness and self-pity.
I prayed to find that girl again. Tonight, I just wanted to be in good company and enjoy some good food, bonus points if I could forget the possibility of being found and murdered for running away from my forced destiny.
As I put on the silver cross necklace my mom had given me, a knock at the door startled me.
I looked over at the clock just to make sure I wasn’t tripping.
It was only six thirty. The possibility of being found made my heart race.
I rushed over to the door and looked through the peephole to see who it was.
I let out a sigh of relief when I saw Sawyer on the other side, running his hand over his freshly cut fade.
His gold grill glistened, and his beard looked freshly trimmed, highlighting his gorgeous plump lips.
I just watched him for a second because it was so cute that he looked nervous.
Stepping back, I tore the door open and stepped aside to let him in.
“Wow, you look good, mama,” he said, eyeing me from head to toe.
“Thank you. You look pretty good yourself. I see you got your hair cut.”
“You noticed.” He grinned, putting his hand on his cheek playfully.
“Stop it.”
“No, seriously. Thank you. I wanted to look good for our first date.”
“I wasn’t aware that this was a date,” I noted, cocking an eyebrow.
“Well, now you know,” he countered.
“I’m glad you called it a date. Now I don’t feel so weird about being overdressed for a night in.”
“Actually, we’re not staying in,” he revealed.
“I thought we were ordering room service and watching a movie.”
“Change of plans. You’ve been cooped up inside long enough. I think you could use some air.”
“I don’t know if I should go out right now.”
“Don’t worry. You know you can trust me.”
Pointing at him, I gave him a warning glare. “I’m holding you to that, Mister.”
“You should. Are you ready?”
I lifted my shoulders. “Sure.”
He grabbed my hand, gently tugging me behind him as he led the way to the door. We walked down to the elevator and went down to the ground floor. It was so quiet that I was sure no one was down there. I followed Sawyer down to the end of the hall and out to a grassy area surrounded by a stone path.
Clasping my hand around Sawyer’s bicep, I took the slow stroll down the winding path with rose bushes on each side. The sound of water met me before I saw a creek. There were a few geese swimming along but no other signs of life.
We turned off the stone path onto a dirt trail illuminated by small lanterns flanking each side.
As we rounded the deep curve, I stopped in my tracks.
Huge trees covered with moss surrounded a wooden gazebo with golden strings of light draped around it.
Bigger glass lanterns hung on the inside, providing soft lighting.
Smooth jazz music played at a low volume from somewhere unseen.
A red tablecloth and silver domed plates were on the table with a vase of red roses and two more lanterns.
“Sawyer,” I whispered.
“You like it? I wasn’t sure if I was doing too much,” he asked, looking down at me with lifted brows.
“This is beautiful.”
“I thought you deserved a nice night out without having to go anywhere or be around too many people.”
“I don’t know what to say. No one has ever done anything like this for me.”
He quickly raised his shoulders. “It’s nothing really.”
“It’s literally not nothing. You have a candle lit dinner by a creek with music and roses. You had to have put a lot of thought into this.”
“As fine as you are and not one man ever had sense enough to have dinner by candlelight with you?”
“Never.”
“I apologize on behalf of my gender, but this is nothing, mama.”
“I don’t know if I’m ready for what you might consider something.”
He flashed a sexy smile as he leaned down and pecked my lips with a gentle kiss. “We’ll see, won’t we?”
“Maybe we will.”
“Ain’t no maybes. Let’s get over here before the next course arrives.”
“Courses? OK then, I like the sound of that,” I said, letting him lead me to my seat.
Once I was seated on my side of the round bench, Sawyer walked around and took his seat.
I took a sip from the wineglass that was filled with water, while Sawyer lifted the dome from my plate.
There was a spinach and arugula salad with raspberries, candied pecans, and goat cheese.
I was starving, so I didn’t hesitate to dig in.
The salad was delicious. It was dressed lightly with a sweet and tangy vinaigrette that brought everything together just right.
“Wine?” Sawyer asked, picking up the bottle of red wine from a bucket of ice.
“Sure.”