Chapter 6
Joanna got dragged to the Newburns‘ mansion, and nobody knew she was Samara’s kid. Still, the butler treated her like she
was some VIP.
Simon was all over her, grabbing her bags, checking if she was cold or hungry. Total softie.
But Joanna? Head down, lingering by the door like she’d rather bolt.
The butler, who’d raised the Newburn boys and seen their dad’s ex–wives come and go, had a big heart for those kids. More than their dad ever did.
So when Simon–the tabloid magnet who never brought girls home–showed up with Joanna, the butler’s radar pinged. “This could be serious.
He swooped in, snagged the bags from Simon, and gave Joanna a quick once–over. Then he warmed up some milk for her and hovered like a worried uncle.
Simon noticed how fragile she looked, like a gust could knock her over.
Her clothes were rough–a faded, almost yellow shirt and baggy jeans that made her look even more like a stray kitten.
She wasn’t from money, probably never saw a place this fancy.
She stood there, dodging the glitzy chandelier’s glow, squirming on the couch like it might bite her.
Simon slid a glass of warm milk her way. “Here, drink this. It’s good for you,” he said, keeping it chill.
His hands were killer–long fingers, a silver ring on his pinky screaming rebel vibes.
Joanna eyed the milk like it was a trap.
Truth was, she didn’t want to be here. Her grandma had been her rock, and grandma loved Samara. For her grandma’s sake, Joanna wasn’t bailing on Samara outright.
Best plan? Get the Newburns to kick her out.
But what is wrong with this Simon guy?‘ she mused. ‘Does he have it in for Ariel? When I messed with Ariel’s finger, was he, like, totally stoked about it?‘
Joanna couldn’t crack his weird vibe, but she had a plan to make him hate her.
She grabbed the fancy crystal glass, skipped the polite act, and smashed it on the floor.
Crash!
The pricey glass exploded into bits.
Joanna didn’t even pretend to care. In her soft, kitten–like voice, she said, “Whoops. Glass is trashed.”
She shot Simon a look, waiting for the blowup. ‘Your precious cup’s done, rich boy. Gonna boot me now?‘
Simon was stunned. He should’ve been pissed–this was a high–dollar collector’s item.
care.
1/2
ཞ ཞྭ་འ་
But then he saw Joanna’s sad little eyes, her red, scalded fingers from the hot milk, and that shaky voice. Suddenly, he didn’t
Chapter o
It’s just a thing, he thought. “Things break.
She looked like a deer in headlights, dragged into this massive mansion and now nursing a burned hand.
In his mind, she probably thought he was out to screw her over. The way her eyes flicked to him, all wary and wide? Yeah, she was scared he’d lose it, maybe treat her like Ariel always did.
‘Poor kid, he thought. ‘Like a scared little sparrow.’
Simon was a dude, and looking out for a cute girl like her was wired into him. Plus, she was way too pretty to stay mad at.
He sighed, crouched down, and picked up the glass shards by her feet with those long fingers. He even dabbed at the milk splattered on her jeans with a tissue.
His hair, a bit long, fell over his ears as he moved, gentle as hell.
“Hey, relax,” he said softly. “I’m not out to get you. No need to freak.”
Joanna blinked. ‘Did this guy just say that?‘
She stared, eyes huge.
Simon caught her shocked look and sighed again. “I know, sounds nuts, but I just wanted you to have some milk. Not trying to burn you or anything.”
Joanna blurted, “But I meant to smash your glass…”
“Yeah, I got that,” Simon said, shrugging. “It’s whatever. Break it, no biggie. I’m not Ariel.”
Joanna went quiet.
Yeah, he wasn’t Ariel.
Ariel was a clown.
Simon? Total nutcase.
Chapter 7
