Safe House (11 page)

Angela really hoped it would be soon. She didn’t complain often but they both knew the care their father was receiving was sub-standard at best. They didn’t feel comfortable going even one day without swinging by to check on him. She knew there were better facilities available that would be willing to take him in on a moment’s notice if only she had the money.

She looked at her frail father while he slept. He seemed to grow weaker every day. If only she could pluck the courage to give in to Shane Davis’s offer…

There was a knock on the door and one of the nurses appeared loaded down with bunches of beautiful, exotic flowers. Both Sasha and Angela shared surprised looks.

“Who ordered flowers?” Angela asked and Sasha merely shrugged.

“These were delivered for Mr. Neil,” said the burly nurse with a smile as she arranged them as best as she could on the nearby table. “They’re really lovely; never seen bouquets so fresh and beautiful. A note came with them.”

Angela was speechless as she looked down at the card the nurse handed to her. Somehow she guessed who’d sent the flowers. The words were hand-written, bold and black and covering almost every inch of the card. He’d known she’d be there; he’d addressed the card to her though the flowers were for her father. This was her regular visiting day and hours whenever she was in town and it shook her up somewhat that Shane Davis knew so much about her. The note simply said “Angela, I hope your father will like the flowers. Shane.”

Angela didn’t know what to think. It really was nice of him to send the bouquets though it also bordered on stalking. This notion felt even firmer when her cellphone suddenly rang and she picked it up slowly to hear his voice on the other end.

Sasha stared at the flowers and Angela’s face. Her sister looked like she was gearing up to ask some questions. Angela held up a hand to settle Sasha while she rose and made it out the door to take the call.

“I’m sorry for interrupting your visit to your dad,” said that voice that reminded Angela of warm cocoa or more precisely warm cocoa with a hint of Irish whiskey. “I wanted to make sure you got the flower delivery.”

“Oh I’m sure you know the flowers arrived as intended,” Angela said wryly, while she pressed a hand to her beating chest. Why the hell did he make her heart thump about with only his voice? She imagined him sitting behind his desk in that sad, shadowy room and felt a twinge of sorrow. Angela leaned against the wall for support, looking up at the ceiling and cursing herself for being so fanciful.

“Thanks anyway. It was a nice touch. My father’s asleep now but I’m sure when he wakes they’ll cheer him up more than the ones we usually bring him once in a while,” Angela added, wanting to be gracious.

“I’m glad. Have you made up your mind yet?”

Angela’s eyes darted and she didn’t know what next to say. The refusal was already on the tip of her tongue. She sighed deeply and started off with, “Well, I do need the money but…”

“Think of the good it would do,” Shane said lightly. “And I’m ready to go further to say I’ll sweeten the deal and see to it myself that your father gets the finest care this city can offer. And if not here, then wherever he chooses to go. My assistant has done some checking into it. She said there are a couple of very nice assisted living facilities here in Nashville with openings.  And your sister…Sasha, right? She can give up that waitressing job immediately. One of my corporate sponsors is recruiting staff and someone with her skills will definitely find a suitable position. She’d be happy for something more stable and better suited for her level of education, don’t you think?”

Angela drew in a ragged breath. “Is there anything about me or my family you don’t know?”

“Don’t hold it against me,” he said with a slight twist of humor in his voice. “I have a reputation about being very determined when it comes to getting what I want.”

And I want you, he didn’t add but she could almost feel the words coursing through her. Oh God, thought Angela. She really, really shouldn’t. He made her feel things she didn’t understand, didn’t trust.

“Three weeks, Angela. Tops. Starting tomorrow night when I’ll be holding a dinner party at my home. Ten or so friends and business associates, at the most,” Shane was saying in a brisk tone. “The papers can be looked over and signed the next morning after you’ve had a chance to try it out. It’s not really about you anymore, but helping your family, as well. This would be the best thing you could do for them.”

Damn! He was right. Angela hated to admit it, but he was. She couldn’t keep waiting for her big break. At age twenty-seven she was getting closer to that stage where younger, fresher faces would get a better chance at certain roles. At least she could make some serious money, more than she could dream of making in two years. Shane was being very generous and yet that was one of the things that made her wary. Why would he pay so much if he wasn’t expecting to get a little something extra from the bargain?

But no…he’d promised her this was legit. And he wanted to help her father and sister. So maybe he wasn’t a sleazy rich playboy who thought his money could buy him everything. He needed her as much as she needed him, she had no doubt about that or why would he have gone to this extra trouble?

“Okay. I’ll do it,” she said breathlessly. She felt like she was taking a chance; falling off the edge without knowing how far off the ground was. But wasn’t life about risks?

Maybe this would be one great big adventure. And at the end she’d be smiling all the way to the bank. Angela was sure if she kept her head on straight, she’d do just fine…

Skin Deep:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FLYFWGW

Copyright 2014 Dez Burke

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