Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 45326 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 227(@200wpm)___ 181(@250wpm)___ 151(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 45326 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 227(@200wpm)___ 181(@250wpm)___ 151(@300wpm)
“—since I am the orchestrator of the flowers. I think you and Auntie Steele would be most comfortable in one of the black cars, don’t you? And the rest can file into the vans.”
“Let’s all just take the Town Cars, shall we?” Mr. Tom headed to the second in line. “I think that would be best.” He popped the trunk and put in the basket before opening the lid. “Miss, you and Austin Steele will be in the first car, of course. Or would you prefer to be in the last?”
“Whatever,” she said, starting forward.
“Fantastic, first it is. Edgar, no, get away from there. We’ve only just employed that guardian, we don’t need to scare him off so soon. Tristan, you can drive the miss. Would you like a coffee for the road? I didn’t make one of your exciting creations this time. You’ll have to make do with creamer and sugar.”
“I’m…” Tristan shook himself out of a stupor. “I don’t need coffee, Mr. Tom. Thanks.”
“Let’s go, now. Let’s go.” Mr. Tom started shepherding people toward the cars. “No, no coolers,” he scolded Niamh. “Leave that blasted thing behind.”
“Ah sure, I might as well take it,” Niamh drawled, not giving it up.
“Word of advice,” Austin said to Tristan before joining Jess, unable to help himself. He tuned the argument between Niamh and Mr. Tom out. “It might be better to call her in advance to see what she wants or if she’d prefer for you to make the arrangements. When in doubt, be decisive and direct your crew to get moving. She’ll follow suit and they with her. That way, you won’t get upstaged by an old as dirt butler.”
“Noted,” Tristan growled, directing his people to get moving.
“Sir, here you go.” Mr. Tom handed Austin something wrapped in foil. “Egg, cheese, extra bacon. Miss—oh, she’s already in the car.”
Austin got into the car beside Jess.
“I see now why you always like to bring some shifters,” she said once the door was closed.
“Why is that?” he asked, entwining his fingers with hers.
“Because that way you can control everything around us and calm down my crew’s craziness.”
He smiled, watching as Tristan found his way to the driver’s side door and stood there for a moment, monitoring everyone. Guardians re-organized the extra vehicles they’d brought, moving them out of the way.
“Yes, a tip I just gave Tristan. Be decisive so that Jess doesn’t have to.”
She leaned into him. “Maybe that’s a bad thing. Nessa just reminded me that I basically let my ex control me. He called the shots—most of them, anyway—and my voice was lost. I shouldn’t bring that into my new life.”
He shook his head as Tristan opened the door. “I don’t know about your situation in the past, but you always step up when you need to. It’s not a bad thing to be easygoing, Jess. If you don’t care about the details, there’s no reason you should feel the need to throw your weight around to control them. You have new people now. They’ll adapt to your style. This is probably the best way to practice. What could possibly go wrong at a flower show?”
THREE
Jessie
“Miss!”
We’d barely finished parking and Tristan had just turned to tell us something when Mr. Tom started knocking on my car window.
“Miss!”
Tristan gave a bewildered look at Austin.
Austin, in a move that was odd for him around a subordinate, even in my presence, started laughing.
“Don’t get out yet,” Austin told me. “Just roll down the window. I need a word with Tristan.”
I did as he said and Mr. Tom leaned in toward me. “Miss, do you need a refill on your coffee?”
“No, thanks, I’m fine.”
“And what about a bite to eat? Now, I know you weren’t hungry enough for a whole breakfast sandwich or burrito before we left, but it’s been nearly an hour. I packed plenty.”
“I ate before we left, Mr. Tom. I’m good.”
“Yes, miss. But what about a muffin? Or a croissant? Or a chocolate croissant?”
“No, thanks, Mr.—“ I paused. “A chocolate croissant might be nice. And I guess just a bit more coffee with it. Just creamer. No sugar.”
“Fantastic, miss. Chocolate always hits the spot in the morning. How about you, sir? I see the wadded up foil. Would you like another?”
“No, Mr. Tom,” Austin told him in a commanding tone. “That’ll be all. Deliver Jess’s food and give us a moment.”
“Yes, sir. Tristan? Do you need to put in a quick order before I am thrust from the car by the alpha’s command?”
“No. I’m good,” Tristan replied in a deep voice brooking no argument.
“Very well.” Mr. Tom hurried from the car.
Tristan’s strangely glowing eyes flashed in the rearview mirror. “Is that a usual occurrence when on the road? I don’t remember him being this…overbearing over the last couple of weeks.”
“There was a plane ride lacking snacks at one point,” I said with a smile, “and he’s been a little…much ever since. You’ll get used to it.”