Sold as the Alpha King’s Breeder by Alice Knightsky
Chapter 75 – First Night With Soren?
**Soren’s POV**
Thomas was waiting for me at the end of Rosalie’s driveway, my briefcase in his hand.
I didn’t say anything, but I knew the look on his face. He was afraid I was going to be late for my meeting back in Avondale, and maybe he was right.
Well, Edgar Maul could wait. We had a deal to work out, but until he could come around to my terms, it wasn’t like he was my best pal. I wasn’t eager to see him anyway.
“You look relaxed,” Thomas noted, falling into step beside me as we walked briskly to the waiting limo.
I shook my head. “Piano,” was all I was willing to say.
“So, your plan is working,” he replied, pushing the subject. “She liked it?”
“She loved it.” The driver opened the door, and I slid in, Thomas following me. I remembered Rosalie’s face when she saw the piano across the room. “Worked like a charm.”
Thomas smirked a little, looking away, his eyes focused out the window as the car began to roll.
“What’s that look for?” I glared at him.
“Huh?” Suddenly, he had a hearing problem. That, or he just didn’t want to answer me. “Oh, uh, nothing. I just… you said charmed, and I was just thinking… perhaps… you were a little charmed.”
I stared at him for a long moment. “Perhaps you should be careful what you say to me, Thomas, or you might find yourself flying out the window.”
He straightened his face, but I was only partially joking. It was true that Rosalie was quite pretty and beguiling, but I knew that this was pure business. I had my goals in mind, and I wasn’t going to lose focus on them.
My cell phone rang, so I fished it out of my jacket pocket and noted that it was Damian of all people. I cursed under my breath before answering it.
I didn’t really want to speak to him. “What do you want?” I asked him.
“Just checking in,” he replied. “How did it go?”
“Yeah, well, had you done your job,” I reminded him. “Maybe then she wouldn’t have gotten the total sh*t beaten out of her.”
“Just a little sh’t?” he asked. I narrowed my eyes, not that he could see me. “Anyway, what do you want me to do now?”
“Just hang tight. She doesn’t leave this island without me and my permission.” No one left this island without my permission. “I’ve got some other things you can handle while you’re here if you think you can handle it. Butthen, I’ll have to make sure none of them involve pregnant women because clearly they can take you down easily and take your toys.”
“She drugged me!” Damian shouted into my ear.
“I don’t accept excuses, Damian! You failed and put the entire plan into jeopardy. I’ll have Thomas text you later.” I hung up the phone and put it back in my pocket.
“What am I texting him later?” Thomas asked.
“Do you always eavesdrop?” I muttered, pinching the bridge of my nose.
“We’re sitting less than four feet apart,” he said, his tone calm, as it should be. I had been pretending to be too nice for too long.
“Just an odd job or something. Keep him busy while I figure out what the h*ll to do with him. Speaking of odd jobs, have you heard from McGintry today?” I had sent the other mercenary on an odd job the day before, and he hadn’t reported yet, to my knowledge.
Thomas nodded. “Yeah, he took out Clark and four of his men. Got the money. We’re good.”
I smiled. I always liked it when reports ended that way—we got the money and we’re good. That was what I liked to hear.
“And we got that shipment through, so that supply chain in the north isn’t going anywhere.” My smile broadened. Lots of good news today.
The car kept rolling, and I focused on the meeting I had with Edgar Maul. It wasn’t easy being me, but someone had to do it.
**Rosalie’s POV**
My fingers continued to fly over the keys, and my voice mingled with the melody, filling the small living room of the cottage with music.
It had only been a couple of hours since Soren had left, but I already missed him, and I couldn’t quite say why.
I just wished he were still in the chair, listening to me play, with that calm, relaxed smile on his face. It made me so happy knowing I could make someone feel that way.
Not often did I feel like someone really appreciated my music, but Soren did.
“Miss Ro?” Lola said, pausing in the entryway. “Please pardon my intrusion, but it’s past two o’clock. You should take a break from your music playing and eat some lunch. Seraphine is here too.”
My fingers stopped tracing the notes, and I looked over at her, standing with her hands behind her and her head tipped slightly down, like I might be upset at her words.
She was right. I did need to eat. The baby needed to eat.
I was hungry anyway, and it wasn’t like the piano wouldn’t be here later. I pulled myself away from my new gift and followed her into the dining area where she had a small spread of sandwiches and other finger foods set out for me. Lola and Seraphine knew how I hated eating by myself, so at least one of them always ate with me, even if it was against the rules of high society. Today, three of us sat at the table, and I told them about the trip I’d taken onto the other island. I told them about the seaplane ride, shopping for baby furniture, and how kind Soren had been.
“I couldn’t believe he wanted to bring in a piano,” Lola noted. “But I’m so glad he did. Miss Ro, you play so beautifully.”
“Thank you,” I said. “I will be playing for him whenever he likes to repay him for his kindness.”
“Well, he certainly seems to like you,” Lola said with a twinkle in her eye.
I smiled at her, but I was shaking my head. “It’s not like that at all,” I told her. “We are just friends.” Lola’s eyebrows raised. She took a bite of her sandwich, and I knew she wouldn’t question me, but she didn’t have to use words to make me feel that she didn’t believe what I was saying.
“You have been through a lot,” Seraphine said. “We don’t have to know the story to know that. You are right to be cautious. But Soren is a good man. You can trust him.”
I looked around the table, and both of them were nodding.
They knew him better than I did. I trusted them—and I was beginning to trust him.
Later that night, I was lying in bed, thinking about my baby, trying not to think about Ethan. My hands were sore from playing so much in one day. I had gotten little else done because I’d spent so much time at the piano. The garden was going to be neglected now that the piano had arrived.
My phone buzzed-yes, since I moved to Papeno, he had even given me a phone. He claimed that this was a “work phone.” It took me a couple days to get used to it.
I picked it up, noting it was past midnight. I knew it had to be Soren calling. Who else could it be?
“Are you still awake?” he asked me.
“No,” I answered, just being silly.
He sent a laughing emoji. “Are you sleep texting then?”
“Maybe,” I said. “Are you in Avondale?”
“No,” he replied. “I’m at your front door.”
I almost jumped up from the bed. I wasn’t expecting that.
I grabbed my robe, putting it on over my pajamas. I slid my phone into my pocket and shoved my feet into my slippers.
At least I knew what this late-night call was about, and it had nothing to do with the bedroom. I still laughed at myself for what I’d thought he’d meant earlier.
When I reached the door, I pulled it open to find a slightly disheveled Soren standing there with roses in his hand. They were pink—for friendship. His tie was undone, and his hair was a little messy, but he was smiling. “Care to sing me a lullaby?”
I laughed. “You brought me flowers, even at midnight?”
He shrugged. “It’s what I do.”
I moved aside so that he could come in, and we walked into the living room. Lola didn’t stay here, so I got my own vase. I also grabbed a blanket and pillow for him, and as Soren made himself comfortable on the couch, I sat down behind the piano and began to play him a lullaby.