Page 22 of His Wild Storm
When I step into the kitchen, I find Wendy pouring some hot water into a mug. My first instinct is to turn around and walk away, but I know it would be beyond silly for me to act on the feeling. Wendy and Laura have been amazing since I came here to Safe Home and my strange, and completely misplaced jealousy because Wendy is clearly interested in Knox, is just silly.
“Hi Wendy,” I have to force the words past my lips and hope that the fake as hell smile on my face makes it sound at least a little bit sincere.
I’m not sure how to interpret the way Wendy’s eyes soften. I definitely don’t like the way she looks at me like she knows something I don’t.
While I never got the impression Wendy is the kind of woman I’ve always avoided—most notably catty—doesn’t mean she isn’t that way. Sometimes all it takes is a man and feelings to make someone’s behavior change. Though, I do have to wonder if it is a change or if it’s a reveal of who they really are.
“Hey Haven,” Wendy’s voice is bright, “are you heading in to check out the art class?” She looks at the watch on her wrist, “It should be over soon, but there are still a few minutes left. You might be able to see Wilde and Knox in action.”
My eyebrows pull together with her words. Wasn’t she the woman who followed behind Knox like a little puppy, and I mean that in the nicest way possible, just this morning? Why would she be encouraging me to go and see Knox in action? Wilde is one thing, that makes total sense, but Knox?
What’s her angle?
“I was thinking about checking it out to see if Wilde is finished,” I try and deflect.
She nods, but the action seems almost absent, like she doesn’t even realize she’s doing it. When she meets my gaze, there’s something like regret shining in her eyes. “I’m sure you noticed how I was trying to get Knox’s attention when he first showed up,” her voice is hesitant and her cheeks flush with her words.
“Who you are attracted to is none of my business,” I try and assure her, but there is a slight edge to my voice I can’t hide.
“Under normal circumstances I would agree with you,” Wendy starts, “but I think it is your business in this case.”
All I can do is stare at her because I have no idea what she’s talking about or why anything to do with Knox has anything to do with me. Just because I want it to be different, doesn’t mean it is.
Wendy’s voice is gentle, like she’s afraid to spook me which is just silly, “He was polite when I tried to flirt with him and today when I saw the way he looked at you, I saw something rare. I’m not interested in getting in between the two of you.”
“There’s nothing going on with Knox and me,” I squeak. I can feel how wide my eyes are as I look at her, my brain struggling to process her words.
The smile on Wendy’s face turns a touch patronizing while remaining gentle. “I think you are more than aware that something is there between the two of you. What that is, I’m certainly not going to speculate, but I did see how he looked at you.”
“Today was the first time I ever officially met the man,” I point out while trying to keep my voice from becoming shrill as panic starts to well up inside of me. “You’re talking like I’m going to fall into his arms, and we’ll be together forever.”
“Stranger things have happened,” Wendy’s voice is cryptic as fuck. She shrugs, the movement so casual that it throws me a little. “From everything Avery has said, Knox is a good guy. And, of course, everyone allowed to come and work here has to be vetted. Thoroughly. The guys who run Higgins Security make sure everyone who steps foot anywhere near Safe Home can be trusted, and don’t have a history of violence. There’s no way Knox would be here, especially to teach the kids, if he weren’t someone worthy of the job and I’m not talking about their talent.”
I hadn’t thought of that. It does put my mind at ease. A little. But only from a safety perspective.
I’m not sure anything would make me feel more comfortable with the thought of anything romantic happening with Knox.
Sure, my body reacts to him instantly, but that doesn’t mean I’m ready to be in a relationship with anyone, especially after being withhimfor so long. Then there’s the fact that I need to protect Wilde. Having a man in his life, especially after his father, isn’t something I’ll take lightly.
I know how important it is. If I make the wrong choice, again, it will negatively impact my son. It’s not something I’ll let happen. Not again.
He deserves the fucking world, and I’ll do whatever I need to do to ensure he has it.
But I already know how much Wilde worships Knox. My son hasn’t stopped talking about the man for days. I know it’ll only continue for as long as Wilde attends art classes.
Is it the whole art thing? Is it because of who Knox is? Is it something more, something deeper?
“I have no doubt that he’s safe or he wouldn’t be allowed to be here,” I hedge, unwilling to respond to the rest of her words.
Wendy makes a humming sound. “Okay, well, even if you don’t want to acknowledge it, I’m just letting you know I won’t continue to flirt with Knox. It’s clear I’m not the woman he’s interested in.”
My face heats up and I’m sure I turn a lovely pink or red shade. I ignore it because there’s nothing else to be done.
“Okay,” I whisper the word, hoping she lets me off the hook and doesn’t try to push more of these wild accusations onto me.
Before I realize what is happening, Wendy waves and walks out of the kitchen. She doesn’t head toward where the art class is, though. She turns in the opposite direction, towards her office. Do I feel even a little bit ashamed that I watch to make sure she’s going in the opposite direction of Knox? Nope. Not even a little bit.
I shake my head and start toward the common room where the class is taking place. The door is quiet when I open it and slip inside through the smallest opening I’m capable of sliding through. The bowl of fruit is placed in the front of the room in the middle of a table. The kids in the class are all close, but it’s clear they’ll get different views of the bowls depending on where they are seated.
