Page 31 of Taming Grumpy Dr. Beast
“I see from your expression that you don’t believe me. Do you remember the summer you stayed here when you were fifteen?”
I nodded. My grandfather was fit to be tied when I arrived. His sunny disposition had disappeared without warning. It was a miserable two weeks, and then suddenly he was the happy-go-lucky man I always knew him to be. He never said what had been bothering him, and I never asked.
“Your grandfather did not make the same mistake again. And Jaxon, I’ll be sure to make your experience ten times worse.” A satisfied smile spread across her face. “Now I must go. I have so much to do today.”
I stood there listening to her retreating steps, tapping a cheery tune against the tile of the floor. Even her footwear was singing as though she’d won. I frowned as it dawned on me that my sweet house manager had a darker side that I’d been unaware of all this time.
***
ISTOOD ON THE BACKpatio situated outside the second, formal living room doors, staring out over the yard and the pond beyond. We had a large intricate knot garden to the right with brightly colored flowers and hedges creating paths that I thankfully had nothing to do with. Our talented gardener and his staff were here a few times a week during the winter months, and then daily as we got closer to the summer.
I loved this property so fucking much. It reminded me of my grandfather. I did what I had to do to not let my parents get their greedy hands on it. They would destroy every piece of this property without a care.
A click of the French doors alerted me to her presence. “Dr. LeBeau,” I said, slightly sharper than I intended. I was still pissed she refused to have dinner with me last night, but I also realized I’d been a dick in refusing to let her eat.
“Grump-hole,” she muttered under her breath, moving closer.
I stifled a laugh and faced her. Her inventive swearing was amusing.
My laugh stuck in my throat.
Fuck!
The long black open cardigan she wore swung open as she walked, giving me a view of her leopard pants cupping her luscious hips, and her tank top lay tight against her chest.
I’d stop to adjust myself if I didn’t think it would be so obvious.
In an effort to shift attention to another part of my body, I held out my arm for her to take as she got closer. Her delicate eyebrows lifted high on her forehead while she regarded my arm as though it was a wolf ready to attack.
With a set jaw, she laid her palm lightly around the crook of my elbow. Sparks ignited under my skin at her touch. Lily flicked her gaze up at me, her mouth rounding as though she would speak, and then quickly shut it.
Out of the corner of my eye, I caught a curtain rustling in a nearby window. I’d bet a hundred grand Ms. Ketill was watching our exchange. “I apologize for my tone.”
I guided us from the patio to the lawn beyond.
“Thank you for sending up dinner last night.”
I hid my shock, surprised she knew I was the one to send it. Ms. Ketill must have shared it with her to soften my image. Not that she was wrong to do so. I hated to admit it, but Lily deserved an apology from me. “You’re welcome. I shouldn’t have snapped at you. You staying here isn’t contingent upon eating meals with me.”
“That’s good to know.” A hint of laughter teased at her tone.
We continued to walk closer to the garden. I thought this would be a good start to our tour. And it might be enough to satisfy Ms. Ketill without walking the whole damn property. Both of us stayed silent, lost in our respective thoughts, as we turned a well-manicured corner of the garden.
An open area was before us, neatly trimmed rows of bushes and plants in various stages of bloom and the sweet scent of jasmine permeating the air. A large, three-tiered Cavalli water fountain with light gray Fiore stone sat in the middle with benches circling it. Within the space, I spied a picnic basket and blanket set out close to the fountain.
I groaned. The woman was relentless. “Ms. Ketill thought we might get hungry.”
Lily rolled her eyes. “Don’t worry, Dr. Beast. I wasn’t under the impression that it was you who set this up.”
“Jaxon. Just use my first name,” I muttered, not wanting to admit I needed to hear my name on her lips.
Her hand absently patted my arm as though agreeing to do so. The movement had me picturing her hand on other parts of my body, starting with my chest and making her way further down. I had to stop those thoughts, or I was never getting through this impromptu awkward picnic.
What the hell was I supposed to talk to her about?
A soft whimper sounded. I looked down at Lily. “You’ve got to be kidding me. Are you crying?”
She glanced up at me with narrowed eyes. “What? That wasn’t me, asshole. I mean—” Her voice faded. Lily threw me a worried glance and rubbed at her forehead. After drawing in a deep breath, she muttered, “I shouldn’t have called you an asshole.”
