“Good afternoon, sleepy head,” I heard from heaven. “Meet me in the living room. I have goodies for you.”
I covered my head with the pillows. I had only had a few minutes of sleep, why was my mother waking me up already?
“Imogen, don’t make me send James Bond in there after you. He’s not near as sweet as he looks.” My mother’s voice rang out. “I have tea and biscuits waiting.”
Wait, that’s not mom, she doesn’t like tea and biscuits for breakfast. James Bond?
I rolled the rest of the way over, then threw my legs out to stand. It all came back to me at once when the pain from my ribs grabbed me. I wasn’t at home in my parents’ house safe and sound. I was in the middle of a nightmare turned dream.
“Imogen, don’t make me eat all these biscuits myself. Go to the wall, press the yellow button, and tell me you will be right out,” Poppy teased. “Come on, you can do it. I want you to meet someone and he loves biscuits, so hurry, hurry.”
I pushed up to a standing position, stretched, and then found the yellow button in question.
“I’ll be right out,” I repeated as told. “But only because you’re bribing me with tea and biscuits.”
I took a quick look in the mirror at the disaster that I called my face. I knew what it was going to look like, but I never got use to seeing it. Poppy had said she had someone she wanted me to meet, and she said “he”. I wondered if this was it.
It can’t be Asher, can it? Victoria wanted me to wear one of the dresses Poppy had picked. Maybe it’s another family member. I tiptoed down the hall looking to get a sneak peek at who the “he” was. Instead, a furry critter ran between my legs then down the hall and up into Poppy’s lap.
“Friend of yours, I assume, by the snuggling going on.” I walked further into the living room still looking for “he”. “Who is this cutie?”
“Imogen, this is Lionel. He is my true love above all else. Let’s not tell Kellan that though, he gets a bit jealous.” Poppy sniggled Lionel closer to her neck. “I think he is feeling neglected since you got here. Come meet him.”
“Oh my goodness, when I first saw him run by I thought it was a cat, but it’s a ferret.” I sat down next to Poppy on the couch. “I’ll bet there’s a story to go along with Lionel.”
“Lionel was my savior when everything got crazy for me.” Poppy motioned that I could pet him. “Bringing him with me was a stipulation when I agreed to do the mail order bride thing. It’s only been a short period of time, but the Hawthorne family is amazing. You’re going to fit right in.”
“Can you tell me about Asher?” I asked in a whisper, like it was a secret. “All I know is he’s a playboy with a big reputation, which is scary.”
Poppy laughed. “I would say he has a big personality. He loves to play, and that combination gets him the big reputation.”
“Still scary. How do I keep up with someone like that, who also doesn’t want me around?” I stood to pace the room as I always did when anxious. “Victoria used the word grouchy. Will I have to deal with a person with a bad attitude?”
“Asher is a sweetheart, like all the Hawthornes, really. I’ve only met him a few times, but the whole family is nice, so relax.” Poppy reached for her cell that was going off on the coffee table.
Lionel took offense to this motion and crawled off her lap and onto a nearby pillow. As I continued to pace the room, my mind whirling with thoughts, I kept going back to my parents and Brice. I was worried he would be giving them a hard time.
Maybe Poppy could go by and see if they were okay? No, a limo would be too obvious to whomever Brice has watching the house.
“Crickey girl, you’re going to make me have to replace the carpet over there if you keep pacing like that. Are you still worrying about Asher?” Poppy asked, patting the couch for me to join her.
“No. Well yes, but he’s not my biggest worry right now.” I ignored her request to sit. I thought better pacing. “I’m concerned for my parents’ well-being. Brice is a bully and a sheriff. He can give them all kinds of trouble if they won’t tell him where I am.”
“He won’t be able to get much out of them. They don’t know where you are,” Poppy offered in advice.
“That’s true, but he could have them pulled over every day. He could frame them for a crime. You don’t understand how evil he is.” I stopped pacing for a second to face Poppy. “What if he hurts them?”
“I see what you’re saying now. I hadn’t thought about who else he would harm just to find you,” Poppy said
“Exactly why I haven’t called them to let them know I’m alright. They have to be getting worried by now.” I froze at the window when I watched four police cars with their lights on pull into the front and side entrance.
Bloody hell, he found me. I knew he would find me. I’m seriously dead now.
Chapter 12
AUGUST
“Mr. Hawthorne, we’ll be arriving in approximately ninety minutes,” Ralph said over the intercom. “Your coffee is ready, along with your usual blueberry bagel.”
I was already awake. Asher really had me in knots this time. He dropped the ball a lot, but to stand me up twice wasn’t the norm. I hit the intercom to thank my pilot for the heads-up, rolled out of bed, and went to find the coffee I desperately needed. I heard the intercom click on again, so I paused.
“Mr. Hawthorne, the weather is pretty clear. Did you want to come get a few more flying lessons in?” Ralph asked.
“Thanks Ralph, I need to get a shower first, but maybe I’ll come up there after,” I chuckled to myself. Ralph was the only one who knew I was getting my flying license. I wanted to be able to fly or land in an emergency, plus it would look cool to the ladies.
What ladies? My assistant or my secretary? I need to date more often than twice a month. Why should Asher have all the fun?
The hot shower restored my stiff muscles and cleared my brain a little. I figured now was a good time to read that email from Asher. Then, I would have to deal with mom. I buckled into my chair for descent, then flipped open my laptop. I had ten emails from Asher. I scrolled the oldest one from last night.
It was short: “August, man, I got partying with some friends in the city and realized I was going to miss the flight. I’ll catch up with up you. I promise.”
The next four emails were about the same - Asher giving reasons for missing the flight and assuring me he would meet up. It wasn’t until email number six that he said he was flying to Australia with a group of friends, and that he would meet me at the airport or the hotel before noon. The rest of the emails gave more information on his being on the way, but none gave an exact time.
“Make sure your seat belt is fastened for landing, Mr. Hawthorne. Unless you want to come up here and land this thing yourself?” Ralph coaxed from the front of the plane.
I could feel my shoulders and neck getting tight from Asher’s emails and needed to relax. I unbuckled my seat belt and walked the twenty feet or so to the cockpit. Flying always made me feel happy.