When Indira placed another plate of warm, freshly made biscuits in front of Mandisa and motioned for her to take another, Mandisa had to put up her hands insurrender.
“I can’t, Mrs. Price. There’s just noroom.”
“You call me Mama Indy. None of this Mrs. Price stuff,” she rebuffed. “At least have a cup of my coffee before these boys drink itall.”
Mandisa smiled and nodded, conceding to the offer of coffee. She really didn’t have room for another morsel of food, but she’d take a few sips of the coffee to appease this treasure of awoman.
Mandisa added cream and sugar to her cup and grabbed the handle of the ceramic mug. When she lifted the cup halfway to her lips she felt the weight of Slade and Aaron’s gazes locked onher.
“Is there something wrong? Do I have food on myface?”
The two shook their heads in tandem and waited silently. Too full to concern herself with their weird stares, she shook her head and took the first sip of thecoffee.
Mandisa wasn’t much of a coffee drinker. She’d occasionally order one of those iced designer coffees that she couldn’t pronounce from the local chain, but even her uncultured palate recognized she was samplinggreatness.
“Dear God, that’s good.” She pulled her lips unwillingly from the cup at the demand of her lungs and their miserable need for the breath she was holding. The flavor was rich, yet smooth. There wasn’t a hint of the usual bitterness she experienced when she purchased a cup of coffee. “For the love of all that is holy.” Mandisa paused a minute to take another sip. “What is in this? There’s gotta be some sort of controlled substance in this. It’s like crack. I can’t stop drinkingit.”
The scene in the car where Slade was bartering with Aaron, using Indira’s “special blend” as a boon, made so much more sense now. This nectar of the gods masquerading as coffee wasaddictive.
Mandisa heard laughter filling the room. She presumed it was coming from the two men sitting at the table with her, but she couldn’t truly be certain because her nose was almost completely in the mug as she tipped it high to get every drop she possiblycould.
When Mandisa finally put the cup down, Indira appeared again, asking if she wanted more. “I do, but I really can’t. Will there be anylater?”
“For you? Anytime you want it.” She offered Mandisa another warm smile and motioned for Mandisa to follow her. “Let’s leave the cleaning to these two while I show you to yourroom.”
Halfway in a food coma, Mandisa didn’t resist when Indira moved her along the halls and up the stairs until she was standing in the middle of a large bedroom equipped with a fireplace and four-poster bed toboot.
Damn, do Texans do everythingbig?
“This is the guestroom closest to the master suite. Slade requested I get it ready for you. If you need anything and I’m not around, you can just walk down to the end of the hall, and you’ll findhim.”
“You don’t live here with Slade, Mrs…MamaIndy?”
The older woman gave her a dismissive wave. “Chile, no! Slade is a grown man. He doesn’t need his mama up under him. I live in a guesthouse on the east bank of the property. Aaron is Slade’s foreman. He picks me up every morning on his way to the horses and drives me home at the end of the day. He lives on propertytoo.”
Mandisa attempted to answer, and a huge yawn escaped her mouth. “Please forgive me,” Mandisa managed to utter at the tail end of the long sigh. “I guess the nap I caught on the plane wasn’tenough.”
“G’on and get yourself together for bed. I’ll bring you lunch if you want it. If not, you can join us for supper around six in theevening.”
Before Mandisa could nod her acknowledgement, Indira was on her way out the door, and Mandisa was looking for her bags. Once she was showered and settled into the plush mattress of the bed, the warmth she’d felt from the food and fellowship downstairs started to recede, and a slow chill began to build insideher.
She was in a lovely room, at her host’s request, receiving the royal treatment from his family/staff, and here she was feeling hollow and displeased as she curled up in this bed alone.Maybe he did only bring you here for work. Maybe whatever you two were doing in New York was a one-off.
“God woman, how ungrateful and flaky can you be? You said you didn’t want him thinking he could sex you out of your company. Now you’re mad because he seems to be honoring that? Get ittogether.”
She balled up her fist and punched the innocent pillow next to her, getting in another shot when she heard a knock at thedoor.
“It’s Slade. Can I comein?”
She scooted up in the bed, crossing her legs Indian style beneath the comforter as she gave Slade permission to enter theroom.
“I won’t keep you long,” he murmured as he walked over to the side of the bed, sitting gently beside her as he reached for her hand. “I just wanted to make certain you were settledin.”
“I am. Your home is lovely.” Her words were quick, and for some reason she couldn’t find the strength to look him in the eyes. He knew her, saw too much of her whenever she gazed at him. She didn’t want him to see how disappointed she was that he didn’t want her, just her company. “Thank you for bringing mehere.”
She felt his soft touch travel from her hand, up the length of her arm, until his fingers were lifting her chin and she couldn’t hide from his questioning eyes anylonger.
“I’ve set up a visit at Venus’ labs here in Austin. Thought you’d enjoy getting to see some of ourfacilities.”
