“He’s the reason you like them, Ashrika.” At my confused look, Dr. Landers added, “the first time you tasted those cookies, Zayne had sent them with a nurse and when you said you loved them, he made sure you got a fresh batch every day.”
“Oh,” it was all I could manage. “Thank you.”
“You ready to come home with me, Angel?” Zayne neared my seat and stood looking down at me.
“Angel?” I met his gaze head on.
He nodded. “It fits.” My confusion must’ve shown because he added, “let’s just say you were as much an angel to me as I was to you.”
“I don’t understand.”
“You don’t have to.” I wasn’t sure if his tone was dismissive or not, but his next words changed the topic. “I’m ready to leave when you are.”
The words registered, spurring a sudden knot in the pit of my stomach and had me breathing faster. I twisted the skirt of my dress in my fingers.Shit.I wasn’t ready for this, was I?
“I’m not a threat, Ashrika and I’m not going to hurt you.” The unexpected statement had me glancing at him.
“Was my expression that obvious?”
One corner of his mouth twitched slightly, the only indication he found my question amusing. “I can practically hear you panicking.”
“I’m fine,” it came out wooden and his brow shot up, surprising me he could pick up on the lie so easily and I didn’t even know him...yet. Feigning ignorance, I shifted my gaze to Dr. Landers, waiting for him to intervene.
His smile was filled with understanding. “We did discuss this, dear. And you promised me a week, remember.”
My insides twisted. Yes, I knew this day would eventually arrive, but nothing had prepared me for the likes of Zayne Morrone, I didn’t think anything ever would. While appealing, there was just something about him—an enigmatic mystery. He didn’t strike me as a sharing man—well, sharing of information that is. Exhaling on a slow breath, I looked at him. “Where would I—we—be staying?” For some reason, my stumble amused him. A hint of a smile crossed his lips then vanished just as quickly.
“I’m taking you to Manhattan. I have an apartment there I think you might like. New beginnings so to speak.”
“I haven’t even explored this town, I don’t see what difference Manhattan would make to me.” Aware of the underlying sarcasm to my words, I cringed.
He cocked his head to one side, studying me in a manner I found mildly pleasing and at the same time unnerving, my curiosity growing in folds about the man behind the name.
“I have rooms there as well, my dear, so you can still see me whenever you want.” Dr Landers reached across the seat and gently squeezed my hand.
I startled when Zayne dropped to his haunches next to my seat, his expression as serene as the blue sky in the window behind him. “I’m not going to force you into anything you don’t want, Ashrika,” his voice held a gentle lilt to it, almost hypnotic in its delivery. “But I am going to keep you safe. When you’re ready, I’m willing to give you my name and anything else you might need to live without the worry of whether your memories will return or not. All I ask is that you trust me that I have your best interest at heart. Would you?” Amber eyes stared at me, the sincerity in them undisguised.
I’d be a fool to say no to whatever he was offering me, if I did, there was no other avenue to explore. No one had come looking for me which meant I’d need to start a new life, new memories, and looking at the man staring up at me, his smile genuine, that wasn’t such a bad idea after all. He was giving me a lot more than my thank you could suffice. I nodded on another slow exhale, not sure if I’d ever be ready to take the next step but I had to. Zayne straightened and moved away to chat to Dr. Landers, leaving me with my thoughts which right now resembled a bird mustering the strength to fly against the wind. There was no predicting that outcome until the journey ended.
