Hidden Love by MINK

9

Pandora

“These are the best cookies I’ve ever eaten.” I shove another warm chocolate chip cookie into my mouth. Mrs. Pettyford tops off my glass of milk. I don’t know what’s wrong with Gaines. He didn't even take a cookie for himself. He’s just sitting there with a grumpy look on his face.

“Where are you from, dear?” Mrs. Pettyford asks, pushing the plate of cookies closer to me.

“Louisiana,” I answer with a full mouth.

“That so?”

I snap my head over to Gaines. Damn it. This Mrs. Pettyford is good at getting information out of people. Her secret weapon is clearly cookies. I’ll have to remember that.

Maybe Gaines is grumpy because he was interrupted before he could get my cookie. He was all but staking a claim to it. I’d almost let him, too. That mouth of his is dangerous. I need to remember why I’m here. To get my box. Not for him to take my treasure.

“For a while. I enjoy moving around,” I lie. It rolls right off my tongue. I’m getting good at this. The truth is I never left home until I lost my grandma. Then I went in search of my box. I could barely cover getting myself here and finding a place. But I know it’ll all be worth it.

“Gaines enjoys traveling from time to time, but then he’s right back home like a hermit.” Mrs. Pettyford speaks like Gaines isn’t sitting right here watching my every move.

Yes, when he’s not collecting other people’s treasures--ones that don’t belong to him--he mostly stays home. That’s why tonight was so important. There aren’t many opportunities to run into him. His social life is pretty much non-existent. So I need to make the most of the opportunity I have. I can’t keep getting distracted. Not by cookies or his amazing mouth.

“All he does is work and stay holed up here,” Mrs. Pettyford fusses.

I nod. She’s absolutely right. It’s why it’s been so hard to meet the man. “I mean, yeah, he seems as though he’s a homebody. I wouldn’t really know,” I rush to add. Crap. I need to remember I’m not supposed to know anything about this man. They both stare at me, not saying anything for a moment.

“Pretty much. He never even brings anyone here for me to meet. So this must be a special occasion.” I can see the little smile she gives Gaines.

“This place is beautiful. I don’t know why you wouldn’t show it off.” I wipe some errant milk from my chin.

Gaines doesn’t take his eyes off me. He has all of these beautiful things in his home, yet he can’t take his gaze from mine. Is he trying to lock me away as he does with all his treasures? I don’t know why. There isn’t anything special about me. Unless he’s on to the necklace. I’ve seen his eyes go there a few times. He might recognize it.

“Well, I’ll leave you two alone. I hope to see you again soon, Pansy.” Guilt settles in my stomach at her using my made-up name. I hate lying to people, especially ones that remind me of my grandma. But I push it aside, reminding myself that I wouldn’t have to do this if Gaines hadn’t stolen my box. This is all his fault.

“Thank you for the cookies,” I say again. “It was really sweet of you.”

“Come back, and I’ll let you try my brownies. I put Oreos in them.” She winks at me before leaving the kitchen.

I lick my lips. I’m once again alone with Gaines. I feel shy all of a sudden. I let out a squeak when he grabs me and pulls me into his lap. He does it with such ease. Compared to him, I’m all but a doll. Small and dainty. That really shouldn't turn me on. Nothing good can come of this attraction. Even now, I’m digging my fingers into his shirt not wanting to let go. Oh no. What if I’m a clinger? I wouldn’t know, since I’ve never been this close to a man before.

“I told you I’d get the stain out of your dress.” He runs his thumb across the mark.

I’d forgotten all about that. I also need to be out of here and back to the store first thing in the morning. I’m a real life Cinderella. Needing to get back before the truth is revealed. Too bad Gaines isn’t a prince. No, he steals from them and loots their castles, the same way he did with my box.

“I’ll need to have it laundered.” His lips feather across my ear.

“Are you trying to get me naked?” I tease, ignoring my body's reaction at the thought of that.

“I gave you my word.” He stands with me in his arms.

“Do you work out a lot or something?” I slide down his body until my feet hit the floor. I’d kicked my heels off under the kitchen island.

“I work out, yes.” He takes my hand and leads me out of the kitchen.

I almost have to run to keep up with him. It takes me two steps to match his one.

“Sorry.” He turns. In a blink of an eye, I’m in his arms as he takes the stairs three at a time, carrying me as though I’m as light as a feather.

My eyes eat up everything around me. This place really is beautiful. It’s filled with wealth I could never dream of. I’m going to have to sneak out and look around. I’ll just have to figure out a way to get away from him for a while. Not sure how I’m going to do that. If he’s not looking at me, he’s touching me.

I could fake falling asleep. He can’t steal my necklace, so it’s safe. Unless his plan is to cut my head off while I sleep? Which I doubt by the way he looks at me.

“Is that a cat?” I almost jump from Gaines’s arms and forget about everything else. “He’s so adorable!”

Gaines reluctantly lets me go. I rush over to the fluffy cat. He’s sitting on the end of the giant bed. His green eyes are full of cuteness and curiosity. Then he falls over, giving me his belly. I reach out to pet him but stop. I’ve seen this trick before on Tik-Tok. I reach out my hand tentatively to pet him, waiting for him to strike, but he doesn’t. He continues to lie there bared to me. “I think he likes me.” I rub his belly, which earns me a loud purr.

Gaines gives his cat a look.

“Don’t glare at him. He’s a sweet sugar kitty. Yes he is.”

Gaines folds his arms over his chest. I continue to rub the big fluffy furball.

“I can’t believe you.” I look up from what I’m doing, thinking Gaines is talking to me, but his eyes are focused on the cat. “He always tries to lure me in by displaying his belly to me. Yet, every single time I wind up with a nice scratch from him. Little traitor.”

I smile, loving the fact that the cat is allowing me to pet it. “You’ve had enough of her attention, Shah. Save some for someone else.”

I turn to look at Gaines. How am I going to keep this man at arm’s length? Maybe a little bit of kissing wouldn't hurt. It will distract him. Make him think I’m into him. Which I’m totally not.

“The dress,” Gaines says. Before I know what’s happening, he reaches behind me and pulls the zipper down. It falls to the floor, leaving me in nothing but my plain white cotton panties. Crap. They’re the one thing I hadn’t even considered upgrading. I guess I still have a lot to learn in this game of seduction. But by the look on Gaines’s face, you’d never know it.