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Flog Me, Sir, Bonds of Worship 2
Chapter 1, part 4
My
attention wandered toward the gorgeous man countless times as the evening wore
on, and I became enamored by the beauty of his front that outshone the
perfection of his back. Dark eyes with perfectly arched brows, sensually curved
lips that curved in a slow smile more often than not, melting my panties—and
probably every other woman’s on the estate except Lily.
I
recognized Garret Edwards from the covers of tabloids, but images on paper
didn’t begin to capture the socialite’s gorgeousness or charisma. The son of a
famous actor and director, Garret had lived his life in the limelight, being
seen with countless women. Rumors were hundreds of women littered his past,
creating a name for him, whether true or not.
Two women
hung on him, one on each arm, acting like permanent fixtures, same as the
cocktails in their free hands. I focused on the story in my mind rather than
the heart breaker I couldn’t seem to keep my focus off of.
Guests
began to trickle out the front door, leaving a mess in their wake. One final
tray of empty glasses in hand, I made my way to the kitchen on tired feet, more
than ready to collapse on my bed in the staff’s wing and scribble down all the
words filling my mind.
“That’s the
last of them,” I told one of the two extra hired hands Mrs. Hummel had brought
in to help with the dishes.
She’d also
hired a catering company, using their flatware and linens, but like me, she
didn’t hand control over easily. She still ruled her kitchen domain, eyes
bright and cheeks flushed even though she had to be close to eighty and the
clock read two in the morning.
“There’s my
Tillie girl!”
My heart
skipped at the suave baritone I recognized from overheard conversations while
sneaking through the crowd.
Garret
slipped through the kitchen, sidestepping workers, a grin on his face. He
focused on Mrs. Hummel, and I stared as he swept her up into his arms, planting
a loud kiss on her wrinkly cheek.
She giggled
like a much younger woman. “Where in the good Lord’s name you been, boy?” she
asked while glowing and patting her hair as Garret set her back on her feet.
“Pining for
you,” he said with a light laugh before kissing her other cheek.
“You.” More
giggles escaped through her pursed lips as her gaze twinkled up at him.
I took note
of the two women standing in the kitchen doorway, the same he’d had tucked to
his side all night. Feigned smiles were plastered on their faces.
I turned
back to soak in the presence of a god come to life, tucking away little nuances
of how he moved for a new character in my head.
“Grits in
the morning?” Garret asked, stooping down to peer into Mrs. Hummel’s eyes.
“My spoiled
boy can have whatever he wants,” she told him, patting his cheek.
“You’re the
best, Tillie girl.”
A deeper
shade of pink infused Mrs. Hummel’s cheeks as she glanced around the kitchen,
seeing all of us staring. Her gaze landed on me, and her smile widened, white
teeth flashing. “Lissa, come here, child.”
“Yes,
ma’am,” I replied on auto pilot, obeying even though I could feel Garret’s
focus turn toward me.
I held her
gaze, refusing to look at him—because I feared tripping or doing something
stupid and making a complete fool of myself.
“Lissa,”
Mrs. Hummel grabbed my hand, “this is Garret—the G in JAG.”
I gulped,
knowing I had to look up at him.
Eyes dark
as espresso peered down at me, the lashes fanning them long and thick enough to
make any woman envious. A smile shone in their depths, the type that would tell
anyone his character even if he hadn’t flirted with Mrs. Hummel seconds
earlier.
