A Debt Owed(54)

She sucks in a breath as I reach up toward that same spot as before. “I can do this every time we go out as a reward for your patience.”

The moment I touch her pussy, she murmurs, “Stop.”

I pause and allow her to breathe for a moment.

She gazes at me from underneath those eyelashes with those beautiful, soul-sucking eyes that could make any man’s knees buckle under their weight. “Can we go home? Please?”

The word home punctures my heart. Finally, she views my house as her home.

Despite the fact she hated seeing her family, we’ve made some progress here. Maybe she learned I’m not the worst person to be with, and that I’ll give her more freedom if she behaves.

But I know she’s upset, and I don’t like to see her that way. Even though I’m an asshole, I have a heart too hidden somewhere deep inside. And it’s turning softer and softer the more time I spend with her.

“Of course, princess.” I smile and lift my hand to grab hers and then kiss the top. “But first, there’s something else I have to do.”

Her brows furrow. “Where?”

A smirk appears on my lips. “You’ll see.”



Charlotte



He’s so elusive all the time, and I can’t get through to him, no matter how many questions I ask. It’s like he doesn’t want me to get close or to understand him. As if he’s deliberately keeping me at bay.

It’s not working. I can see right through him, just as I saw right through that whole fa?ade back at my brother’s restaurant. Where we’re going is a mystery, but it must be another ploy to get me on my knees or make me cry. Either way, I don’t trust him.

The car drives through town, and I watch the people outside from my little cocoon inside, like a doll in her little dollhouse looking out into the world she can’t have.

I sigh. “How long will it take?”

“We’re almost there,” Easton answers. Instead of a vicious grin, there’s now a modest but genuine smile on his face, but he quickly looks away as though he doesn’t want me to see.

Whatever, I’m so done with today. After that game he just played, I feel like a fool for even thinking he could ever care about anyone but himself.

When the car stops, Easton gets out first and walks to my side, opening up my door like a true gentleman would, but it’s only for show. He’s done it many times before, and this is no different.

Except he doesn’t hook his arm around mine this time. Instead, he grabs my hand and tugs me along without pulling.

The building in front of me is an old one, but it’s decorated with all kinds of colorful murals and lights. But as I try to look around, Easton’s driver comes storming past with two heavy boxes.

“Excuse me!”

“No worries,” Easton says. “We’ll meet up inside.”

“Yes, sir!” the driver says as he enters the building.

I swallow. “What is this place?”

“C’mon. I’ll show you.” Easton holds my hand as we go inside.

There are hallways filled with doors and kids sprouting from every nook and cranny. At the end is a big common room with a television, a few couches, some game consoles, and toys littered everywhere. There are even bookcases against the wall on the other side of the room, but there are only a few books inside.

“What … is this?” I mutter as Easton lets go of my hand.

He goes into the main area where some of the kids gather as his driver places the boxes on a table. The driver leaves and nods at me as he passes me as a courtesy. Then a woman walks out of the kitchen area and smiles broadly at Easton.

“Oh, je bent er!” she exclaims, and she approaches him to kiss him three times on the cheeks.

“Can we talk English?” Easton mumbles, glancing toward me for a second. “She can’t speak Dutch.”

“Of course,” the lady says. “The kids were so eager to see you. They’ve been talking about it all day.”

“I’ll bet,” he replies as the kids gather all around him.

“Meneer Van Buren!” One of the kids runs toward him, wrapping his arms around his leg.

“Hey, David.” Easton pets him on the head.

“Let’s talk English, guys,” he says. “I’ve brought a guest who doesn’t understand Dutch.” He throws me another glance, and so do all the kids, making my face heat. I try not to draw attention to myself as I watch from afar, clutching the doorpost as Easton goes to his knees.

“Now, I’ve brought you all some things again, but you have to promise me you’ll take good care of them and treat them with respect,” he says.

“What is it?” one of the other kids asks.

Easton cocks his head, and says, “Open the box. Go have a look.”

The kids swarm the table and rip open the package. They can’t help themselves. Book after book is pulled out of the box, and they hold it above their heads like a lost treasure they found.

And the smile on Easton’s face as he watches the little kids scream and dance around with the books, some of them giving them a neat spot in the empty bookcase, is infectious. So much so that I can’t stop grinning as he looks me dead in the eyes.

He sure surprised everyone here, not just the kids. There’s something good in him after all.