He forced himself to put his pride on the shelf and calm down. “Contrary to what you might think, I make sure my grandmother is looked after and well cared for. You’ve known her for about a year and believe that you can judge me?”
“Me? Judging people seems to be your department. I only state the facts as I see them. Yes, I’ve known her for a little over a year, yet this is the first time I’ve ever met you! You don’t have the right to stand here judging me, or her, for that matter. So, if you’ll excuse me, Ms. McKenna should be coming down for breakfast at any moment, and I don’t want to be late.” Haven started to walk away before remembering one more thing. “Oh yeah, the real vultures, the ones you try to keep away? You’re wasting precious time if you think I’m one of them.”
Ellis watched Haven storm out of the room. He wasn’t used to being challenged and didn’t like it one bit—especially when everything she said had been right on the money. His grandmother was getting older. He did need to spend more quality time with her. Phone calls were simply not enough.
Haven may have just gotten the last word in this exchange, but she didn’t know him very well. She was going to learn. He was not a man to be taken lightly.
Ellis did have to admit, if he weren’t so completely unsure of her intentions with his grandmother, he might be interested in giving her an up close and personal lesson. There was a fire inside that woman simmering just below the surface. He could see it plain as day. If circumstances were different, Ellis wondered what it would be like to unleash it. Even he wasn’t blind to the swell of her sweet ass, the curve of those hips, and those legs. He couldn’t help but notice them in her cargo mini-dress. Those legs alone could bring down a nation. Too bad. Too bad indeed.
*****
Haven and Ms. McKenna sat in the heated sunroom, drinking tea and looking out over her snow-covered estate. It was a beautiful, peaceful place.
Ms. McKenna’s voice brought Haven out of her thoughts. “You seem distracted and a little tired. Didn’t you get enough rest last night?”
Haven sounded worn out even to her own ears. “I was up late, working on a paper for class tonight.”
“Is that all?”
She couldn’t look Ms. McKenna in the eyes and lie. So, she focused on her drink and stirred a bit more sugar in her tea. “Mmmhmm. Everything is fine.”
Bertha didn’t believe her but wouldn’t push. “I talked to my grandson about yesterday. Did Ellis apologize for his abhorrent behavior?”
Haven chose her words carefully. “Apologize? Um . . . we talked and cleared the air.”
“Good. I’m glad to hear it. He’s really a good man but, not unlike all the other McKenna men, singularly focused. If he had someone special in his life, they would help him find the right balance.”
Haven couldn’t imagine who would want to deal with him. Ignoring his grandmother after what she’d gone through over the past year was a hard pill to swallow. She couldn’t even entertain the idea of being with a man who could so easily dismiss his own grandmother. Still, Haven wouldn’t bash her jerk of a grandson. She, more than anybody, understood the need to make excuses for the people they loved.
“Ms. McKenna?” Her nurse interrupted them. “It’s time to take you up.”
Her eyebrows drew together. “Already?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Bertha turned to Haven. “Getting old is a real bitch. The mind is willing but the body . . . not so much.”
It was always funny to hear Ms. McKenna curse. That genuinely brought a smile to Haven’s face. “Our time does seem to fly by.” Haven checked her watch. “I didn’t realize it was so late either. I’ve got to leave for class so that I’m not late. It’s a long drive from here. Besides, tomorrow will be here before we know it.”
As the nurse wheeled Ms. McKenna away, she stopped her. “Haven?”
“Yes, ma’am?”
“Your chocolate eyes are too beautiful not to sparkle. Remember that m’kay?”
Haven’s throat grew thick as she nodded.
Ms. McKenna smiled before signaling to Vanessa, her nurse, that she was ready.
Haven took a deep breath and watched her go.
*****
It didn’t take too long to gather her things. Haven was grateful for small favors, and being able to slip out of the house without running into Ellis was one of them.
If she left now, she’d just make it to class on time. Haven put her key into the ignition of her car and turned.
Silence.
She tried it again—same result.
Haven was ready to throw a tantrum that would make a two-year-old proud. Instead, she pulled out her cell phone to call Dylan. Of course, when she truly needed him, it went straight to voicemail. She didn’t hold back this time and screamed at the top of her lungs before finally resting her forehead on the steering wheel.
Haven wasn’t sure how long she’d been in that position before she heard someone banging on her window. She looked up only to see Ellis. Someone in heaven had it out for her. She was sure of it.
She mumbled, great, took a deep breath, and clicked the button for the window to roll down. It didn’t budge. Right. She remembered her raggedy ass car had conked out on her, so she was forced to open the door.
“Falling asleep at the wheel
