Mastered (The Enforcers 1)

She supposed other women wouldn’t waste time stressing over it and count their blessings. They would likely revel in such a lifestyle and have no problem at all adjusting. However, Evangeline’s pride and the fact that she didn’t see what Drake obviously saw when he looked at her kept her on cautious reserve. But if she wasn’t careful, she was going to come across as an ungrateful shrew, and that was the last thing she ever wanted Drake to think of her. Or anyone, for that matter. Her mother had taught her better and would be greatly disappointed in her were she to discover that Evangeline had ever acted in such a way.

As she waited for her delivery to be brought up, her cell phone rang and it was a different ringtone. Frowning, she picked it up, seeing Drake’s name as the incoming caller. He must have set a different ringtone for himself since the last time he’d called her so she’d know who was calling before ever looking to see. She smiled, thinking it endearing that he’d done such a thoughtful and sweet thing.

“Hello?” she said, with eagerness she couldn’t contain from flowing from her greeting.

“How is my angel today?” he asked in a gruff voice. “Not overdoing it, are you?”

“I’m fine,” she said truthfully. “I barely feel it at all.”

There was a short silence and then, “I’m going to be late again tonight. I’m sorry but it’s unavoidable. I have a late meeting that couldn’t be rescheduled. I had hoped to be home in time to take you out for dinner tonight, but I’d rather you not wait on me since I don’t know what time I’ll be there. If you’d still like to eat out, I’ll have one of my men come pick you up and take you wherever you’d like to go, or if you prefer, you can stay in. It’s your call.”

There was sincere regret in his tone that told her he had intended their evening to go a lot differently, and it bolstered her spirits to know he was disappointed that he wouldn’t see her as soon as he’d planned.

“I ordered takeout for lunch so I doubt I’ll feel much like eating later, but if I do, I’ll make something here. I think I’d rather stay in,” she said quietly.

There was a distinct pause as he seemed to analyze her response.

“Is something wrong?” he asked.

“No,” she said in a near whisper. “There’s nothing wrong at all, Drake. Please don’t worry about me when you have business matters to attend to. I’ll see you when you get home.”

Before allowing him to question her further, and he would have, she ended the phone call and then turned off the ringer, not wanting to get into her conflicted feelings that even she didn’t fully understand, so how could she expect Drake to?

A few moments later, she received a text from Drake that she wasn’t at all sure what to make of.

Silas will be by for a few minutes to deliver you a bank card and two credit cards, all of which are in your name. He will also give you a substantial amount of cash in case you have need of it. Activate all cards and I expect you to use them for anything you need. And I mean everything, Angel.

Now she wondered if the doorman had immediately called Drake to inform him of the fact that she’d tried to pay for her takeout. She winced because she didn’t want or need a bank card and two credit cards, much less the cash Drake had said that Silas would be bringing over. But again, thoughts of her acting like an ungrateful shrew put a halt to any further lamenting. She could accept them with grace, but it didn’t mean she actually had to go crazy and break the bank on an unnecessary shopping trip. She would simply use the cards or the cash when she bought groceries for the nights Drake wanted her to cook.

She wandered through the apartment, checking out the rooms she hadn’t yet been into. When she walked into what appeared to be Drake’s home office, she froze and immediately retreated, feeling as though she were intruding in an off-limits area.

There were four bedrooms in all, though the only one she’d even been in or seen until now was Drake’s. Everywhere she went in the spacious apartment that covered the entire top floor of the building, Drake’s presence was imprinted. Even the décor reflected sheer masculinity. There was no froufrou or stylish elegance. Just all male. A strong alpha presence that surrounded her and immersed herself in him even when he wasn’t here.

It was comforting and it made her feel secure even in his absence. She realized this was her haven, her sanctuary. A barrier between her and the harsh, outside world.