“They seem nice enough?” Lianne tilts her head toward the two new wives coming to Everton.
One is a lady who looks to be in her forties with a short brown bob. The other is younger but not as young as Lianne and I. She looks like she might be a few years older and more reluctant to mingle.
I don’t blame her. They are both in the same colors as everyone else here in Everton.
Welcome to the community, ladies.
The younger lady makes eye contact with me, and I give her a polite smile and nod at her. She returns the gesture.
“They seem like it. Hard to say when we are here.” I lasso my finger in the air at this whole dolled-up event. “We will see when we hit the everyday life with them.”
“True. At least it’s not, like, a whole group of them, it’s only the two.”
“Also, true.”
A man approaches me out of nowhere, and I jump into Lianne’s side. “I don’t mean to startle you, Ms. Donovan, but the dining hall is ready for you and your family. I can walk you there now.” He steps back, allowing me room to follow as he spins on his heels.
Lianne squeezes my hand for reassurance before letting me go.
I follow the man down the tall hallway until we reach an open door, where he ushers me through. Samuel is talking to Joshua as I head over to him. Before I can get to him, his gaze locks with mine, and the most Samuel-like smile crosses his face.
I can’t help but give him the widest grin back, and I pick up my pace. “You ready?” I assess his nerves as he takes my hands.
“As long as you are here with me.” He pulls both of mine to his lips and pecks them quickly as Joshua tells him it’s time to open the dining room to his guests.
Samuel has appointed Joshua as his right-hand man. It is his one condition he told the community members when he was told he would be filling in for Mr. Donovan. Not like they are going to be able to fight him on it. It made sense why he wants Joshua by his side. They have always been the closest. I mean, I have never seen Samuel hang out with anyone else. Ever.
As I take my seat, Samuel stands in front of his.
Staff members pull the set of double doors open on each side of the room. Women enter through one and men through the other. Husbands find their wives and guide them to their assigned seats, including the two women from earlier.
New community members will be straight across from Samuel, Mrs. Donovan, and me. Whispers spark among everyone. So many people walk around the table, trying to find their nameplates, when the aroma of rosewood comes to my senses.
The familiar scent has my heart thudding, and I scan the table. It’s not possible, but I can’t keep from searching.
Samuel places his hand on my shoulder, and I shoot my gaze to him, trying to appear calm.
My heart seems like it will explode from my chest.
“You okay?” he asks, looking at me as if I am wounded.
I nod and then continue to survey the dining table.
When my eyes land on a man pulling out a seat next to the two new couples, I stop breathing. He is wearing the same suit as the other two men. His wide, tall frame takes a seat, pulls his chair in, then runs a hand through his caramel-like waves. A small smile spreads across his face as he nods to the other new members.
Am I dreaming?
Kameron Grant.
My breath catches in my throat. This can’t be real.
I blink a few times, but he is still there when I open them back up.
Those honey-like eyes finally lock with mine, and the alarm cross his face for a split second until it is replaced with one of pure innocence, like he isn’t the man who was just knuckle-deep in me a week ago.
Panic rises in me, but Samuel begins the prayers to the Divine, so I close my eyes and bow my head. The same head that is swirling out of control. The way my mind is spinning out of control, my heart rate going just as fast.
I grip the linen-covered table, trying to keep my vertigo at bay.
