Black 21: (Golden Hills Legacy of Black 21 Book 1) Read Online Free

some tough study nights and also through some night
terrors that would awaken her. Sleep was an enemy after graduation.
    After they placed
their orders with Sarah, the waitress, she turned toward Christian before
leaving. “Sorry about the other day, Christian. The kids were just–”
    He put his hand
up to stop her and shook his head. “No worries, Sarah – really. I shouldn’t
have snapped at you. I apologize.”
    Sarah smiled
with relief while pouring their coffee, and bowed to him before walking away.
    Daisy stared at
him with questioning eyes.
    “Just a bad
day. Spilled hot coffee on me and I lost it. Had other things on my mind. Sarah
didn’t deserve that.”
    Daisy nodded
and opened up and added two packs of Splenda and Hazelnut creamer, enjoying
every bit of it after cooling it off. She looked up and caught him watching her
with interest and a speck of laughter hidden in his eyes.
    “What? I like
it sweet." She placed her cup down and continued to look around.
    Over the
fireplace was a brick wall lined with men of importance, it seemed. Big
beautiful oil paintings. They each had an air of superiority, as if they were
looking down at the patrons who ate there beneath them. They all seemed to have
the same piercing blue eyes. Christian’s eyes were dark brown in contrast.
    He turned
around to see what she was so engrossed in and looked back at her. “Those are
just men who basically run this town." He drank his black coffee.
    “Is your father
one of them?" She persisted in knowing more.
    “Yes. Only the
most prominent men here in Golden Hills. He’s right there, see?” he asked,
pointing all the way down to the beginning of the men, William Stone, staring
down at her with the bluest eyes. He seemed entirely too young to be the first
painting.
    Daisy dragged
her gaze away from the painting back to Christian's. “So your picture should be
up there one day then?” she asked before sipping her coffee.
    “Unfortunately."
He pushed his plate away of unfinished scrambled eggs, looking a bit tense. He
leaned his chin on his folded hands and studied her face, making her squirm in
her seat.
    The torch flame
flickered behind him, almost going out. She cleared her throat and ignored it.
    “So why do it
at all? If you don’t want it, then why…”
    “Why all these
questions? I’ve been groomed for this position all my life. End of story. Why
did you say yes to going?”
    The staff
rushed around, some wiping nearby tables to hear their conversation. Daisy
lowered her voice to answer. “Sorry. You’re right. It’s none of my business.
It’s part of being a teacher, I guess. And I felt I had to do this for my
uncle." She glanced at a waitress who looked away.
    “Same page,” he
said.
    “Can I just ask
one more question, Christian?”
    “The woods?”
    “Yes. Did you
know I was there?”
    “I saw you
driving and followed you. I was worried about you going into those woods.
They’re not safe. I followed to make sure you’d get out okay.”
    “Well, thank
you, but I’m pretty capable of taking care of myself.”
    “Not in those
woods. Please don’t go there again. Let’s just say I know them a little more
than you do. Deal?”
    She eyed him
before finally agreeing. “Deal." After glancing around once more, she had
to ask. “One more question and then I’ll stop. For now, anyway.”
    “The bowing?”
    She nodded.
    “Only if you
can explain that little trick you did to Dane with the lights.”
    She responded
with a curtness. “Don’t know what you’re talking about.”
    He raised his hand
for the check. “Same here then.”
    Daisy stiffened
and stood, walking to the front. The staff whispered in corners. They bowed to
her before she stepped out into the sunlight.
     
    ***
     
    They drove home
in silence, but every so often she would feel his eyes on her. She hid behind
her sunglasses, safe and dark. Just a favor, she reminded herself. Even so, no
one had ever said anything like that to her. The