Quest for Love: Los Angeles Armstrongs 1 (The Armstrongs Book 7) Read Online Free
Author: Jessica Gray
wait to see if Chuck was following her. Anxious to get this tour of the premises over with, she took a direct path to the middle of the gardens. Then she could get on with her day.
She stopped and turned, hating and loving at the same time to be around him. When he thoughtfully watched her, an intense longing swept over her. “As you can see, these are the gardens. Mother hires a professional gardener to make sure they always look trimmed and orderly.”
Linda pointed to a large building to the right side of the gardens. “That is the servants’ quarters. It contains six separate living and sleeping quarters, one large kitchen, and a large living room. At this time of day, it should be empty. Feel free to wander around inside.”
Chapter 5
Chuck had no choice but to follow Linda into the gardens. And if he were honest with himself, he’d have to admit that he liked being around her. A lot.
The way she swayed her hips with anger made her even more attractive. Beneath her apparent lack of self-confident lay a strong woman.
“I’m sorry for the inconvenience,” he said. Linda looked at him, surprised.
He held her gaze until she finally took a breath and her face softened a bit. “Do you have any questions about the gardens?”
Chuck smiled and glanced around. “There is a full-time gardener?”
“Yes. He lives on-site.”
“And these sculpted gardens are the extent …”
Linda shook her head, “No, that would not be enough for my mother.” She blushed furiously and turned around, walking him through the rest of the gardens: flowerbeds, sculpted hedges, and a mini-orchard.
He took notes, asked questions, and longed for an excuse to spend the rest of the day with her. This woman was a miracle. Usually he was very good at reading people, but Linda gave mixed signals. Or maybe it was just his growing attraction that confused him?
Her light and flowery perfume made him want to smell more of her. To taste her. To feel her. At the same time he feared she might break if he grabbed her too hard. When she’d stumbled into his arms, he’d felt nothing but skin and bones.
Then there was the pain hidden inside her… He had the urge to get to know her better. To know her story. Expertly he turned the conversation from the property and its inhabitants to Linda herself.
“What kind of work involves playing with a smelly pack of dogs?” he asked, imitating Evangelina’s voice.
Linda’s eyes widened. Then she laughed. “Animal-assisted therapy.”
“What is that?”
“You’ve never heard about it?” she asked.
“I’ve heard the term, but that’s it.”
“You really want to know?” When he nodded, Linda’s face brightened as if someone had switched on a chandelier and she explained, “Some people have severe problems with trusting other humans. This is usually based on some kind of trauma. PTSD. Abuse. Whatever. But animals and especially dogs can reach those persons. Dogs have a good intuition and they’re non-threatening.”
“Dogs?” he asked unbelievingly, trying to hide the fear that wanted to creep into his voice.
He evidently didn’t do such a good job, because she gave him a look that said she knew. Since he’d been bitten by a Doberman so many years ago, he avoided dogs. No need to relive those memories.
“Yes, dogs. Well-trained therapy dogs have an innate ability to offer comfort. They are patient and non-judgmental. Our dogs are really special and they’ve helped lots of patients.”
“You like your job.” It was a statement, not a question.
She beamed at him. “Yes. I love it.”
She continued to talk about the different aspects of her job, and he loved her enthusiasm. Linda was different from so many other famous kids he’d met. Despite being the daughter of a famous actress, she wasn’t a spoiled Hollywood brat. No, she was serious about her career and doing something useful with her life. He didn’t like that it involved dogs, though.
With every step they
She stopped and turned, hating and loving at the same time to be around him. When he thoughtfully watched her, an intense longing swept over her. “As you can see, these are the gardens. Mother hires a professional gardener to make sure they always look trimmed and orderly.”
Linda pointed to a large building to the right side of the gardens. “That is the servants’ quarters. It contains six separate living and sleeping quarters, one large kitchen, and a large living room. At this time of day, it should be empty. Feel free to wander around inside.”
Chapter 5
Chuck had no choice but to follow Linda into the gardens. And if he were honest with himself, he’d have to admit that he liked being around her. A lot.
The way she swayed her hips with anger made her even more attractive. Beneath her apparent lack of self-confident lay a strong woman.
“I’m sorry for the inconvenience,” he said. Linda looked at him, surprised.
He held her gaze until she finally took a breath and her face softened a bit. “Do you have any questions about the gardens?”
Chuck smiled and glanced around. “There is a full-time gardener?”
“Yes. He lives on-site.”
“And these sculpted gardens are the extent …”
Linda shook her head, “No, that would not be enough for my mother.” She blushed furiously and turned around, walking him through the rest of the gardens: flowerbeds, sculpted hedges, and a mini-orchard.
He took notes, asked questions, and longed for an excuse to spend the rest of the day with her. This woman was a miracle. Usually he was very good at reading people, but Linda gave mixed signals. Or maybe it was just his growing attraction that confused him?
Her light and flowery perfume made him want to smell more of her. To taste her. To feel her. At the same time he feared she might break if he grabbed her too hard. When she’d stumbled into his arms, he’d felt nothing but skin and bones.
Then there was the pain hidden inside her… He had the urge to get to know her better. To know her story. Expertly he turned the conversation from the property and its inhabitants to Linda herself.
“What kind of work involves playing with a smelly pack of dogs?” he asked, imitating Evangelina’s voice.
Linda’s eyes widened. Then she laughed. “Animal-assisted therapy.”
“What is that?”
“You’ve never heard about it?” she asked.
“I’ve heard the term, but that’s it.”
“You really want to know?” When he nodded, Linda’s face brightened as if someone had switched on a chandelier and she explained, “Some people have severe problems with trusting other humans. This is usually based on some kind of trauma. PTSD. Abuse. Whatever. But animals and especially dogs can reach those persons. Dogs have a good intuition and they’re non-threatening.”
“Dogs?” he asked unbelievingly, trying to hide the fear that wanted to creep into his voice.
He evidently didn’t do such a good job, because she gave him a look that said she knew. Since he’d been bitten by a Doberman so many years ago, he avoided dogs. No need to relive those memories.
“Yes, dogs. Well-trained therapy dogs have an innate ability to offer comfort. They are patient and non-judgmental. Our dogs are really special and they’ve helped lots of patients.”
“You like your job.” It was a statement, not a question.
She beamed at him. “Yes. I love it.”
She continued to talk about the different aspects of her job, and he loved her enthusiasm. Linda was different from so many other famous kids he’d met. Despite being the daughter of a famous actress, she wasn’t a spoiled Hollywood brat. No, she was serious about her career and doing something useful with her life. He didn’t like that it involved dogs, though.
With every step they
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