Free Wounded Birds (The Grayson Series Book 1) by Unknown

out.
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

 
     
     
     
     
    Chapter 6
    The Flowers He Planted
     
     
    I wake up to the soft ray of sunlight filtering through the sheer drapes. I squeeze my eyes shut and release a frustrated breath as I begin to recall yesterday’s drama, sending chills up and down my spine.
    I rise from the pillows and swing my legs over the edge of the bed. I’m startled by a voice and jerk up to find a red headed woman in a ponytail standing at the doorway, wearing a white shirt and dark blue jeans. She appears to be in her fifties.
    “Good morning, Miss DiMarco,” she greets me with a unique accent.
    “Good morning,” I reply back with wary look. She must be the R.N. Michael hired.
    “My name is Tina O’Conner, but you can call me Tina. I’m the nurse Mr. Grayson hired to look after you for two evenings. Did you sleep well?”
    I smile mesmerized by her sweet Irish accent. “Yes, like a baby, thank you. I’m sorry we didn’t get a chance to meet last night. I fell right to sleep from pure exhaustion. Were you able to find everything you needed?” I ask sounding groggy.
    “No need to apologize, my dear. Mr. Grayson was accommodating. I’m glad to hear you slept well. I was worried you wouldn’t fall back to sleep after I woke you up several times during the night to make sure you were okay.”
    “I hadn’t noticed. I must have been in a coma,” I say with a smile. “What time did Mr. Grayson leave?”
    She pauses for a moment. “I think he left about eleven. He was working on his laptop and on the phone. Would you like me to call him for you?”
    Just the mention of Michael’s name has my heart over the moon and doing somersaults. “No. Thank you,” I blurt out.
    “How about some breakfast?”
    I nod. “Yes, please.” I slide off the bed and sway as I plant my feet on the cool wood floor. Tina rushes over, taking hold of my elbow and shoulder.
    “Are you steady now, my dear? I think you stood up too fast.”
    I take a few steps, regaining my balance. “Yes, I’m fine now, thank you.”
    “The security guard downstairs buzzed earlier,” Tina says. “A Melinda Candles wanted to come up. She said she was your cleaning lady. I told her you were still sleeping and to come back later. I hope that was okay with you.”
    “Of course, it slipped my mind. I forgot all about her, thank you, Tina.”
    “Call me if you need me,” Tina calls out as she leaves the room.
    I nod and walk toward my enormous bathroom, which is the size of one of the guestrooms. I’m blessed and thank my grandfather every day for the generous gift he left me.
    I brush my teeth and stare at the lump sitting above the temple. I wince, and with a gentle touch I press over it. Damn, this hurts like hell.
    I take a long hot shower. I’m extra careful when I wash my hair, avoiding the bump, now black and blue. At least my long bangs can cover most of the bruised area.
    I dress in a pair of jeans and black tank top along with a lightweight baby-blue sweater. I slip into my Ralph Lauren loafers.
    I’m rejuvenated and refreshed with a clearer mind. Amazing what a good night’s sleep and a shower can do for you. I stare at myself in the mirror, brushing the long, thick black hair I inherited from my grandfather, along with his piercing blue eyes. I have my mother’s height and stand at five foot seven, just six inches below Michael. My father was the same height as Michael.
    I brush over the swelled bump by accident, and the cold realization slaps me hard across the face. There is a psychopathic stalker out there taunting me, having immoral fantasies about me and sending me as he so calls them, love letters, but the most disturbing part is that he knew about my lunch with Michael and where I live. He must have been following me. Damn it.
    As I stare at myself in the mirror Michael’s face flashes before me. I won’t confess this to him, but I’m