ROSE ON THE LAKE 18+

🌼CHAPTER ELEVEN🌼

You whisper soft love with your lips that beckon;
And I can't live without you for even one second.
I live for you only,
Your lips alone fit perfectly into mine.
I crave your touch exclusively,
Your matchless love, a thing divine.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Dillan Garwood"

I'll be damned.

Of all people, he was the last person she'd expected to pay her a visit.
Giving Elton a pointed glance, she signalled him to stay close by. Then she turned to the butler.

"Hector, usher him to the living room, will you? I'll be there soon."

The butler left and Elton turned on her.

"Are you insane?" He thundered. "Don't tell me you're inviting that bastard into your home."

"Okay, I won't tell you." She joked

"Eva?" He warned.

"Elton, he may be the prince of darkness himself, but you're forgetting one thing. Our lands share a border and I'm just doing my part to be neighborly."

"And I don't see any reason to, considering his reputation." He argued.

"It's not like I'm doing business with him. When I was younger, Papa often received dinner invitations from him and his Father and we always honored their invitations. It only makes sense that I return the favor and answer his call"

"But remember Robert never approved of his character nor his father's. They were always at loggerheads."

"I haven't forgotten. But I must at least find out what he's doing here. It's the first time he's called on this household." She tried to reason with him.

"Fine whatever." He said at last, disapprovingly.

"I might as well change into something presentable."

"So now you need his approval?"

"It has nothing to do with him. Oh Elton!" She gasped dramatically. "Jealousy is never a good color on anyone. Makes you look ugly."

"Absolutely not! I'll gladly see you wed but not to that bastard."

"Nice to hear, but I'm not getting married. Not to that bastard anyway. And for heaven's sake, I'm just playing my part as a hostess. It would be deplorable for our guest, despite who he is, to see me looking so dishevelled. I wouldn't want him to see me as a carefree girl still in need of guidance. That would only fuel his hunger for my lands. The dog's avaricious enough as it is."

"Okay, fine. I'll play bartender while you two discuss. That way I can have my eyes on you and still intimidate him."
He said folding his arms, making his thick muscles evident. She shook her head in amusement and disappeared through the door and up the stairs to change.

***

Lounging in a luxurious magenta sofa, in one of the Garton's lavishly decorated drawing rooms, Dillan couldn't help but feel impressed. The last time he'd visited the Garton's estate was when he was fourteen years old and Rush was almost eight. The Garton's had just had their first child.

Almost three months old, Eva Garton was a quintessence of beauty. A very cute baby girl with wide bluish gray eyes framed by a thick row of dark long lashes, and a smile to ensnare the soul.

With just one look, one could see the type of woman she'd grow to be. A replica of her mother but even more beautiful.

Lily Garton was a vision. Well formed and delicately looking, just like her name. A delicate flower.
But the fire that burned in her bluish gray eyes spoke of how spirited she was. Her icy glare could bring a grown man to his knees. She could see deep in one's soul and tell what one was thinking.