Heaven And Hell novel Chapter 43

Her tongue smelled weird where her saliva was slightly drooping, but then she licked the side of my neck, which made me jump a little.

I couldn't breathe well because she was one heavy dog, so I stiffened like a board. Michael was standing above us, his grinning face upside down because he was standing over my head.

"See?" he said, planting his hands on his hips. "She absolutely adores you!"

Little did he realise that he was half-naked and barefoot. God, it was like staring at Cristiano Ronaldo's body!

"Come on, Slippy." He snapped his fingers and whistled loudly.

The dog immediately got off of me, running to stand beside Michael, who was walking towards me, offering his hand. I gratefully grasped it and he helped me up.

"Chain her next time, please!" I said, still a little shakily. "Or at least let your servants know..."

He wrapped his arm around me. Slippy began licking my hand; I shook it away from her.

"Everyone's currently on leave for today," he answered. "I'll be taking us to Lord and Lady Rigby's garden party at three." He took me to the kitchen and sat me on the barstool, offering me some nice OJ. Then he went somewhere with Slippy.

I was eating Cinnamon Toast Crunch when his landline rang. I didn't know where the hell the phone was, so I called out Michael's name several times.

"Michael, someone's calling!"

Nothing.

"Answer it because I have no idea where --"

Oh look, the phone was just on a counter near the toaster. I walked toward it, checking the number. I didn't know who the number belonged to but Michael was too busy to even answer the phone. I had no choice but to answer it myself.

"Hell...o?" I said cautiously, raising an eyebrow, cradling the cordless phone between my neck and ear.

"Keller babes!"

"...Kimberly?" I asked, perching my hip on the granite counter.

"Who else?"

"Um --"

"Anyhoo, are you and Michael darling coming to the Rigby's garden party?" she queried casually.

I blinked. "I think so. He mentioned some Rigby a while ago. I was just a little distracted when he said the whole party thing." I was wise enough not to tell her about the incident I'd had with Slippy. "Why?"

I could feel Kimberly bouncing through the other line. "I want to take you shopping with me! We're going to buy clothes!" she actually squealed through the other end.

"But I don't have money!" I protested, slipping on my words. No. I shouldn't have said that. I had way too much pride but...God.

"Oh, don't be silly. Just ask Michael for his Visa or American Express card. Any card! You can even borrow his driver's license or his name card and just flash it -- everyone knows him. The shopkeepers wouldn't mind at all."

"I can't do that!"

"Yes, you can," she persisted. "You are his soon-to-be marchioness, aren't you?"

"Um...yeah?"

"Then borrow his card!"

"I don't want to!"

Kimberly paused. After about a lifetime of silence that began unsettling me, she spoke again. "You aren't like the others, you know."

"What?" I blinked.

Michael gave a rich laugh that rang inside the spacious room. "Just let her glam you up, Keller. It'll make her very happy. She dreams of becoming a stylist someday," he shared.

I could see his eye scintillating merrily. "You'll figure out that it's easier letting her do what she wants with you when it comes to fashion, rather than contradict her. My sister was once like that, contradicting and all, but she learned to accept Kimberly and her stubborn ways. Kimmy's pretty good, you know."

I didn't hear the rest, other than what I told him now: "You have a sister?"

He blinked. "Is that so shocking?"

"I had no idea you had a sister!"

"Well, you certainly didn't ask me if I had one," he pointed out.

"And she'll be there at the party later?"

"She's actually in the country with our dad," he said. "She's my twin, just to let you know."

"Your twin!"

"That so shocking, love?" He grinned.

"No...I mean kind of."

"You'll meet her very soon."

"Oh."

I'd be soooo nervous.

"Anyway," he continued, "you can show the store my card, if you want. I don't mind. Shop till you drop -- I can give it to you now." Michael began rising up from his position but I put my hands up, eyes pleading.