Shackled (The Lord Series) by Amy T

205. Olivia - Gifts

It's dinner time when Tyson opens the back door of the kitchen. The smell of home made food has my mouth salivating. Except for the strawberries Ansel, Jasper, and Mose fed me in the morning and a few candies I ate while in the city, I

haven't had any real food the entire day.

Ansel and Jasper are sitting at the table playing cards with Steven while Mose and Levi are at the stove making dinner.

As if reading my mind, Mose says, "Dinner will be ready in about an hour."

An hour doesn't sound that bad. I can wait. But not here, in the kitchen, where Levi is. He didn't even bother to look at me.

Not wanting to see another look of disgust on Levi's face, I decide to go to Jasper's room, but when I pass by the table, Ansel pulls me into his lap. "And where do you think you're going?" he asks me, his face serious.

Is Ansel angry? My heart sinks. What did I do wrong?

Tyson and Rueben, carrying the shopping bags, disappear down the hall. Them being so nice after what they did to me earlier has me unseasy. What are they plotting now?

"I didn't want to bother any of you and "

Ansel doesn't let me finish as he kisses me. "You can bother me anytime." Helping me stand, he says, "Let me see your new dress. Spin around a few times for your men."

Unsure of myself but not wanting to disappoint them, I turn a few

if he means it or

sit on it. His arms come around my waist. After nuzzling my mouth with his and leaving a trail of kisses from my lips all the way to my ear, he says, “I can't wait for dessert.” After kissing the shell of my ear, he adds, “I have a feeling that tonight you

will make things even more complicated, but I don't have the heart to tell Jasper I

was shopping?" Levi's sudden question has me looking at him. He is at the island holding a mug in his hands. If he's talking to me, does that

honest. Tyson and Rueben are driving me crazy with their sudden mood swings. Do

But I don't know if

do," I

brings me the hot cocoa. "You

didn't get to sleep too much last night. Ansel and Jasper kept waking me up," I say

the hot cocoa to the room and get

Why are they all nice to me? I'm not used to

mind?" I ask, wanting to be convinced I'm not missing

"You can always nap in my

"The bed

leave the kitchen. The rest of the house is quiet, making me wonder where

on a new book? But didn't Rueben say he has writer's block? Not my problem. Besides, he told me to stay away from his office. I rush to Jasper's room

the wall, steadying myself. Hot cocoa spills from the mug on the floor. "Fuck,"