Pride & Pleasure (The KNIGHT Brothers Book 1) Read Free

world country. She had no clue what charity meant unless it included a gala where she could get all dolled up and flash her bling.
    The doors opened. He allowed the couple to step out first, then he followed, watching them tuck their arms around each other as they headed for the exit doors. He smiled, then turned down a narrow hall that led him straight into the small gift shop. He stopped at the threshold and glanced around at the glass shelves filled with sentimental products. His stomach lurched.
    “Can I help you, sir? We have a sale on our selection of cards,” the silver-haired woman with bright red cheeks said from behind the counter. It was only natural that she would be bubbly.
    He stepped up and gave her his best smile. “I’d like to get two flower bouquets.”
    “Which would you like?” she asked. “We have carnations, roses, daffodils—”
    “Colorful flowers, please.” He’d never interested himself in the different varieties. He wrote a check to the landscaper every week and that was the extent of his knowledge.
    She narrowed her gaze as she stepped from the counter and went to a large carousel holding an array of bouquets. She grabbed two from the stand. “Will these do?” He nodded. “Two colorful bouquets. Is that it?”
    He grabbed his wallet from his back pocket, grabbed a hundred-dollar bill and laid it on the counter. A selection of glass animal figurines caught his attention. He remembered that his mom had collected similar pieces. “I’ll take the glass panda too.”
    Once she rang up his total, she handed him the change and he stuck it into a charity box sitting next to the register and left the shop, bouquets tucked in one arm and the gift wrapped panda in the other. He sure hoped Avary Pine liked the glass figurine. If anything, it’d give her something to throw and break if the frustration became too much.
    Stopping at the information desk, he found out that indeed, Miss Pine had been admitted into the hospital and, after the kind volunteer gave him the room number, he got back on the elevator and rode it to the third floor. Because he was following through with this deranged act didn’t mean he agreed with Angelina, but he’d get it over with and be on his way. He glanced at his watch. His sister had another hour before she would be finished with her treatment. The oncologist warned that she would be feeling lethargic, some pain, and more than likely stomach irritation. He’d hired a nurse, Sandy, and she would be at the house when they arrived back this afternoon.
    Scanning the room number directions, he followed the corresponding hall looking for Avary Pine. He passed a nurse who smiled and batted her pretty eyes. He glanced over his shoulder, watching the gentle sway of her hips under the material of her blue scrubs.
    Yeah, he needed a release soon.
    Finding room 356, he started for the open door when the faint sound of sniffling stopped him dead. What the hell? He glanced into the dimly lit room, his eyes taking a few seconds to adjust, and then he saw her. She was lying in the hospital bed, her back to him, covered in a thin, white blanket. Her shoulders were shaking and her gentle sobs were the only sound in the sanitary space. She looked so tiny, almost fragile, in the large bed that seemed to engulf her. Her long, blonde hair was spread over the pillow and the soft light over the sink caught the highlights making them shimmer like golden threads.
    He stood there, holding the flowers, wanting to say something—knew he should—but he couldn’t seem to get his tongue to cooperate. His chest ached and his heart beat fast. He’d never been good in situations like this. One thing he couldn’t stand was seeing a woman cry, especially when there was nothing he could do to help. He didn’t know her, didn’t know if she’d think he was a stalker bearing gifts. After all, she’d been attacked only hours ago. His feet seemed glued to the floor and he couldn’t move.