Babel Novel
24
KNIGHT
Nirvana had an uneasy posture as she got into my house. She looked around the living room but hadn’t said anything.
“Take a seat. You want coffee?”
“I’m good.” She took a seat on the leather couch, and I went to the kitchen to take my coffee in the tumbler. I decided to work at home today, and maybe I could spend some time with her.
When I came back to the couch, Nirvana was not there anymore.
“Nirvana?” I followed her scent and found her in the hallway, looking at one of the paintings.
“I really like this artist. He spent hours and hours perfecting his art. His masterpiece is classic. His traditional way of painting made him one of a kind. This encaustic painting is one of my favorites.”
“Do you collect his paintings?”
She chuckled as she looked at me. “You know how much his painting is worth? He is one of the subjects in the painting class I attended.”
“Well, I have more of his paintings, and you can have them too if you choose to stay here.”
“Tempting, but thank you.”
“Let’s go.” I gestured to the hallway leading to the back garage. “This way.”
“Don’t you have a car cheaper and older than I have?”
“I don’t collect cars, and I rarely use the one you have.”
“Thanks for doing this.”
“I told you I will take care of you.” I opened the garage door, and she instantly saw the car I gave her. “Let’s take the car for the spin.”
“Don’t you have some business video conference to attend?”
“Nope.” I went to the passenger side as she unlocked the car.
“K set this up, did she?” she said as she got in the driver’s seat and ignited the engine.
“No. Actually, it was my plan. You’ve been here for days, and I haven’t taken you on tour in the vineyards.” We left the house, and she pulled up to the road.
“I can’t believe I’m driving your car. Most men don’t want their babies to be driven by other people, even their girlfriends.”
“You’re more than my girlfriend.”
“Yet you introduced me to your assistant as your girlfriend.”
“This is just a car, Nirvana, and I told her you’re my girlfriend because you’re not wearing my ring, and so you’re not my wife yet. The next time I introduce you to other people, you’ll be my fiancee.”
“So optimistic. Where are we going?”
“Turn right, and you’re driving like a grandma.”
A full-blown smile spread her lips. “I drive like a grandma? First, this is not my car. I don’t want it to get scratched on my first day. Second, I’m not familiar with this road around here. There’s no sign, so forgive me, Mr. Blackwell.” She turned hard right, and dust flew on the dirty road, “You better put your seatbelt on, sir.”
“Noted, grandma.” I couldn’t help but smile as I strapped in my seatbelt, and she had just driven from sixty to eighty, then more. I could barely see the road behind us covered with dust.
“Okay, sweetheart. Just slow down and turn another right,” I told her when we were near the vineyards.
“Call me sweetheart again, and this car will end up in the vineyards.”
“Then you’ll end up going to work on a bicycle.”
“Maybe that’s a damn good idea. I haven’t worked out in days.”
“There’s a mini gym in the pack house. I have one, too, but it would put me at ease if you don’t go to the mini gym. Guys use it a lot.”
“And?”
“If you’re wearing those tiny workout clothes, I have to poke each eye of my guys if they keep staring at you. I don’t want to have blind enforcers.”
She laughed as she slowed down, watching the vineyards through the side mirror. Her rich voice filled the car.
“Wow. Overprotective much?”© 2024 Nôv/el/Dram/a.Org.
“Yes. Very, and I just realized yesterday how jealous I could be.”
“This view is priceless. Incredible, like some shots in movies.”
“It’s true.”
“And it is so peaceful in here. The benefit of being outside the city. Is that why you chose to build that house over there?”
“Part of the reason, yes.”
“And the other reason?” She stole a glance at me.
“I can’t stay in the pack house anymore. My unmated members keep growing. So when I saved some money, I called an architect friend of mine, and he made a plan for me.”
“Do you have pack members outside the vineyards?”
“Yes. They live in the city, but they come to attend meetings, holidays, or if there are special occasions like weddings or pack parties. Park here.”
She pulled over the car at the harvesting area.
“I’ll show you something.”
We climbed out of the car.
“You put on the perfect outfit.” I glanced down at her boots.
“Making fun of my shoes?”
“I think you look cool.”
“Your assistant is attractive.”
I grinned, and she frowned. “Don’t tell me you’re jealous of her?”
“No, I’m not, but you’re young, attractive, successful, and single.”
“Single?” I stopped and stared at her. “Are you single, Nirvana?”
She rolled her eyes as she walked through the spacing. “I mean, before you introduced me. Some men in your position sleep with their secretaries. Have you?”
“That’s what I like about you. You’re brutally honest, straightforward, and vocal.”
“There’s no reason to talk bullshit, Knight.”
“No, sweetheart. I enforce no fraternization among my employees, which also applies to the boss. So, no, I never slept with my employees. I turned down her invitation to go for a drink. I tell you now. You don’t have to worry about other women. I am committed to you and would never cheat on you.”
“You mean to this mate thing. If you only have a choice, I’m sure you’ve already done it.”
“I did. I did it to protect you, and I wasn’t ready to have a mate.”
“Let alone a human like me, but I’m not ready for you to bite me, alpha.”
“I know, my luna.”
She snorted. “Even the sound of it is so absurd.”
“For now, yeah, because you haven’t fallen for me yet.”
“Maybe you should try making me fall for you then.”
“Trying here, Nirvana, but I’m taking it as a challenge.”
She suddenly halted, pointing at those rows of grapes almost ready for harvest. “Oh, my God. Are those?”
“Almost ready, yeah.”
“Oh, my God.” She kept saying that. “Can I touch them?” She ran in that direction. “I mean, I’ve seen plenty in the farmer’s market but haven’t gone to the vineyards and watched them harvest.”
“You appreciate this a lot, but a hundred thousand dollar car.”
“Shut up. Can I touch them?”
“You can go pick some, sweetheart.”
“Aw.” She caressed a cluster of grapes like a baby, and my mind went sideways or precisely south, thinking it was my balls in her palm. Then she picked a piece of grape and wiped it on her shirt before she popped it into her mouth, closed her eyes, and chewed it. “Damn.”
When she opened her eyes, and I looked down at her, she narrowed them. “Don’t look at me like that.”
Tucker appeared. “Alpha, if you wanna tour around, I can bring you a truck.”
“We’re good. Tucker. Thank you.”
“Ma’am.” He smiled, acknowledging Nirvana’s presence.
“It’s Vana. I could just sit here, look at this place, paint it, and never tire of it. You’re Tucker, Roisin’s mate.”
“Yes, ma’am. The best job in the world. When you see the fruit of your hard work comes to life.”
“I know that feeling, Tucker.”
“Let me know if you need anything,” he said before he left.
Nirvana went to grab a cluster but couldn’t take it off the vine.
“Need help?”
“I got it.” She twisted and twisted it, but the poor cluster wouldn’t just separate. “I think I don’t get it, alpha.”
I chuckled as I went to help her. “Watching you struggle is fun.”
“Not funny, but I never picked grapes from the tree. I know what you’re going to say. It’s not a tree.”
“Here you go?” I put it on her palm, and she handled it like someone carrying a baby.
“I’d been meaning to ask you. Why didn’t you take an art major?”
“I’m not good at it, and I can’t make it a living, and I know one day I have to manage the restaurant when Grandpa retires.”
“So you’re going back and leave me?”
Nirvana looked at me intensely for a moment until the silence between us became unbearable.
“I need your answer.”
“What do you think, Alpha?”