Chapter 87

**Blue**


When I step back into our room, I can hear Artemis talking on the phone in our closet. He sounds annoyed which is saying something since he always tries to keep his emotions tampered down. Maybe he’s more open because he’s home and doesn’t have to put on a tough guy act for anyone here.

Leaving him to it, I quietly leave the room and begin to explore our new home. I also made sure to grab my phone and I quickly pull up Abigail’s number. She hasn’t contacted me since yesterday and I want to make sure she’s doing okay. The image of her crying and looking terrified will forever haunt me. I need to make sure she’s okay and to know that I’m there for her. As I head toward the main room, I pull up her number and press the call icon. It rings several times and I figure she won’t pick up but eventually she answers.

“Blue! I’m so glad you called.” Her voice sounds a little frantic.

“Yeah, I wanted to check up on you.” I tell her while trying to hide my worry.

She didn’t sound right, but I don’t want to force her to talk to me if she isn’t ready.

“Oh…I’m okay considering. Alan has been following me around and making sure I’m not too traumatized.” She lets out a small laugh but it’s not genuine at all.

My heart hurts for her. She didn’t deserve to go through that. I hope she’ll be able to move on from this eventually and put this far in the past.

“Do you want to plan a prison break?” I whisper into the phone.

“What do you have in mind?” She whispers back.

“I’m thinking we ditch the men and do a little therapeutic shopping.”

“I like the way you think. Pick you up in thirty?” She sounds a lot more like herself with this new plan.
“Do you know where to get me?”

She scoffs. “Who do you think search everywhere for the best place for you?”

I laugh. “You are a beauty! I’m making Artemis give you a raise.”

“No need. I have my own boss many to shake for extra cash.”

“I still can’t believe you and Alan! We’re like power couples now, right? Is that what it’s called? I’m not hip on all the lingo.”

She chuckles. “I guess we are except no one knows about me and Alan yet, so you and Artemis hold that mantal for now.”

Now I’m the one who scoffs. “I don’t know about all that. We haven’t even been to an event together. Isn’t that a requirement to be bumped up to power couple status?”

“No, I don’t think so. I think it’s a couple who’s talked about he most and accomplish great things together.”

I consider that for a moment and start to think over the whole foster thing Artemis and I had been talking about. Is there a way for me to use everyone’s fascination with me to do some good? My past has already been blasted so why not use it? Bringing attention to a broken system would be amazing! So many more kids will be helped if someone shows the world what really goes on in the foster system.

“Blue? You still there?”

“Oh, yeah. Sorry I got lost in my head for a second.”

“Are you okay?” Now she sounds worried.

“Yeah, we can talk about it later. See you in thirty!”

“Okay see you soon.”

I end the call and wonder around until I find the kitchen. Someone is there and the sight of them nearly scares the shit out of me, but they don’t seem threatening. In fact…they’re cooking. I don’t recognize them so they must be new.

“Hi.” I say calmly hoping not to scare them.

The man turns to face me, and I’m shaken by the sight of a fairly handsome man. Uh, what’s going on here?

He smiles at me. “Good morning, Mrs. Rhodes.” He says far too cheerfully.

No one should be so cheerful at this hour which automatically makes me suspicious. Normally I would tell him to call me Blue, but I don’t correct him. He looks like trouble and I’m not about to set up any ideas in his head.

“Who are you?” I ask a little too harshly, but I don’t apologize.

“I’m your new cook.” He says as if I didn’t already know that.

“I can see that but what is your name?” I ask in a way that conveys my dislike of his attitude.

“Oh! I’m John.”

John? JOHN? Even his name makes me weirded out.

“Well John it’s nice to meet you but does my husband know about you? I’m not sure he would be too happy.” Not that I don’t think he trusts me, but because he has a bit of a possessive thing going on.
“He’s not.” Artemis’s voice echoes through the room and I turn to see a truly stunning man walk into the room.

This cook guy has nothing on Artemis Rhodes and the fact he’s mine makes me warm and fuzzy all over.

He walks up and wraps his arms around me from behind. “Who hired you?”

The guy…uh John…looks a little wary which is good. He recognizes a bigger predator when he sees one.

“Alan hired me.” He spits out.

Artemis curses under his breath and since he’s standing so close and is bent forward slightly so that he can fully wrap his arms around me, I feel his breath along my neck, and I’m reminded about what we did earlier. I have to suck in a deep breath and count backward from five to keep myself from visibly reacting to him. Then the bastard takes things to another level and slides one of his hands down my side and behind me and slips it below my shirt. His skin is hot against mine and I have to bite the inside of my cheek to remind myself to stay still and not react in front of this stranger.

“I see. Well, I do not accept this arrangement, so you will be paid for the week, but you will have to go.” Artemis doesn’t even bother looking at the guy.

No, he has instead decided torturing me is better and is now moving his fingers further up until he reaches the clasp of my bra. With an impressively smooth motion he unhooks it and I let out a small yelp.

He pauses and finally looks over at the guy. “Get the hell out. Now.”

The guy nearly trips over his own feet trying to run out of the room. A few seconds later I hear the front door close with a slam. Once we’re in the clear Artemis turns me toward him and kisses me suddenly. I moan and lean into the kiss as if I’m thirsting for him as much as he is me. God he’s a good kisser. No matter how intense this kiss is I have a feeling he’s hoping to pick up where we were interrupted in the shower, but I have things to do. I break the kiss and look up at him apologetically.

“I can tell where this is going, but I can’t right now. Although I can confirm that TOM has passed on, so that’s good news.” He smirks at me but I shake my head. “Focus! Now, you said you want me to decorate this place, so I decided to have Abigail go with me to a few places and look around.”

He opens his mouth to object, but I cover his mouth with my hand. “I already know what you’re going to say but she needs this. I could hear it in her voice. She’s still shaken up and I think it would be good for her to distract herself for a little while. Plus, we can talk if she needs to. Bryant and Dane can follow us in the SUV and escort us the whole time.”

Artemis wraps his hand around my wrist and slowly pulls my hand away from his mouth but instead of dropping it he kisses the center of my palm. I blink at him in confusion because how come that was so sweet? My little heart seems to be touched by every small thing he does and I’m not sure that’s healthy.

“I don’t want to refuse you the chance to help her, but I don’t want to take my eyes off you. Too many times you’ve been taken from me and I’m not letting that happen anymore. So, I’m going with you.” He releases me and walks away like that’s the end of the discussion. Like hell it is!

I stomp after him. “This is supposed to be girl time! You can’t come!”

“I will come, and I can assure you that Alan will do the same. We don’t agree on much but keeping our wives safe is one thing we both agree on is the most important thing. Now stop stomping around like a child and grab your purse.”

I gawk at him until I lose sight of him. “That bastard! Distracting me with his sweetness and then topping it will asshole!”

“Move your ass wife!” I hear him yell from where I’m guessing is the front door.

I scowl but do as he says. There is no fighting an asshole with a superiority complex.