Blood's Desire (Book 1 of Blood Ties Novels)

Unexpected Roommate

The rest of the road trip was uneventful. I called my mother every two hours as promised. I called once I arrived. However, I had someone else call my mom instead of the person I was staying with. I felt juvenile when I did it, but I couldn’t let my mom think I was shacking up with some man she hadn’t even met.

I stopped in front of a driveway that crashed into the garage of a beautiful brick house, larger then I was accustomed to seeing a young ADA live in, so I assumed that the person putting me up was older and well-established. This made me extremely nervous. At least before my arrival, I had the hope of not having many employees older than myself, but after seeing the house I was sure my hopes were shattered.

Great, I’m dead, absolutely, unequivocally dead. They are going to hate working for me. As if my age wasn’t already a factor for the judges, now my employees are going to question me. This is just awesome…Now stop that, Andrea Micheal Bell! Calm down and be yourself. Seth and Robert knew what they were looking for when they hired you. You earned this job…

When I decided to make my way to the door, I had calmed my nerves enough so my voice didn’t shake when I spoke, but I couldn’t say the same thing for my hands, so I filled them with handles. I walked up the stone path to the front door, feeling my hands grow clammy under the weight of my things.

Calm down Andi. Find your center. You’re fine. You deserve this job. You’ve earned it through hard work and determination. Just ring the bell. Before the door opened, an overwhelming sense of calm flooded through me. A marrow-deep serenity filled me and lifted my spirit. It seemed like less than a second after that the door swung open to a god sent to Earth. 

Gabriel Haden was not the man I was expecting to room with that first night. When my predecessor told me I would stay the first night with one of the lawyers I would work with, I thought that person would either be a woman, or a really old, decrepit married man.  When Gabriel opened the door, it took all my will power not to let my mouth hang open. He was gorgeous in every sense of the word. He was slightly taller than me, so I could roughly guess that he was six feet two or three inches. His short, dusty brown hair was sun kissed and complimented his emerald green eyes. His build was not what I was accustomed to seeing a lawyer possess. He was muscular, with wide shoulders and biceps, oh my, his biceps. I’m sure his work attire hid most of his godly glory, but he opened the door in a nice pair of black slacks and a white undershirt, dressed down from what I could guess was an early day at the office; it was only five in the afternoon. The shirt allowed every muscle to be admired. His slacks hung correctly, not hugging tightly to his legs, but accenting his narrow hips. He was well proportioned according to everything my eyes took in within the brief moment it took for me to reboot my brain and concentrate on the matter at hand. 

“Welcome to my home, Ms. Bell. I’m Gabriel Haden. I hope you don’t mind, but I took the liberty of cooking dinner for the two of us tonight.” His voice was so young and vibrant. It was like lilacs and honey. There is no way he could be old enough to be an Assistant District Attorney… and you’re old enough to be the D.A.? Hold on, two of us?

I cleared my throat while trying not to drool all over myself. “Thank you very much, Mr. Haden. I’m very thankful that you would so willingly open your home to a perfect stranger. I can’t put into words how grateful I am not to have to stay in a hotel.” The anguish on my face after the word ‘hotel’ let him clearly know my dislike of the wretched things. I hoped my tone was pleasing to him as I tried to be cordial while working on autopilot. It seemed as though my brain had went on hiatus without me and without my permission. 

When he turned to let me in the house, I couldn’t help but notice the tight firmness of his thighs as they pressed against his pant legs when he walked. I followed him in, trying to not stare at his shapely body. In my peripheral, I noticed mirrors and paintings lining the walls, nothing personal like family photos or school art projects. He definitely meant the two of us. I watched and followed Gabriel so intently into the house that I hadn’t noticed that he had asked me a question.

“Ms. Bell?” My name brought me back to the present.

“Umm, do what? I’m sorry I didn’t hear you. Off in thought.” I shrugged and giggled a little, nerves. Why am I so nervous? He’s just a man. There’s nothing special about him; other than his ridiculous good looks, his politeness, his manners, his voice. . . 

“Oh, sorry, I asked if you would like to unload your stuff in the spare bedroom or would you like to eat first?” He had a small smirk on his face, as if he knew I was only lost in him, not in thought. 

I looked down at the bags in my hands. My overnight case, make-up essentials, and garment bag mocked me in their ever-present, steady stare. “Well, I would like to drop my stuff off and then go for a little walk. I need to stretch,” and call my mom, somehow. There’s no way I’m letting her talk to you. He smiled and escorted me to a sparse room off the main hall pass the kitchen. 

“This is your room. The bathroom is the first door on the left. You can use the drawers in the dresser and the closet is empty. Please, make yourself at home. Dinner should be ready within the hour.” He paused at the door before he left me to my thoughts. “Can I get you anything?”

What couldn’t you get me? “Nothing, thank you. I’m just going to change shoes and go for a quick walk. I’ll be back before dinner is ready.” I sent him off with a flirtatious smile. After the door clicked shut, I frowned and my hand flew to my forehead. Oh my God, what are you thinking Andi. You can’t flirt with the guy who’s putting you up for the night and, to top it off, a new employee.