Chapter 13
Thy didn’t take her to a restaurant or a gallery. He drove them out of the city to a place she’d never seen, a vast expanse of green hidden behind high, ivy-covered stone walls. A discreet sign by the wrought iron gates read: “The Penhurst Conservatory - Private.”
He had bought a botanical garden. Of course he had.
Inside, it was a paradise of manicured lawns, winding stone paths, and glasshouses that gleamed in the afternoon sun. The air was clean and smelled of damp earth and blooming flowers. It was quiet, peaceful, and utterly secluded.
“I acquired it a few years ago,” he explained as they walked, his hand securely in hers. “It was about to be sold to developers. I couldn’t stand the thought of it being turned into condominiums.”
It was another glimpse into the man bene
