Chapter 32

After clearing their dishes from their dinner and offering dessert, which they all ordered, their server brought their bill. Before slipping his credit card into a leather receipt wallet, he wrote a short note and placed it in the wallet with his credit card. Handing it back to their server when she returned, he thanked her for her excellent service and she thanked them for their patronage and invited them to return.

Looking into her eyes, Graeham replied to her comment. "Oh, we will. We are staying in the hotel for the next few days." He watched as something flickered in her eyes, but her mask of professionalism never dropped.

"Do you require a receipt, sir?" she asked.

"No, I don't think that will be necessary." He said smiling up at her.

Getting up from the table, all seven walked out, followed by the five security men.

Walking out of the dining room, the brothers garnered as much attention as they did walking in. This time, the diners realized that there was another couple and the male was just as large as the two younger men. The woman by his side, however, was taller than the other two. She was close to six feet and elegantly built, her hair cropped short and salt and pepper.

Walking back to the elevators, the two younger couples took one elevator with their security and the other couple and the older gentleman took the other elevator. When both elevators reached the top floor, everyone said goodnight to each other and went to their respective suites.

Laying in their bed after they had showered, Charlotte recalled her grandfather's behavior towards their server. Turning towards Jaxson, she brought it up to him.

"Charlotte, your grandfather has been alone for a long time, with his focus on raising you and your cousins. He deserves to have a companion of his own. Even if it is for just a few nights."

"I know Jaxson. I have just never seen a woman draw his attention like our server did tonight. I think he was quite taken with her. I remember thinking that she was perfect for him. She had poise and she showed discretion by not fawning over four obviously powerful and wealthy men. She maintained her composure and carried a quiet confidence." Charlotte explained.

"Well, maybe something will come of it. Who knows? Maybe you can ask him tomorrow if he is interested in her." To end the conversation, he reached for her and pulled her across his chest to give him better access to her lips for a kiss.

Breaking the kiss, Charlotte yawned. "Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't realize I was so tired. I think my 'workout' this afternoon wore me out." Jaxson chuckled and turned them both on their sides in a spoon fashion and then kissed the top of her head.

"Sleep Charlotte. Trust me, you and Amber are going to need your rest. Shopping with my mom is an experience to be sure." Chuckling again, he said, "She's been known to wear outgrown male shifters."

"Oh wow. Amber and I will insist on coffee and beverage stops, to refresh ourselves." Squeezing his hand, she closed her eyes and let herself drift off to sleep.

In the Governor's suite, where Graeham was staying, a knock sounded on the suite door. When he opened the door, a woman stood there. Their server from the restaurant tonight.

"Please come in. Would you like something to drink?" He gestured into the suite as he stepped back to allow her to enter.

"No thank you. Unless you have bottled water." She replied in a quiet voice.

"Pelligrino okay?"

"Yes, that's fine."

"What made you accept my invitation?" He asked her.

"Curiosity mostly. I wanted to know what one of, if not the, most powerful man in the world, wanted me for. I mean, you could have the company of any woman you chose." She said, her brows knitting together.

"Exactly, and I choose you. Would like to know why?" At her nod, he continued. "You have poise. You obviously knew who I was right away. But you made no effort to fawn over my friends or myself. You were accurate and confident in your job. I like that in people I associate with. It's a rare quality in my world. To see it and experience it as it relates to me is not just refreshing, but very welcome." He elaborated.

"How do you know that this isn't just an act? That I'm not playing you to get something from you." She asked quietly, going to sit on one of the long sofas in the sitting room.

"Let's just say that I am an excellent judge of character." He was too old for these games. "Stay with me. Spend time with me during my stay here."

"Why? What can I give you that you don't already have? I refuse to be a bed warmer for a rich asshole only to be dumped when they leave town. I may not have a lot, Mr. Frazier, but I do have my dignity and integrity. So, if you'll excuse me, I think I need to leave." Putting the sparkling water on the table in from of the sofa, she went to get up.

Before she could stand, he was there in front of her, helping her up. Rubbing his forehead, he said, "Look, I'm sorry. I'm afraid I handled this poorly. I haven't been interested in a woman in a long time and I have forgotten how to speak to a lady."

She wasn't sure what to say. No one had ever called her that. Even though her typical southern momma raised her with all of the traditional lessons of etiquette and grace. But, it was a shock to hear it from this man's lips.

Looking up at him, she asked, "I won't be your plaything. I value myself more than that. I'm not out to get anything out of you, I just hold myself to certain standards."

Smiling at her, he stepped away. "I understand. When you do work next?"

"I'm actually on vacation. I was supposed to go to Florida for a week with another employee, but she took off with some guy yesterday and said she wasn't going." She said somewhat angrily.

"You know, it occurs to me, that I haven't asked you what your name is." Graeham had not been tossed on his ear by a female since his Patience had been alive.

"Agnes. My friends call me Ness." She replied sticking her hand out for him to shake.

"Please, sit. Let's get to know one another. I find myself quite taken with you."

"What would you like to know? I'm an open book." She said, smiling.

They talked long into the night and discovered that they had many things in common. They enjoyed the same sports, many of the same authors, movies, and even the same taste in food. They covered a myriad of topics until she started yawning.

"I need to go. I drive all the way across town and I don't want to fall asleep at the wheel." She said, reluctant to leave.

"Stay here. I have a spare bedroom that you can stay in. I will have clothes brought up to you in the morning. I will not allow your reputation to suffer by leaving here in the same clothes that you came here in. I don't operate that way, Agnes." Surprising herself, she nodded.

Smiling, Graeham led her to the second bedroom in the suite. "Do you need something to sleep in?" Trying not to think about her like that.

Blushing, Agnes said, "No, I don't sleep in anything....."

Nodding curtly, he left her room before he embarrassed himself.

Going to his own room, he undressed and took a shower and got ready for bed. As he lay there, he thought about her. He would definitely have Hunter run her background. He didn't really expect the man to find anything. But, he had learned his lesson the hard way. She was different, though. He would almost bet his fortune on it. She was not what he was used to dealing with.

She was very confident and not afraid to speak her mind or to stand up for her morals. He liked that about her. Women like her were few and far between in his world and she was like a breath of fresh air.

He wondered how Charlotte and his other grandchildren would think of her. He wanted to get to her. Of that he was certain. Then, when he got to know her, he wanted to keep her. As his. His body had been dead for a long time. But it woke up tonight when he saw her.

Rolling onto his side, he closed his eyes and let sleep take him.

The next morning the butler woke him to let him know that his guests' packages had arrived and were in the room outside her door. Letting Graeham know that coffee was being prepared, he asked about having breakfast brought up.

"Yes please. Before you order, please ask my guest what she would like and the place that order." After the butler nodded he left the room to complete his instructions.

Graeham walked into the bathroom and took care of his morning business and then walked into the closet to get a pair a well worn jeans and a golf shirt. Shoving his feet into leather loafers, he walked out of his bedroom out into the sitting room. Anges was there waiting at the table for him. Plates covered with silver covers waiting on him.

When he sat down, she poured his coffee and lifted the covers off of the dishes. There was toast, scrambled eggs, sausage patties, fruit, grits and tomatoes. Agnes quietly served Graeham his breakfast, recovering the dishes. He noticed that she wasn't eating a great deal of food.

"You aren't eating?" He asked.

"I'm having toast and jam with some scrambled eggs. and a small amount of fruit. I don't eat much in the mornings." Lifting her cup, she said, "Coffee, however, is a must if you want me coherent in the mornings." As if to show what she meant, she took a large drink of coffee.

"You'll fit right in with everyone else. My granddaughter will not speak before coffee. She just grunts and frowns if you speak to her." Agnes chuckled.

"Not long after they finished their breakfast, a knock sounded on the suite door.

The butler opened it and three couples entered along with five men. They were the same people that she had served the previous night. The three couples all bore a family resemblance. At least the two younger men did. The women were obviously their partners. The youngest woman was not surprised to see her, neither was the man with her.

The older couple merely smiled at her as Graeham introduced her to everyone. After everyone was seated on the sofas, he turned to her and said, "You are about to hear some fantastical thing in this room. Whether you choose to stay with me or move on with your life, you need to keep this secret until the appropriate time.

Anges' eyes went to everyone gathered in the room and the almost animalistic grace the three largest males moved with. "Shifters." It wasn't a question.

"How did you know?" It was the small dark haired woman, Graeham's granddaughter. She had been introduced as Charlotte.

"In high school, I had a friend who was a shifter. She and her brother, the whole family really, moved with the same kind of predatory grace." Agnes shrugged and said, "Like an animal stalking it's prey."

"Graeham, you better keep this one. She's smart and observant. I like her." Jaxson said.

"Grandfather, are you and she.....?" Charlotte asked.

"Just getting to know each other, my dear. That decision is for Agnes to make," he replied

"Wonderful. The more the merrier, I say." Miney said, smiling at her.

"Well, Anders, I contacted that reporter and journalist at my network. They will be here tomorrow with a camera crew. Charlotte, you and the other ladies should enjoy yourselves today." Gesturing to Agnes, he said, "Take Agnes with you. Make sure she has a great time with you three, and when you return, I want to hear all about your day."