Read Online Highness by Latrivia Nelson - Free Book Online Page A

she could find out more about LouAnn and make a serious decision before Bree left for Dallas.  Normally, she would have liked the woman, but the mere fact that Sean had sent her over made her feel uncomfortable, especially since she knew how his mother felt about her in general. 
    Hearing the doorbell ring again, she rose up.  She wasn’t expecting anyone else, and if Sean had shown up to oversee this, she’d kick him out herself.
    “I’m coming.” Bree called out.
    “No, I’ve got it.” Hope said, eager to do something on her own.  She loved her friend, but Bree had to give her an opportunity to see how much of her own life she could manage.
    Standing up, she slowly made her way to the door without help. It felt good to make the journey unaided.  While short, it was a step in the right direction.
    As the doorbell rang a second time, she opened the door feeling mildly accomplished. A broad smile crossed her lips.  “Yes.”
    There was an instant hesitation from the visitor. 
    “Hello,” the deep voice answered.  “Are you Hope Daniels?”
    “Yes, I am,” Hope answered, glad to hear that at least it wasn’t Sean.  “Can I help you?”
    Michael stared at her for a moment.  It was as if she looked right through him.  The wind blew through her long black hair and perfumed the breeze with sweet fragrance.  He stumbled over his words. “I’m your new neighbor. I took over Mr. Jernigan’s smaller house on his property.  When I arrived back from shopping today, he asked me to drop your mail by your home.”  Extending his arm, he offered her the mail with a shaky hand.
    Hope smiled, eyes sparkling like black diamonds in the sunlight.  She ran her fingers past a wild strand of her unbound hair and tucked it behind her ear. “He finally found someone to take over Kelly’s house.  Good.  He’s been looking for months now.” Reaching out for the mail, she moved her hand right past the envelopes and into his wide chest.  It felt like warm concrete to the touch.  Her fingertips lingered there for a moment.
    Getting control of herself, she recoiled, embarrassed at her misstep.
    That had been his first physical interaction with a human being who did not work for him since he arrived.  It wasn’t normal for people to touch royalty, unless they were incredible drunk . The small touch felt odd, like zingers coursing through his blood stream or maybe it was just being in her presence. Whatever it was paralyzed him.  
    Michael looked down at her hand and then back at her with a clever smile.  Two things stuck out.  She was absolutely breathtaking and based upon her wedding finger, she was single.  But there was something off in her gaze at him. 
    “Sorry, I’m newly handicapped,” she explained with an embarrassed laugh.
    “How so?” he asked, stepping closer.   Why did she not react?
    “Oh, I was blinded in a car accident about a month and a half ago.  I haven’t gotten the whole depth perception thing down yet. I hear you fine, but I can only see shades of light. Good thing that you weren’t a woman. I would have felt you right up,” she joked, twisting her lips into a rueful smile.  
    You still sort of did , Michael thought to himself. 
    He liked that she couldn’t see him, it prevented the obvious, which was his inability to take his eyes off her.
    But Hope could smell him. Sandalwood danced in her head.  He smelled like heaven.  Without knowing what he looked like at all, she knew that he must be beautiful.  No man could ever sound so charming and not be.
    Gently, Michael reached out for her hand and placed the mail inside of it.  Holding on to her soft hand and feeling her fingers just a second longer, he looked into her eyes.   They were soothing, despite her blindness and kind…so kind.  “I’m sorry for your recent mishap.  I hope it’s not permanent.” 
    “Oh, it’s not permanent,” she answered quickly.  “The doctor says that it will come back as soon