Page 82 of Reckless
No, I wasn’t going to lie to myself before breakfast but the truth was I did like him and that was the entire issue.
A soft knock hit the door before I’d managed to swing my legs off the bed.
“Come in,” I called.
Hope cracked the door and poked her head through.“Alive?”
“I slept nine hours in a billionaire’s guest room after almost kissing his son on a terrace.That is not bad.That is a psychological emergency.”
Hope pressed her lips together.“Why didn’t you kiss him?”
“Because I like him.”
She slipped inside in leggings and one of Charlie’s T-shirts, looking unfairly glowy for a woman who should have been annoying me more than she currently was.
“You missed breakfast.”
“It’s ten-thirty.”
She laughed and came farther in, carrying one of the clear glass tea cups from downstairs.“Maman sent tea.”
Of course she had.I took the glass and held it between both hands while the heat soaked into my palms.
“How’s the family weather,” I asked.
Hope leaned her shoulder against the dresser.“Pretty good.Charlie is trying to start a pickleball tournament no one asked for.Miley is pretending she’s above family games even though Jeff already got her to agree to teams.Avril and Kir disappeared for a walk.Isabel is helping Maman with flowers.Britney is in a good mood, which is frightening.”
I sipped the tea.
“Has Xerses surfaced?”I asked.
Hope laughed and backed toward the door.“Not yet but come downstairs when you’re human.Maybe we’ll get you properly kissed today.”
“That feels optimistic.”
“I remember all my friends wanting me with Charlie right away.”
Then she was gone, leaving me alone.
When I came down, Roxanne had somehow produced brunch and lunch simultaneously.There were platters of fruit, meat, bowls of herbs and bread and eggs and enough other food to keep a small village emotionally stable.
And because the universe was apparently committed to making every tiny social adaptation between me and Xerses as visible as possible, there was a place set for me beside him without anyone having to ask.
I saw it.He saw me see it.One side of his mouth moved.
I sat down because there was no point making a thing out of what was now simply how the room had arranged itself around us.
“Good morning,” he said.
His voice tones singled me out entirely and I heated.But I nodded, “Good morning.”
“You slept.”
I looked at him.“I hear you did too.”
His eyes held mine for one beat too long.“You need coffee.”
Heat flashed low and immediate.
