Page 85 of The Red Woman on Mars

“Vivian,” he whispered and sank down beside her once again. “Do you really believe that?”

Vivian shook her head. Why did he have to be so confusing? “We have a big day tomorrow. We should get some rest.”

“We do.” Xavier kissed the top of her head. “Sleep well.”

CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE

Presentation Day

Vivian dreamed she was in the ocean, floating in a salty sea, buffeted by gentle waves. Well-fed, rested, sated, and protected.

At peace.

As her body moved toward wakefulness, Vivian knew there was something she’d remember soon. She kept her eyes closed and tried, for at least a little while longer, to forget the knowledge that still eluded her.

Presentation Day.

Today was Presentation Day.

Vivian rolled over in bed, chasing that feeling of peace. Through the thin walls of the tiny apartment, she could hear water running and the clang of a pan. What if this was her life? A modest apartment. A generous lover. A future she chose.

Not the crushing weight of expectations and responsibilities.

She could pretend, at least for a little while.

“Morning,” Vivian murmured as she entered the kitchen. The smell of fresh coffee lingered in the air. She rummaged in the cabinets to find herself a mug.

From his position at the stove, Xavier gave her a warm, intimate smile. “Good morning. I hope you like eggs.”

“I do.” She settled on the bar stool and wrapped her hands around her hot cup of coffee. This simple domestic scene meantmore to her than a hundred elaborate balls. She wanted to hold on to this moment, to this man, to this glimpse at a different life, for as long as she could.

Xavier put the spatula down and moved toward her. He swiveled her stool to face him and bent down so their foreheads touched. “Did I scare you last night? I know I got rather intense.”

Vivian reached a hand behind his head and pulled him toward her. Should she be scared? He’d offered her a peek inside a dark past still haunting his present. Not so different from her own circumstance. “It’ll take a lot more than that to scare me.” Emboldened, she took his lower lip between her teeth and lightly bit down. He made a sound low in his throat and reached his hand to the back of her head. She lost herself in the feel of his lips on hers, remembering the sensation of floating in the ocean from her dream.

Until something tickled her nose, and she pulled back. “What’s that smell?”

Muttering a curse, Xavier dashed back to the stove top and pulled the pan off the burner. He looked morosely at the dark brown crusty eggs. “I wanted to do something nice for you.”

The sound of the apartment’s buzzer made Vivian flinch. Already? She thought they’d have more time.

“Your stylist has arrived,” Ivey’s voice pronounced over the comm. “Let me in.” When she walked in the apartment door, Ivey wrinkled her nose. “Ugh. What is that?”

“My fault,” Xavier admitted. “I burned the eggs.” He opened the lid of the trash can.

“Wait!” Vivian said, horrified. She grabbed the panhandle out of his hand and tipped it onto a dish.

“I can make more,” Xavier protested. “You don’t have to eat spoiled food.”

“Spoiled? This isn’t even close,” Vivian said around a mouthful of charred eggs. “How’s Delilah?”

“Fine.” Ivey pulled a formal crimson dress out of her pack and laid it out on the back of the sofa. “Our doctor says she needs rest and fluids. Caspian is with her at the moment, but he plans to join you at the Council chamber. And you? Are you feeling ready, Vivian?”

Instead of answering such an impossible question, Vivian asked, “Has the media noticed our return?”

Ivey shook her head. “Not that I’ve seen.”

Vivian rose, carrying the plate of eggs, and switched on the wall-mounted screen in August’s living room.