Page 236 of Hide and Keep

“Clafoutis tart.”

“What’s that?”

“A French dish with pitted black cherries baked in a vanilla shortbread, served with a delightful sugarplum crème fraîche.”

Rich people food. Why couldn’t it be a chocolate chip cookie? Something I can get from the grocery store?

“I can take it for you and give it to her in the morning when I see her.”

“Oh…” He half turns his body away from me like he’s searching for something. “I don’t have it on me…um…right now.I was just going to see if Miss Munreaux would be interested in one.”

At whatever the fuck time it is? I don’t even know what time it is but it doesn’t take a genius to know it’s not indulge o’clock.

“You can ask her about it tomorrow.”

His head dips. “Of course. Yes. Good. Again, I apologize for waking you. There was no…harm.”

No harm?

I watch the chef disappear down the hall. It’s at the last second before he turns the corner, catching sight of his diamond-encrusted watch, that I remember where I saw him.

I have to work to close my door softly. When I finally spin to face my room, Ever’s not where I left her. She’s not even in bed. She’s next to it, lingering by the headboard with a stricken expression on her face.

“What are you doing?” I demand.

“I don’t know. I just…nothing.” She sits on the mattress, one leg folded under her. “I thought I might have to hide.”

Guilt is practically rolling off her, so I try the arm thing on her, too.

“Did you fuck Chef Ryan?”

She dramatically rolls her eyes in plain sight, clearly not as affected by the pose as Ryan was.

“Did you?” I repeat.

“Are you shitting me right now?”

I drop my arms. “I saw him.”

“It would be worrisome if you didn’t. He serves you meals every day, as well as lives in the same house as you.”

“In the pool house.”

She frowns. “When?”

“My first day here. I knew you weren’t alone.” I point at her. “I knew you were a—”

“Watch what you say to me, Crue.”

“Or what? Huh? You gonna go back to your room and wait for the chef to sneak in again?”

Now she’s standing again, except not on the floor but on the bed. “What the hell are you talking about?”

I hold up my phone. “I’ve already caught his ass trying to get in there twice.”

His excuses were bullshit both times. I should’ve known. I should’ve fucking known.

Like she’s in a daze, Ever crumples to the mattress, her gaze on the ruffled sheets.

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