Page 48 of Love in Bloom

His heart raced. “Why am I on the bed? What happened last night?”

She raised a brow and trailed a finger up his bicep. “What do you think happened?”

He buried his face in his hands. “I told you Camille we shouldn’t do that. We couldn’t do that. Why did you let me take advantage of you?”

She gripped his bicep. “How do you know I didn’t take advantage of you?”

“What?” Startled, he looked at her.

She scooted up to a sitting position and placed her hands in her lap. “Tristan, nothing happened between us last night. You had a nightmare on a scale I hadn’t seen from you yet. I managed to get you onto the bed and spent most of the night calming and soothing you. Other than the good morning kiss, which I think I earned, nothing else happened between us. As you can see, you slept above the covers, while I slept beneath. You are still wearing your pajamas as am I. Does that reassure you?”

The hurt in her tone didn’t go unnoticed by Tristan. “I’m sorry I woke you. I’m sorry I put you through that. Thank you for helping me. Perhaps it would be best if I got my own room for the rest of the tour.”

Camille brought her knees up to her chin. “And how would that look to the other couples and Lisette? We had to pretend to be married to be here. Don’t you think separate rooms would draw suspicion?”

“It would look like our first fight.”

She raised a brow. “On our honeymoon?”

“No one said marriage was easy. With all the couples being older, they’d probably understand. I’m sure they’ve all spent nights apart when they fought.” I know I did. He gulped. He’d almost said that aloud. He didn’t want Camille to know about his horrible marriage. What he’d shared with her already was bad enough. He still didn’t know how she could look at him the way she did when all he saw in the mirror was an unlovable beast who didn’t deserve happiness.

“My parents have never spent the night apart due to anger. Only when Dad had to travel for work. What about your parents?” she asked.

Tristan thought over his parents’ marriage. For the most part, they’d been happy together. There was an occasional spat thrown in, but his parents respected each other even when they disagreed. Their arguments had never lasted long, and they’d always seemed closer afterward. Perhaps because it enlarged their understanding of one another, drawing them closer together.

“Same,” he agreed.

Camille left her spot against the headboard and brushed the hair out of his eyes. “I think we can work through this.”

Against his better judgment, he leaned in to her hand, which rested on his cheek, drawing strength.

“Please don’t switch to another room,” she said. “I can deal with the sleep deprivation. Goodness knows I do it all the time when I’m researching.”

He took her hand in his. “Which is what landed you on your vacation in the first place. I don’t want to be the reason for another collapse.”

“First of all, besides not sleeping, I wasn’t eating or exercising. I wasn’t going outdoors. I’m doing all those things here. Maybe my stress level is higher than my doctor might like, but doing meditation with you has helped keep my blood pressure down. I’m eating sensibly and walking through the gardens daily, breathing fresh air. I think my doctor will be pleased with my blood work when I return. Once I’m given the all clear, Connor will let me return to work.”

“And then the cycle will start all over again.” He frowned. If she went back to her old ways in London, she could die. “You need someone there to take care of you.” With his thumb, he traced circles on the back of her hand.

“Are you volunteering?”

Tristan stilled. Was he?

“Because I was thinking of getting a cat,” she said. “I figured if I had a living creature who loved me and depended on me at home, I’d be better about leaving work on time and not shirking my responsibilities. But I’d much prefer you to a cat.”

The idea was tempting. He could picture it. Arriving home to their flat each night, having dinner together, sharing about their day and showering one another with love unbounded. It would be paradise.

“Perhaps we should table the discussion about the future for another time. We need to get ready,” he said.

She frowned and crossed her arms over her chest. “You’re avoiding the subject.”

“Postponing,” he hedged.

She exhaled. “Fine, but we will need to talk about it in three days. Promise?”

“Promise. Can you promise not to kiss me anymore?”

“No.” She smirked. “I intend to enjoy my last days with my husband to the utmost and to be a most dutiful wife. Besides I like kissing you. Don’t you like kissing me? Of course you do.”

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