Page 33 of Halstead House

“Yes.” He walked a few steps down and turned to face me at eye level. “Did I see you out here with Jonathan?”

“Yes.”

“Marshall’s worried that Jonathan is bothering you.”

I was more than a little caught off guard that Marshall would have taken it to Lucas. It was both sweet and a little overbearing for him to have complained to the boss rather than talking with me. In my real life, my mother was constantly overbearing, and Marshall’s tattling—as I saw it in that moment—sparked annoyance in the pit of my stomach.

I’d been working so hard to choose my own way these past weeks. Add to that the fact that Marshall took it to the one person on the property who I wouldn’t have wanted him to talk to, well, to be totally honest here, it rubbed. I was not happy. Fortunately, I had a lot of experience in looking serene when I was angry inside.

I took a slow, quiet, deep breath, not wanting Lucas to see any of the thoughts that were racing through my mind. It took a moment to quell the frustration, even though I knew Marshall had good intentions. Ana had warned me to be cautious too, after all.

“It’s kind of Marshall to worry,” I said at last. “But I’m fine.”

“I assume Jonathan asked you out?” His voice was flat and I nodded. “Not surprising.” My jaw tensed. There was history behind that remark, and I wasn’t privy to any of it. “Did you agree to go?”

I debated how to respond. Cowardice and bravery warred within. “Since it would be during my private time, I’m not sure that’s any of your business,” I replied at last. One point for bravery. Ignoring the shaking knees and the fact that I’d had to look away from him as I said it.

“So that’s a yes.”

A blush warmed the tips of my cheekbones as I fought to keep my face passive. I was really not liking this moment. “Actually, it’s a no.”

“Really?”

I couldn’t read his tone, and I certainly wasn’t going to look at him, as I’d inadvertently just humiliated myself. I shook my head and closed my eyes. “Can we be done talking about this now?”

“I’m just surprised.” His voice shifted into a less abrasive tone.

“Why?” I scoffed.

He didn’t answer right away, although I could feel his eyes on me. Finally he said, “You seemed to enjoy talking to him.”

How would he know that? I glanced up at him. “Were you spying on us just now?”

“I wouldn’t call it spying so much as looking out the front window to see if my ride was here and accidentally watching you and Jonathan talk.”

Oh. I cleared my throat. I stood and gestured down to my pants. “I think I have these ridiculously tight jeans to thank for any interest. Ana will be thrilled.”

Lucas actually chuckled. It was the first time I’d heard that sound out of him, and it caused a swell of tingles to rise from my stomach into that fluttery spot in my chest. I chided myself immediately. Enough of that. If I allowed myself to think of Lucas romantically, well, it would make my whole experience on the island a miserable one, and I hadn’t come here for misery.

Two staccato beeps from a sports car pulling up in front of the house was a welcome distraction. His ride was here. I watched as a woman stepped out of the driver’s door and waved to Lucas. She was dressed as formally as Lucas, and her evening gown sparkled in the last rays of the sun. He waved back and she didn’t make an effort to come any closer, waiting next to the car instead.

“Good luck with wherever you’re off to tonight.” I turned to go inside.

“Grace?” he called. I looked back over my shoulder to see he hadn’t moved. “If it changes, with Jonathan, from fun and flirting to being bothered, let me know. Okay?”

I shrugged, which was becoming one of my new favorite gestures. It may have something to do with the fact that Mother abhorred shrugging. “It’s no big deal. I’m not sure that I’ll ever see him again anyhow.”

“Okay, but, I’d like to know if there’s ever a problem,” he reiterated.

My features relaxed and I offered him a small smile. With a final nod in my direction he walked down the steps toward the glittering woman waiting for him. I made my way inside with a truckload of thoughts bouncing around.

I understood that as my employer and host he was trying to look out for me, but something about the way he’d said it didn’t totally sound like it was only because I was an employee of the family. This feeling of being looked after was different somehow. Instead of bristling and making decrees, like Mother always did, he’d simply asked if I was okay and made it clear that should I need him, he’d be there.

The night was so beautiful that I decided to go to the garden fountain and sit for a moment. I wasn’t quite ready for bed, and there was more over-analyzing to be done about Jonathan and Lucas. I sat down and listened to the fountain water against the back drop of the ocean waves nearby. It was soothing. I methodically relaxed every major muscle group in my body as I reviewed the day and its conversations. From what I could tell Jonathan seemed nice enough. It warmed me to think that he wanted to see me again. It warmed me even more that Lucas wanted to make sure I was okay. Which was silly, because I couldn’t decide if Lucas thought of me as a pest or a person.

The sudden vibration of my phone jarred me out of my head space. I’d turned off the ringer while we were all working, and now I fumbled around in my pocket trying to locate it. I answered without checking, afraid to miss the call. What if Jonathan had gotten my number from someone else and was going to ask again? I was willing to be chased a little, I thought, maybe.

“Grace.” Mother’s husky voice came at me like a wave crashing against the side of my head.

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