Page 38 of The Heiress
“Study,” I said, sitting myself up from the sprawled prone position I’d been in. It hadn’t exactly been conducive to studying and I was making hard work of my essay on analyzing the motivation of the central character. I mean, what did it matter? It was a fictional character, not a real person!
Laura smiled. “I have to go out tonight, so I’ll get Phoenix to order some food in. Is that okay?”
“Oh sure, ah, you don’t have to worry about me,” I said. “I’ll be fine.”
“Of course I do,” Laura said, coming over to sit on the edge of the bed. I gathered up the notepad and open book that I was working from. “Phoenix is still asleep. I think he may have overdone it,” she said softly. “I think he pushed too far.”
“He was up early and he hit a lot of balls,” I said, feeling like she needed reassurance that her concern was real.
“I know, and I can’t shake how upset he was when he came back from his father’s,” Laura said, her eyes glancing down at my laptop screen.
“Have you talked to his father?” I said, concerned even though it was none of my business.
But Laura didn’t seem to mind my overt inquisitiveness. “We avoid speaking to each other,” she said, releasing a strained breath, her glistening eyes showing it was something she was sad about.
“Oh,” I said, not knowing anything about parents separating or divorcing—only about being abandoned by them.
“But that’s not for you to worry about,” Laura said, reaching out to pat my hand.
It was quite spontaneous, my reaction, but I wrapped my arms around her, like I was hugging my own mother. Laura smelled like her, all warm and perfume-y, and I breathed it in. Yes, I was being stubborn not turning on my phone, but I had to stick to my guns. Why, I wasn’t sure, but I intended not to falter or fail.
Laura’s arms tightened around me, two unlikely people in an embrace. A day ago I’d feared staying with strangers, but for all its muted colors and minimalistic decor, Phoenix Carter’s house felt like home.
I walked downstairs with Laura when she was ready to leave, no progress being made on my assignment. She was dressed in a sparkly sequinned dress, covered with a woolen coat.
“I shouldn’t be late,” she said with a wink, “just schmoozing with clients. I’d much rather be curled up on the couch!”
“Did Phoenix wake up yet?” I asked, noticing that his door was closed.
“Yep, he’s alive and kicking!” Laura joked. “See if you can persuade him to go in the plunge pool. That will help his muscles.”
What plunge pool?I was on the verge of saying, but she patted my shoulder before heading off.
Uncertain what my next move should be, I went into the kitchen and poured myself a glass of water from the fridge. Should I sit at the breakfast bar, watch television in the living room, go back to my room? Knock on Phoenix’s door?
I was overthinking it. Heck, I’d traveled the world, mingled with the wealthy and elite but walking across the room to knock on a door scared me to pieces. Because it’s not like Phoenix was a monster or an ogre—no, if anything, that was me.
My rapping was a weak three taps, my breathing stalled so I didn’t miss hearing his reply. That’s if he did reply. Maybe he hadn’t heard me, maybe he was in the bathroom, maybe his music was too loud. Maybe I’d just slink away and pretend it hadn’t happened.
Without warning, the door latch clicked, and Phoenix stood there in black track pants and a black and red plaid shirt unbuttoned over a black t-shirt. Startled, I stepped back.
A second of silence was followed by another as I was momentarily lost in the curiosity of his eyes.
“Hey.” My whisper was immediately followed by a cough as I forgot how to breathe. I turned my head and covered my mouth and mumbled, “Ah, sorry.”
When he didn’t respond, I was forced to keep going. “Uh, um, your mom just left so I wondered if you—”
Wondered if you wanted to kiss me.
The totally random and unexpected thought popped into my head as I stared into his eyes, reflecting all shades of brown, warm and deep and bright—causing me to giggle at the absurdity of it. Phoenix squinted and frowned at me like I was a mad person.
“Sorry,” I said again, sucking down on my lower lip to stop the ridiculous expression on my face. “Um, I wondered—” I broke off, my mind devoid of—well, devoid; a void. I’d lost all acuity of thought. I was a vessel of emptiness.
“Wondered?” Phoenix queried, his head tilting so that a strand of hair flopped down on his forehead. I had a bizarre urge to brush it back for him.
I averted my eyes, well aware that I had fallen under some spell and was in the throes of making a fool of myself.
“Uh, um...” I had to redeem myself in a hurry, “did you want to go in the plunge pool?” I thanked my brain for resetting itself. “Your mom said you should go in the plunge pool.”
