Page 48 of Right With You
“I figured since Aurelie isn’t here tonight I’d sleep on the couch. That way, I won’t wake you when I go.” Why did a dull ache begin as I said that?
“Oh, okay. Are you sure? I could take the couch. You should get some good rest since you’re working such a long day.” She instantly started moving, gathering her things.
“No, no. It’ll be fine. I’ll be in here tomorrow.” I swallowed hard, the thought of climbing into bed next to her a temptation and fantasy wrapped in one.
“Right,” she said, gaze glued to her ereader.
“I can take the floor, Elise. I don’t want you to feel uncomfortable. None of this matters that much.”
Her head snapped up and her throat worked. “I’ll be fine. I’m surprised to say it, but I’m fine.”
“I don’t want you to dread going to sleep these next few nights,” I said, wanting to get this resolved now so we wouldn’t have to deal with it when we had an audience in the bedroom next door.
Finally, she looked at me. The fire in her eyes when she let me see it stole my breath, as did her words when she said, “I promise you I won’t dread it.”
Unable to find the right response, I simply nodded and left with a quick goodnight. Once settled in on the couch, I realized a stark reality.
The woman had taken over my life. Yes, I’d created this situation, but thoughts of her—how she was feeling about things, how her business was going, if her ex had showed his face again, what she thought about me—had taken over.
And now she was in my house. We’d had dinner together, laughed together. I’d shared what few people knew about my work with her.
It didn’t matter where I spent the night. I wouldn’t be sleeping much at all.
* * *
The day with Jenna had been a good one. She seemed lighter on this visit than she had in the fall. Since Beast and Pop had taken down a famous producer who’d harassed and assaulted a bunch of women including her, I wondered if knowing that man was behind bars had given her some peace. He wasn’t the only person who’d caused her pain, but I liked knowing at least one less person who’d hurt her was out there.
The day flew, and before I knew it, I was off shift. Thanks to her generous offer, I changed in one of the spare rooms in Jenna’s suite, and right on time, was walking down to the lounge to meet Elise.
A woman hustled in the door, her dark waves rustling around her face and shoulders as she waved at someone behind the lobby Reception desk, then fiddled with a small purse before finally looking up to see me.
“Hello, fiancée,” I said, voice a little rough at the sight of all that beauty and energy coming at me.
Her face burst into a grin. “Hello to you.” Then she reached out and wrapped an arm around my shoulders, hugging me close.
I drew her in, relishing the heat of her body where my hand pressed in at her lower back and the other on the smooth skin of her upper arm. Tonight, she wore a black cocktail dress with short sleeves and a fitted bodice that tucked in at her waist, then flared out and landed just above the knees. Demure and stylish. Understated.
Mouthwatering.
“You are incredibly beautiful,” I said, my lips brushing against the shell of her ear.
“Thank you. You cleaned up nicely,” she returned, the apple of her cheek grazing my jaw.
After another moment of connection, we pulled away. Maybe I’d imagined it, but I could’ve sworn there was as much reluctance in her movements as there was in mine.
She glanced toward the doors of the lounge where we’d be meeting my family and shifted on her feet. I’d avoided any anxiety over the evening until right this moment when I saw her nerves creeping in.
That’s when I slipped the small item from its box in my jacket pocket.
“I have a little something for you,” I said quietly, taking her left hand in mine and sliding the ring onto her finger. I should’ve gotten it before the first dinner, but if the question came up, I could say it was being resized at the time.
She searched my face, then looked down to see me settling the ring into place, and her mouth fell open.
“That is… that’s too much, Luc. I can’t wear this.” Her eyes grew wide, and she was just staring at it like she’d never seen anything more impressive.
Honestly, it was a beautiful ring. Perhaps a bit ostentatious in that it was a three-carat round-cut diamond with smaller rose diamonds surrounding it. It was as much like a donut as I could get, and it reminded me of her.
“You can wear it. I bought it for you.”
