Page 21 of Kissing for Keeps
I laugh. “Your opinion of me gets more and more inspiring by the minute.”
She wheels my suitcase toward me. “Just giving you plenty of opportunity to exceed expectations. Better get unpacked before the tour.” She pulls her suitcase toward the room next to the bathroom.
“You mean before my nap?”
She turns toward me. “You’re kidding, right? If you take a nap now, you’ll be jet lagged for a week. If you can stay up until tonight, you’ll basically be back to normal by tomorrow.”
“It’s just a little cat nap.”
She grimaces. “Okay, but don’t say I didn’t warn you.” She opens the bedroom door and disappears, her voice trailing behind her as she adds, “Not exceeding any expectations so far, Just Jack.”
I chuckle and pull my suitcase through the door on my right. The bed has less of a collapse-here-with-your-shoes-on vibe and more of a this-shimmery-bedspread-was-handstitched-by-castle-servants vibe, but a bed is a bed.
It’s a little balmy, so I go to the window and turn the lever, opening it enough to let in a breeze. I kick off my shoes out of respect for the pretty bedcovers and fall on the multitude of pillows.
It’s only been ten seconds before I realize what I have to do before I take a nap. Reluctantly, I haul my body up and go in search of my phone, which I haven’t looked at in hours. It’s made its way to the bottom of my backpack, so I pull it out and hurl myself onto the bed.
Texting has never been a forte of mine, but I don’t remember it ever beingthishard. How exactly do I tell my sister I’m here? And not just here, but here with Siena? Sleeping in the same suite as her? It’s not like it’sactuallya problem, but given the rocky history between Madi and me, she’ll probably jump to all the wrong conclusions.
I write a few texts only to delete them immediately. Blowing out a breath through my lips, I run a hand through my hair, which needs to be washed. But not right now.
Maybe Ishouldhave Siena help me write this text. Or maybesheshould break the news to Madi. Madi’s much less likely to be upset with her than with me. But that’s the coward’s way out.
I sit up, trying to focus my mind just as there’s a knock on the front door. It’s probably the owners back to give Siena a tour.
Siena’s footsteps reach my ears, then the front door opens.
“Hi.” Her muffled voice is full of surprise and uncertainty.
“Bonjour, Madame,” comes the response. It’s definitely not the voice of a middle-aged man. Maybe the bellhop is back for his tip. “My name is Philippe.” His French accent is weaker than the vicomte’s and the vicomtesse’s. “I have come to take you on the tour.”
I frown and sit up again, leaving my phone on the bed and walking to the window for a glimpse of the guy. It’s not the bellhop, that’s for sure. This guy has dark hair that’s long enough in the front to brush back. He’s wearing a slim-fit gray suit with a skinny tie. He might as well have a rose in his mouth for the way he’s looking at Siena right now.
“Oh,” she says in surprise.
“My parents had to leave for an event, but I assured them I would take care of you.”
Oh, this guy is good. I can imagine just what kind oftourhe plans to take Siena on. Maybe it’s the fact that she slept on my lap for four straight hours, but I’m feeling protective. I can’t let her get drawn in by some sleek French guy with light eyes and dark hair. She’s here on business, not for romance.
I hurry to pull on my shoes, glance in the gilt mirror hanging on the wall by the window to adjust my hair, then open my bedroom door.
8
JACK
Siena’s browsgo up slightly.
“Here for the tour,” I say brightly. Philippe sizes me up in a split second, a hint of a question in his eyes. I’m pretty sure I can verbalize the precise question:Are you her boyfriend?
I’m tempted to act like it, but if I know Siena, she’ll make a fool of me the second I try anything. My foot still hurts from when I put my arm around her at the airport check-in counter.
All I really need is for Philippe to know Siena has someone watching out for her. My coming along on this tour should accomplish that well enough.
“I thought you were taking a nap,” Siena says.
“I’m not tired anymore. Plus, like you said, it’ll be better if I can hold off until tonight to sleep.”
She narrows her eyes.
