Page 18 of Star Claimed Omega
She straightened, her heart slamming against her ribs.
‘I’m sorry, I intruded on you.’
He pushed off the doorway and moved into the lounge area, his walk a slow, panther-like prowl.
His energy evoked a profound nervousness within her.
His voice reverted to a velvet-smoke sound.
‘You’re not. I requested Wren assign you here,’ he said, his hands in his pockets. ‘After what you achieved with the beachshowers, before you raced off, I decided my place could use the same thoroughness.’
Her pulse accelerated.
‘Oh. Right. Sure.’
Smooth. Real smooth,she thought.Astra will have a field day with my sheer awkwardness.
He gestured at the lakeside sliding doors.
‘I’ll be out on the terrace while you work. You’ll scarcely notice my presence.’
Relief and an instinctual pull toward him tangled in her chest.
‘That’s acceptable. That’s good. I meant to say, I have cleaned around worse.’
His brow arched.
‘I’ll try not to take that to heart.’
Soleil flushed, her face heating up.
‘Nada! I intended to say, you are neat.’
His brow rose. ‘Surprised much?’
‘Life’s full of surprises, not all good. I roll with whatever my gig brings me.’
He chuckled, the rich, timbered resonance reverberating through her.
‘Savvy as well as a badass cleaner. I like it.’
With that, he swiveled and prowled out through the glass door, leaving it semi-open.
Soleil stared at his delicious ass and let out a slow, deliberate exhale to calm her nerves, fighting the urge to fan her face.
The gentle rhythm of the lake lapping the shore filled the quiet space.
She moved to the kitchenette, where she occupied herself stacking the dishes with more intensity than necessary.
She let the sink brim with hot water, the suds blooming like white bubble clouds, and set to work: rinsing, scrubbing, and drying.
She wiped down the counter with rhythmic strokes, cleared crumbs from the edges, then knelt to clean the baseboards.
Anything to keep her hands engaged, to stop her thoughts from spiraling out of control.
She was halfway through disinfecting the stove knobs when soft footfalls behind her caused her to freeze.
Santi strolled back into the kitchen with unhurried grace.
