She smiles up at me and holds her hand out.
I take it in mine and sit down beside her; her eyelids are heavy and she battles to keep them open. I brush the hair back from her forehead as I look down at her.
Her blonde hair is splayed across her pillow and her big lips are a pouty rose color. Her dark lashes flutter as she tries to keep her eyes open.
She really is quite . . .
I look up at her room, painted cream with a large white timber bed. There is a bookshelf and a dressing table, makeup in baskets, and photo frames; it feels very lived in. Fairy lights are strewn around the ceiling and a large reading chair with an ottoman is in the corner. Looks like a dorm room I would have visited back in the day.
My gaze comes back to Kate and she’s sleeping soundly, her hand still holding mine.
I find myself smiling as I watch her. What do I do now? I mean, I can’t just leave her here alone. What if something happened?
That would be negligent.
I guess I’ll have to wait.
An hour later, I need to go to the bathroom but Kate is still firmly holding my hand. I move it a little and she frowns and grips me tighter. “Don’t,” she murmurs sleepily.
“I’m coming straight back,” I whisper.
“I said no.”
Demanding witch. I’m starving fucking hungry and about to piss myself.
Well, tough shit.
I get up and walk into her en-suite bathroom and look around; it’s small.
A basket with dirty clothes; pink towels and a matching bath mat. I go to the bathroom and wash my hands and then walk back out into her room. I walk over to her bookshelf and look at all the photos in the frames-one of an older couple, and one of her at a young age with them, they must be her parents. A photo of a dog, a black-and-white border collie. A photo of her and a man who looks around her age, taken a few years ago. I wonder, was this a boyfriend?
She said she didn’t have a boyfriend.
I keep looking through her belongings-a few crystals strategically placed.
Don’t tell me she’s one of those nut jobs who believe in crystal healing.
Hmm.
It’s very eclectic in here. So unlike my perfectly styled penthouse.
I look along the spines of the books-what does she read?
Ugh, romance reader.
I would never have guessed that one.
There’s a small crystal dish and an array of gold jewelry. I smile as I pick up one of her rings and put it on the end of my pinkie finger.
Tiny hands.
I take it off and put it back and keep looking through her photos. It’s like show-and-tell and I’m learning all about her.
And surprisingly, not a cauldron in sight.
I retrieve her phone from her handbag and go back and sit down beside her, and she rolls toward me and puts her hand over my thighs.
My stomach flutters.
Stop it.
I really should be going, I’ve been here for hours. Where the fuck is that stupid Daniel and his sickly white teeth now?
“Kate.” I wake her. “Kate.” I hold her phone in front of her. “Unlock your phone for me, I’m going to call someone.”
She frowns and nestles closer into my thigh, and I run my fingers through her hair. We sit like this for a while and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t like it.
But I’m hungry; it’s now nearly 10 p. m.
“Kate.” I hold the phone up to her face. “Unlock your phone, please.”
“Hmm.”
“Kate.”
She fumbles around with it with her eyes still closed and passes it back to me.
She nestles back into my thigh and I watch her for a moment.
Okay, I’ll admit it.
I like her.
Not like her, like her, I just don’t hate her like I thought I did.
I go through the list of contacts as I look for the name Daniel.
Hmm, no Daniel.
I don’t know his last name . . . fuck.
That guy is fucking useless on all fronts.
Another hour later.
Maybe I’ll just go downstairs and get something to eat? Then maybe . . . I’ll just sleep here with her?
I mean, I can’t leave her alone.
Yeah, I’ll do that.
The bedroom door opens and I look up, startled. It’s Daniel.
Kate is fast asleep and her hand is in mine.
He frowns when he sees me and looks between Kate and I.
“She’s out cold,” I offer as an explanation.
“Umm . . . What’s going on?” he asks as he walks into the bedroom.
“She had a reaction to some medication and was groggy. I found her passed out in the office and brought her home.”
His eyes widen. “We need to take her to the hospital.”
“I already called emergency services, and she’s okay. Just sleepy, I’ve checked already. She’s conscious, just sleeping.”
He stares at her. “Wow.”
I stand. “I’ll go now that you’re here.”
He sits on the side of the bed beside her. “Baby?” he says. “Are you okay?”
An unfamiliar feeling swirls in my stomach as I watch him with her.
Don’t call her baby.
I clench my jaw as I move toward the door. “I’ll leave you to it.”
Daniel stands and shakes my hand. “Thank you so much, I really appreciate you caring for her. I’ll take it from here.”
I stare at him; okay, I don’t like this guy.
He’s too . . . familiar.
“I’m not sure if I should leave her with you?” I say.
His face falls. “Why not?”
“I mean, how do I know you aren’t going to take advantage of her.”
“Because I’m her friend . . . and I live with her.”
I straighten my tie as I go over my options. “Hmm.” I rearrange my cufflinks.
“Look Mr.-” he says.
“Elliot Miles,” I interrupt him.
He gives me a stifled smile. “Mr. Miles, thank you for looking after her, but I’m home now. I appreciate all you’ve done.”
“Fine.” I take one last look around the room. “I’ll be in touch.”
I head toward the door and then stop and take the gold business card case from my pocket, handing over my card. “Call me if something is wrong or if anything changes.”
He frowns as he takes the card from me. “Okay, I will.”
“Goodnight.”
I march down the stairs and out the front door, walk over to my Bentley, and get into the backseat.
“Where to, boss?” Andrew asks as we pull out into the traffic.
“Anywhere with food.”