I look back down to where my hands are tracing up the strong column of his neck to his jaw. He groans a sound in his throat and then closes his eyes.
My thumbs go up and down the lines of his jaw, while the rest of my fingers rub the underside of his ears. For the grand finish, I work my fingers into his hair.
He sighs and turns into my touch. My lips curve with a small smile, and I run my fingers through his hair, tracing different patterns to give him comfort.
Slowly, his breathing turns heavier, and his eyelids stop fluttering. I press a kiss on his cheek and he doesn’t react.
Even though there’s nowhere I’d rather be right now, I need to work tomorrow. I withdraw and pinch the edges of the covers at the bottom of the bed and drag them up.
He turns over, facing the ceiling once again. I’m careful not to stir him too much so his sleep is not disturbed.
I’m tucking the sheets around his chest when my fingers graze his skin. He makes a sound in his throat and grabs my hand. It’s a firm hold. I frown at the spot.
But then with my left hand, I work my fingers into his hair, then press a kiss to his forehead.
His hold relaxes but he doesn’t let go. “Don’t leave.”
My brows furrow. He’s asleep, right?
He places my hand flat on his chest and I feel the thump of his heartbeat.
“Don’t leave,” he says again.
A blush heats my cheeks. I stay that way with my hand on his chest. A smile plays on my lips. I planned to call Ralph and have him take me back to the villa, but right now, what’s the harm in staying? Chance asked me to.
“Mom.”
My brows go up.What?
“Mom,” he says again. “Don’t leave me.”
I withdraw my hand and fold it in my lap, watching his features. That isn’t about me spending the night. It’s about his mom.
But why? I remember the awkwardness around the subject of his mom that night. There must be something there. I need to find out and lay this curiosity to rest. Once and for all.
Julia is jolly at her desk the next day. She has earphones plugged in and she’s moving from side to side.
I pull one of the earphones and she turns around with an affronted look. It quickly changes to a smile as she sees it’s me.
“Hey, you. What’s up?”
“Do you know where I can find Baxter?” I look around the office. He’s like a mirage—everywhere and nowhere. I only run into him randomly and have never heard anyone mention an office attached to his name.
“Oh, he’ll be with the clients in the game room.”
“What?” My brows go up. “There’s a game room.”
“Mm-hmm.” She nods, then shuts her eyes and dances in her seat. Probably lost in her song again.
“I’ll leave you to that.” I start to walk away.
She gives me a thumbs up and yells the direction of the game room.
I don’t believe it until I find the door labeled ‘Game Room.’
The hell? We didn’t have a game room where I worked back home.
What’s the protocol?
