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“Evelyn, they’ll train you. You’ll learn—”
“Lucian, no. I’m not taking it.”
“You’re being stubborn. You’re exhausted from cleaning all day—”
“I’m exhausted from thinking up things to do all day. I only had four rooms to do. Do you know how slow my day moves when I have nothing on my schedule? You need to tell Tamara to give me my old assignments back.”
Rather than argue, he softly ran the pad of his thumb under her eye. “You look wiped. Did you sleep well last night?”
Scout wasn’t used to him being so attentive to her comforts. “I’m just hungry.”
“What did you eat for breakfast?”
“Nothing.”
He scowled. “Did you have lunch?”
“I haven’t eaten since I was at the shelter.”
“That was twenty hours ago, Evelyn! You need to eat.”
“That’d be great, Lucian, but there isn’t always food.”
He stood and picked up the phone. His finger punched down on a number. “That’s bullshit and you know it. I told you I’ve arranged for you to have a credit here at the hotel. If you’re hungry there’s no excuse for you to starve. Yes, this is Lucian Patras. Send up some toast, eggs, and fresh honeydew wrapped in prosciutto. I’d also like a basket of nonperishables brought to my room every few days as well. Thank you.”
He hung up the phone. “Why didn’t you say something?”
Her shoulders shrugged. Scout was used to taking care of herself. She was responsible for herself. It didn’t feel right going to someone else about her needs despite all her soul-searching thoughts and acceptances of her relationship with Lucian.
Scout changed the subject. “How was your business brunch?”
“Good.” His gaze was unfocused for a moment. He seemed distracted as he smiled. “It was really good.”
Lucian had all of her belongings brought up to his suite and moved to the guest room closet while they had both been gone. When she went to change and didn’t come right back, he found her frowning at the closet.
“What’s wrong?”
“All I have to wear are gowns and fancy clothes. It’s weird dressing up just to sit around.”
He left and returned a minute later with a button-down shirt. “Here, wear this.”
She changed into his shirt and dug out a pair of thick wool socks from her bag. The shirt swallowed her, coming to her knees. Rolling the sleeves back several times, she sighed. When she came back into the common area the food had arrived.
“Aren’t you eating?”
“I’m still full from brunch.”
Scout picked at the toast and the fluffy eggs. Her stomach was hollow so everything she put in it landed in a way that made her painfully aware of its emptiness. When she couldn’t stomach any more, she put her fork down. Lucian was sitting on the edge of the sofa, reading over some papers.
He looked at her plate. “You didn’t eat enough.”
“I can’t stomach any more right now.”
He frowned and pulled her to his side. His hand glided over her back and slowly undid her bun. As he read his paperwork, his fingers unconsciously stroked her hair. She sunk into his side, her head slowly lowering and her lashes growing very heavy. Drifting off, he continued to hold her, as if her presence brought him as much comfort as his brought her.
Chapter 20
Cold
The shrill ring of the phone awoke Scout from her nap. Lucian’s hand rested over her hip and her head was using his thigh as a pillow.
“Patras,” he said quietly, answering the phone.
Scout remained quiet and listened as the room came into focus.
He sighed. “Who is it? And what did he say?” He was quiet a moment. “She’s resting.” The sound of papers being rustled and placed aside was followed by a sigh. “Put him at my table at the restaurant. On my tab. We’ll be down shortly.”
The call ended and he brushed her hair away from her face. “Evelyn, we have to go somewhere.”
Scout slowly sat up and swept her hair out of her eyes. “Okay. What should I wear?”
“Just something casual. Can you be ready soon?”
In the guest room she selected a pair of slim boot-cut corduroys, a brown camisole, and a tweed burgundy jacket. After slipping on a pair of beige death heels, she shrugged on her coat.
Lucian came into the room, dressed in a power suit and looking fiercely intimidating. She took in his outfit.
“You said casual.”
“This is as casual as I get for things like this. You won’t need your coat. We aren’t leaving the hotel.”
They took the elevator down to the lobby and Lucian kept his hand at her back as they walked toward Vogue, the hotel bar and restaurant. A hostess greeted them and announced that Lucian’s party was waiting.
They followed the hostess’s serpentine route and arrived at a secluded back corner of the restaurant reserved for private affairs.
Scout gasped, “Parker!”
Parker stood against the wall in his scarf and tattered sweater, looking like a rakish model. His soft jade eyes appeared worried and relief was clear on his face the moment he spotted them. He narrowed his eyes at Lucian, and Lucian’s protective hand at her back slid to her hip possessively.
