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He looked scared as he stood there with the lapels of the rope clenched so tight his knuckles had gone white.
“Emilio, I’m here to take care of you. I won’t hurt you.”
He shook his head “No. I mean, I know you won’t. I’m just nervous when I’m around people, and—”
“You don’t have to talk if you don’t want to. I just want you to eat, and I want to know you’re safe.”
“Do you think someone would come for us here?”
“I hope not, but I don’t know. That’s why I’m being cautious.”
“Okay. You can go on, and I’ll join you.”
“You remember the way, right?”
“Of course. I’ve seen the plans for the house and the whole island, remember?”
“You remember your way around just from seeing that once?”
“I… um… I have a really good visual memory, so… yeah.”
He was so incredible. “All right. I’ll see you in a few minutes.”
“Right. Just a few minutes.”
I was about to check on him again when he stepped through the French doors of the atrium and walked across the pool deck toward me, glancing warily at the water.
“Can you swim?” I asked as he settled into a chair.
“Yes. I learned how as a kid. My parents had me take lessons, but then they died, and… I didn’t have much opportunity for swimming after that.”
“I’m so sorry.”
He shook his head. “It was a long time ago. If I fell into the pool, I know I could get to the side, so you don’t have to worry about me.”
“Good. If you weren’t comfortable around water, I was going to offer to teach you.”
Color infused his cheeks. He’d reacted the same way when I’d been unable to keep myself from flirting with him the night before.
His interest in me didn’t matter, though. I wasn’t going to pursue him.
“Is that a cat?” he asked, gesturing to the animal sleeping in the shadows by the fence.
“Yes, one of the many who came with the island.”
“I remembered there were a lot here, but I wasn’t sure if you decided to keep them.”
“I had them all taken to the vet and spayed or neutered and some were given away to people the Marchesis know on St. Croix, but there are six still here.”
Emilio put pancakes on his plate, slathered them with butter and syrup and smiled, obviously excited about the sweet indulgence.
No, absolutely not. I was not going to take this any further.
8
Emilio
As soon as I smelled all the delicious food Henrietta had brought us, I realized I was starving. I’d been so on edge all night I hadn’t even thought about food, so I wasn’t sure when I’d last eaten. I often went deep into my work and forgot about meals. Then I’d order enough for three and scarf it all down. I knew it wasn’t good for me, but I’d gotten away with it so far.
I had a feeling X was going to expect me to eat regular meals here and so was Henrietta. That was one thing I could probably handle, though maybe not if I had to eat all my meals with X.
As hungry as I was for food, I was even hungrier for X as he sat there casually, his splayed legs revealing his muscular thighs. I had to fight the urge to find out how far up his shorts I could see.
I moved my gaze upward to where his white shirt was undone at the neck. I could see dark chest hair in the open vee, and I wanted to run my hands through it.
I wanted so many things I couldn’t have.
To keep myself from staring at X, I put pancakes on my plate and covered them with what I knew was way more syrup than an adult should use. It was then that I realized there was an ice bucket on the table with a Monster Ultra Violet in it. “How did…?”
“I asked Henrietta to stock up when I let her know we were coming. There’s coffee too, of course, if you prefer.”
“I usually do drink coffee in the morning, but… thanks… that’s… thank you.”
His smile warmed me all over. “You’re welcome.”
I started eating, once again needing a distraction. They were the best pancakes I’d ever eaten. “Oh my God. These are amazing.”
X was staring at me, eyes dark, expression intense. I could almost make myself believe he was lusting after me, but even if he was gay—and there was absolutely no evidence that was true—why would a man who could have anyone want me?
I was just seeing what I wanted to see. I was too used to living in my own fantasy world where I was strong and powerful and could have what I wanted. It was so much easier on my own. I didn’t get disappointed nearly as much. “Maybe it would be better if I just take these to my room. I’m sure you—”
