His eyes narrow. “More?”
“Jay wants me to spend Christmas at Heatherfell.”
“Heatherfell? Your family estate?”
“Yeah. That’s the deal if I want to stay here. Next month I have to show up and play happy families.”
“And how do you feel about that?”
“Scared. But maybe it’s my shot at making things right with Effy. It’s time.”
I look down, the cutlery looking fucking interesting all of a sudden. I line up the spoon and fork until they’re perfectly straight.
“Hey, Sapphire, look at me.”
I do. His warm brown eyes are there waiting for me.
“I think you’re fucking amazing. Easily the strongest person I’ve ever met.”
How does he do that? Somehow he always finds his way into the cage inside my chest where pain and fear rattle the bars. And in there, he touches every nerve, tells me it’s safe to break it open with him.
“I’m not perfect,” I mumble. I don’t even know why I say it, it’s not even relevant.
Yosh chuckles and it lightens the heavy mood.
“God no, McKenna. You’re a pain in the ass.” His lips twitch. “But at least you’re my pain in the ass.”
My lips part to fire back the obvious, but he points a warning finger at me.
“Don’t say it.”
I laugh, and instead of words, I shoot him a look that says everything I’m not supposed to say.
A polite voice interrupts. “Are you two ready to order?”
The leather-bound menu is still unopened in front of me. Shit. I was so wrapped up in us I completely forgot about food.
Yosh smoothly hands his menu back. “I’ll take the catch of the day, please. With jasmine rice as a side?”
“Of course,” she says, fingers swiping over the tablet in her hands.
I scan the menu fast. “For me, the saffron and fennel risotto, please.”
She smiles politely and walks off.
“Catch of the day, excellent choice,” I say with a smirk. “Almost went for that myself, but why bother? I’m already having it for dessert.”
Yosh lowers his lashes.
“I think we’re officially at that stage where we shouldn’t be apart for more than 24 hours or we turn into two horny rabbits who don’t know how to behave.”
“Yeah, I was trying to do something romantic and all that shit. Bad idea, obviously.”
He gives me a soft, wicked smile. “You did perfect, my Sapphire.”
As he speaks, I feel the subtle pressure of his knees coaxing my legs apart. His foot slides slowly up my inner thigh, as far as he can reach.
It’s driving me nuts.
