There’s another thump, followed quickly by one more.MURDER.I am going to murder whoever that is.
Pushing her chair back, Cecilia rises to her feet and goes to investigate before I’m able to come up with something to say that will stop her.
God dammit.I scrub my hand over my face. One hour. All I asked for was one fucking hour.
She was just starting to relax. I’m damn near certain she was going to let me kiss her. And would that have been a terrible idea? Maybe. But would I have enjoyed every second of it? Hell yes, I would have. Consequences be damned.
Shoving back in my seat, I move to follow her. There’s got to be some sort of way for me to salvage this.
When I catch up, I find Cecilia standing at the bottom of the staircase, an amused grin on her face and any remnants of desire gone from her eyes. Felix is at the top, fighting with the iron banister that’s currently imprisoning his leg.
“What did you do?” I wish I was more surprised.
Felix waves me off. “All good. Nothing to see here,” he tells us. “Just slipped and well,” he chuckles. “You guys go study. I’ll be out of your hair in just a minute.” I huff out a sigh. That seems unlikely.
“Do you need any—” Cecilia begins.
“No, no. I got it.”
Obviously he doesn’t. Cecilia must agree, because after a second of consideration, she climbs up the stairs and crouches down beside him, scrutinizing his leg. “How did you get your leg through here? The slats are so skinny.”
He groans. “I know. This isn’t something I’m proud of, and this freaking thing is cutting off my circulation.” Felix kicks out with his leg, but all he manages to do is jiggle the banister.
“Can I try?” She makes a motion toward his leg, and I frown, annoyed by the very idea of her touching him.
“Uh—” Felix’s eyes flick to mine.‘I’m going to kill you.’I mouth while my eyes drill daggers into him.
His smile widens. “Yeah. Go for it.” Hopping on one leg, he does his best to angle his body out of the way enough for Cecilia to get a firm grip on his calf and pull.
“Shit,” he mutters.
“Did I hurt you?” she asks, throwing her hands in the air. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean?—”
“No. You’re good. Try again.”
“Are you sure?”
He smiles down at her. “Absolutely.” Felix reaches down for her hands and places them both on his leg. This fucker is flirting with her. You’ve got to be kidding me. As soon as she turns away, I make a slicing motion with my thumb across my throat.
Felix’s eyes dance with mischief. I swear this asshole has a death wish.
Cecilia yanks on his leg again and this time with both of them pulling, they’re able to dislodge his leg from the iron rails on the banister. Felix stumbles back into the wall before regaining his footing and as he does, two doors upstairs open and both Atticus and Deacon stick their heads out of their respective rooms.
“Everything okay down there?” Atticus asks. Green eyes scan the scene before him, and he grins. “Felix, what did you do?”
“I didn’t do anything,” he grumbles. “I was just walking up the stairs, minding my own business, when I tripped and somehow ended up with my leg stuck. I swear it’s like the railing reached out and grabbed me.” Right. He was innocently walking up thestairs. What he fails to mention is why he was downstairs to begin with.
Cecilia giggles and all four of our heads swing toward her. Her lips slam shut once she realizes she has our attention, and her cheeks heat, turning a beautiful shade of pink.
“Thankfully, this fine maiden saved me.” Felix reaches down and offers her his hand. Hesitantly, she places her hand in his and allows him to pull her to her feet. “My savior,” he croons.
Puh-leeze
“Yeah, yeah,” I mutter, stepping up beside them. “Don’t get stuck anywhere else tonight. We have a project to work on and you’re turning into a distraction.”
“Oh yeah?” he asks, like he doesn’t already know about it. What’s his angle here? “What’s the project about?”
None of his business.
