"I'll hold it, and you turn when I say," I said as I sat on the edge of my bed. "Be ready. I read fast."
"Yes, ma'am."
I frowned up at him. "No to the ma'am."
"You got it, chief," he replied.
My scowl only deepened at that.
"Darling? Sugar? Sweet cheeks?" he said.
"This is hopeless," I said. "You should just go."
"Nope, I'm committed. Plus, I want to know what happens between Eloise and the duke."
I squinted at him, studying his expression, trying to discern his true intentions.
Tolliver gestured to the book with his chin, standing in front of me like a sentinel or a servant. "Well?"
I dropped my gaze to the page in front of me. The words swam before my eyes. My ability to focus was shot. I was alltoo aware of him. There was a boy in my room. A large male presence with broad shoulders, kind eyes, and an easy smile. What was Tolliver thinking right now? Was he watching as I struggled to finish this first paragraph?
Glancing up, I discovered that yes. Yes, he was.
"Are you just going to stare at me the whole time?" I demanded.
Tolliver shrugged.
"Just"—I gestured vaguely to his person—"go on your phone or whatever."
"I'm good," he said.
"I'm sure you could find something more interesting to do. Play a game. Check your email. Text a friend and tell them how lame this is."
Tolliver's lips tipped up. "I don't think it's lame."
He gestured with his chin to my dresser. "I see you kept the flowers. They look good in here."
"Yeah, I almost threw them out but didn't have the heart."
False.
I loved flowers. It was the first time anyone besides my family got them for me. The yellow and blue blossoms really brightened the room. There was no way I'd trash them.
But Tolliver didn't need to know that.
"You're really not leaving?"
"Nope," he said.
"Fine." My brows scrunched as I attempted to dive back into the story, but... Sighing, I said, "I can't do this with you standing there."
"Why not?" he asked.
"Because you're distracting. Looming over me like that."
"Okay."
I sighed again—but a little thrill went through me as Tolliver came close, sitting next to me on the bed.
