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“We’re bubbled and safe.”
“And I still don’t get why we’re out here instead of inside my house,” he pointed out, adopting a prim tone. “Parked nearby, too, when we could easily move this operation inside.”
She glanced at the house, which was dimly lit and quiet, with only his butler inside. Anyone who passed by would think he was fast asleep, which was the point.
“We have a better view here.”
“We have better protection inside,” he insisted. “All my armory and reserved magic at our disposal.”
At that, Pearl snorted. “We’re trying to catch a thief, not stop an invasion. As I said, we’re bubbled and safe. We have been at this for a week. Quit worrying.” A pause. “Besides, it’s better out here. Your house is cold and immaculate.”
“And yours is cramped and untidy. What’s your point?”
“Nothing. I didn’t say cold and immaculate was a bad thing. It’s not just for me. Breezy dates under the moonlight are more my thing—”
“This is not a date,” he said coolly.
She waited for the words to intimidate her but realized that it was no longer working. Perhaps it was because there was no more vehemence behind it, his coldness more of an instinctive façade than anything.
“Right. Because your dates are all in fancy restaurants and high-end establishments.”
A breeze went through his protective bubble, feathering over her skin. She shivered and wriggled to put some heat to her body…then froze when a hand landed on her back and squeezed in warning. That his palm was large enough that his fingers grazed her butt was a coincidence, and not deliberate. It didn’t matter that heat flashed in her belly and streaked everywhere, eliciting tingles.
“Stop moving.” His voice was mild, but the command slithered in her senses and made her mind blank.
“Sorry,” she said hastily, unsure how to handle her reaction and scolding herself for it. She wasnotattracted to this man. “It’s kind of cold.”
“I would point out the house option, but I have a feeling it will spiral into another endless argument.”
“You felt right.”
Henry sighed. Relief coursed in when he finally removed his hand, then annoyance that she felt its loss distinctly.
Keep the hand there. Yes, please.
Shut up, stupid hormones.
“Here. Do you feel better?”
Pearl felt the blanket settle over her back and noted that he had taken off his jacket. Subtly, she watched him shift around the ground, too, tugging at the ends of his dress shirt until they were no longer tucked in his pants. She caught a peek of stomach abs rippling and snatched her gaze away, her mouth dry.
“Yes,” she said, managing to keep up with the conversation despite the…distracting sight. “Thanks.”
Silence encompassed them, becoming the norm in their week of adjusting to each other’s presence. Most men fell into three categories: those who tried to impress her and seduce her, those who slung insults and put her down, and those who wanted nothing to do with her and pretended she didn’t exist. Even Moon sometimes fell into the impressing category, and only Maddox and Silver—and to an extent, Rex—ever really hung out with her just for the sake of her company. Henry was quickly falling into that rare spot, too, his contentment apparent despite his complaints and his lack of motive refreshing.
He's monitoring you, you idiot. Don’t be complacent.
Stubbornly, she ignored the voice in her head and basked in their shared space, her eyes sweeping the grounds from time to time. So did his. The breeze came again, no longer as cold but relaxing her body until she was close to dozing off.
“Pearl,” he said.
Her head jerked back up. “I’m awake.”
“I’m not all about fancy stuff.”
It took her a moment to process the words and what they were pertaining to. Maybe he was talking about it to keep her from falling asleep, but she wasn’t about to waste the opportunity. Pearl watched him like a hawk.
“You’re always on Council meetings, business meetings, and formal functions. Despite your grandparents still being the family heads, you’re running the show under the table. I assume that means you have authority over your men and the rest of your family and don’t need to get your hands dirty.”
