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“Or you don’t want to work with me because I don’t have a fancy degree?” I arched an eyebrow.
“No. It’s not that. It’s just…”
I reached out and brushed another tear from the soft skin of her cheek. She closed her eyes and leaned into my hand. I traced my fingers along her jaw and under her earlobe until they were wrapped around the back of her neck. I’d wanted to do this since I’d first set eyes on her.
She tilted her head back and looked up at me. She wasn’t stopping me. She appeared to be waiting to see what I’d do next. I leaned down until my lips brushed against hers. Her eyes fluttered closed and our lips pressed together, our breath mingling. I pulled back to search her face and give her a chance to push me away. I knew this was a bad idea, but I couldn’t resist. Instead of pushing me away, she wrapped her arms around my neck and tugged me back down.
A part of my brain worried her actions had more to do with her reaction to her bad day than they did with how she felt about me, but it was probably better that way. We could never be together. Feelings would just complicate things.
I leaned on the arm of the chair to keep my balance as my fingers explored her skin and my lips met hers again and again. She tangled her fingers in my hair and placed a hand on my cheek as her lips parted, and I reached for her tongue with mine. I knew I was in trouble when she pulled me down and arched her body up. Wrapping an arm around her waist, I lifted her from the chair until we were standing with her body pressed against my chest.
A log shifted in the hearth and the fire collapsed in on itself. Evelyn jumped at the sound and took a step backward, out of my arms. I reached for her, but she shook her head and stepped away. “What am I doing?” she mumbled as she walked over to stand in front of the fire.
I started to reply, but a flash of light caught my attention. Damn. Arabella had the worst timing.
I ignored my cousin’s signal and walked over to the hearth to stand behind Evelyn. I slipped my hands around her waist and pulled her against me. Arabella could wait.
“I should go to bed,” she said, but she leaned into me. I buried my face in her hair and inhaled the sweet tropical scent of her shampoo.
“What are you worried about?” I asked softly into her hair.
“We shouldn’t do this,” she whispered.
I swept her hair to one side and placed my lips against her neck. The beat of her pulse under my lips proved I had set her heart racing at least as hard as mine. I kissed my way down her long, elegant neck, taking my time, savoring the feel of her skin against my lips.
The creak of the front door opening and Vivian’s persistent chatter echoed down the hallway. Evelyn froze and pulled away from me.
“I should go to bed,” she said. She grabbed the book, her laptop, and the empty wineglass off the table. “Good night,” she said. Then she hurried out of the room and turned toward the kitchen. I could hear Vivian and Oscar on the front stairs. They wouldn’t come this way. They’d go straight up to bed. I considered going after Evelyn but remembered Arabella’s signal.
Oh, well.Might as well see what she wants.
“Where’d you go?” I whispered to the empty room. I waited, but there was no response. “Getting a good laugh, are you?” I asked. Still no response. I walked in the direction I’d seen the flash, toward the table where I’d left my work earlier. I kept my senses alert, expecting Arabella to jump out at me at any moment. But I made it all the way to the table without her appearing. That’s when I saw the note scratched on a piece of paper lying on my stack of books.
Forget the girl and come home. Flida fading. Asking for you.
I struggled to remember to breathe. Something had happened to Mother. I needed to go home.
After scrambling to find paper and a pen, I sat and scratched out a brief note to the professor. Then I jogged up the back stairs to the attic room to pack a few things for the journey. My family needed me.
5
I didn’t wantto go down to breakfast. There was no way I could face Liam in front of my aunt and uncle in the light of day after kissing him last night. I mentally kicked myself as I unpacked everything I’d left in my suitcase into the empty dresser drawers. If I closed my eyes, I’d start to imagine Liam’s lips on my neck, his arms around me. So, I just wouldn’t close my eyes. Then maybe that fluttering feeling in my chest would go away.
I stared down at my empty suitcase. I’d have to face him sooner or later. Better to get this over with. It didn’t mean anything. It was just a weak moment. I was confused after my confrontation with Connor and then discouraged by the email from Oxford. I was jet-lagged. I was half asleep. I’d been drinking. It was only one glass of wine, and I’d been asleep in that chair long enough for the effects to wear off. But still. All the excuses I could name hadn’t managed to relieve the sinking feeling that I’d crossed some sort of line by making out with my uncle’s secretary.
Then I remembered the look he’d given me just before he’d kissed me the first time, like he was waiting for permission. My heart sped up just thinking about it. I shook my head. No. This was not a good idea.
My stomach growled. I glanced at the clock. I couldn’t delay this any longer. I checked my hair in the mirror and straightened my sweater. Then I realized what I was doing and stuck my tongue out at my reflection and walked out of my room.
When I reached the end of the hallway, I couldn’t decide between going down the front stairs and having to walk past the library or going down the hall past what I’d begun to think of as “the gargoyle room” on my way to the back stairs. I stood still and listened. I didn’t hear anyone down that hall, so I took a chance and hurried past all the rooms, not stopping until I’d reached the bottom of the stairs. I paused in the hall, then took a breath and pushed open the kitchen door.
“Morning,” I said. My aunt and uncle were seated at the table, but there was no sign of Liam. My stomach dropped. I couldn’t be sure if it was in disappointment or in relief.
“Good morning,” my uncle said, glancing up at me over his paper.
“Help yourself to breakfast and join us.” She motioned to the serving dishes already on the table. “I was worried you were going to sleep all morning.”
“I would have been down earlier, but I decided to unpack a little.”
