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She sat at the right side of the long table where I’d placed the take-out containers and a plate. Her eyes lit up when she noticed the various dishes on display before her. “My favorites. How did you… ” She paused.
I loved and hated the appreciation that caused the corners of her eyes to crinkle and her lips to curl into a grateful smile. I wanted to be the one who put that expression on her face, except it was a glaring reminder of how big the little things were to her, that she didn’t just expect her favorite food to be laid out before her. She was so used to taking care of every other damn person in her life she often forgot about herself.
I shrugged. “A lucky guess, I assure you.” Why I couldn’t just admit that months ago, well before my feelings had changed towards her, she’d ordered from this place when we worked late and let it casually slip how much she loved their food. She had no idea that for years, I’d filed away most of what she’d said.
I did this with every person I met.
Although, with Hazel, it was to surprise her with the small things she savored. I should have realized before now that I treated her differently. Typically, I used the information I gathered to exert control and effectively manipulate the other person. Not to find ways to make them happy.
A smile still curved at the corner of her lips. “This is what I keep telling you to do.”
I placed a glass by her plate and sat across from her. My brows tugged together as I frowned.
“If you used your powers for good like this, you’d be so much happier, Jareth.” Clearly, I’d fooled only myself with the assumption that she didn’t know what I’d done. Moments like this confirmed she saw more than most with me. How the layers I’d built around myself didn’t deter her.
I chose not to respond and began to plate food for her and myself, making sure she had plenty of her favorites. When I was done, I sat back in the uncomfortable hard-backed chair and took a bite. Now, I had another reason to avoid this room. The seats were a fucking nightmare.
“Thank you.” She smiled again at me before popping a crab rangoon into her mouth. The smile quickly disappeared as she moaned in delight. My body tensed at the unintentionally erotic sound. “This is so good. I haven’t had it in forever.”
I shoved another forkful into my mouth. I only had to get through dinner. After this, I’d avoid any other mealtimes with her. At work, I could keep my focus on the task at hand. Here in my home, my attention was glued to her. I couldn’t have her distracting me like this.
She shifted in the seat, wincing, and muttered something about interior designers.
I raised my eyebrow when she met my gaze.
A faint flush stained her cheeks. “So, what do you usually do after dinner?”
What I always did. “Work.”
“Oh, okay.” A slight frown marred her lips.
Immediately, I wanted to do whatever it took to make it disappear. Dangerous thoughts that I needed to avoid. Yet clearly, self-preservation had taken a flying leap from my penthouse window. “Why?”
She fiddled with her fork, her downcast eyes tugging at me. “It’s nothing.”
“Hazel.” Just that one word had her head snapping up as I’d intended. I had not considered what the unexpected tears pooled in her eyes would do to me.
When she didn’t respond right away, I decided to wait her out. Silence was not something Hazel did well with. She blew out a breath. “It’s only a few weeks until Christmas.”
I tipped my chin in acknowledgment. I was well aware of the date on the calendar.
“You haven’t decorated at all, and I was thinking that maybe we could do that tonight.” She bit her lip.
“I have more important things to do, Hazel, but if you would enjoy putting up decorations, don’t let me stop you.”
She nodded and quickly averted her gaze, but not before I saw the first tear fall.
Damn it!
My fingers wrapped around the empty dish in front of me. It wasn’t my concern if she was upset that I wouldn’t do this with her. Just one more reminder of how we wouldn’t work. She had to understand I was a busy man. I didn’t have time for such frivolous things.
“Right.” Her breath hitched, and she discreetly wiped at her cheeks.
I let out a breath, and against my better judgment ignored the warning signs blaring through my head. “This is important to you?”
She shrugged, keeping her face averted. I hated that she felt the need to hide from me.
“Hazel, look at me,” I demanded. When her tear-filled gaze met my own, a small part of my hardened heart twitched to life. “Why?” I couldn’t understand why this would be important enough to bring her to tears.
