Page 33 (1/2)

Norht at the Red Stallion until he found a wohts Except when Gabe told hi there, Lucian had passed on the invite

It had to be because he didn’t feel right leaving Julia in the house alone after taking such a crack to the head And he also didn’t want to be gone too long fro around today Checking on Madeline out of genuine concern? Bullshit

That’s what he’d been telling himself

"You knohat I find really helps when I can’t fall sleep?" he asked instead of answering

She looked at him like she was half afraid of his answer

"There’s this tea Livie has in the kitchen I believe it has chamomile in it Always helps me At least, to just chill out"

"Oh, chamomile" She unfolded one arm and tucked a strand of hair back "That makes sense"

He clasped his hands behind his back and said, "Also, fucking until sweat covers every inch of your body and you’re near exhaustion also helps I find that way a lotasleep"

Her mouth moved without sound "Thatthat is really"

"Inappropriate? Yes I know" He winked "Come on, I’ll make you a cup of tea"

"Yeah, that’s not necessary"

"I know, but I want to Plus, I’ve gotten really good atthe tea You’ll be asleep in no tio back to aze "But I insist, Ms Hughes"

Everything about her see in the air between theood, decent person wouldn’t do what he just did, but Lucian hadn’t been lying when he said he was indecent He wanted et that

She exhaled roughly "Just a quick cup of tea"

"Of course," he repeated, unapologetically proud of hihes"

Julia cursed herself the whole way down the stairs to the lower level How in the world did she allow herself to be coerced into a late, late night cup of tea with Lucian?

And Lucian totally coerced her into doing this Which out of the possible things she ever feared that an e a cup of chamomile was not one of them

The house was quiet as they made their way toward the kitchen She was a couple of steps behind his tall frame The whole way down the three levels, she watched thehis back and spine flex and roll with each step She hated herself for that, just like she hated herself a little for picturing hi

Julia couldn’t help it

Passing the room with an oval table and fancy chairs around it, he pushed open double doors, catching one before it could swing back and smack into her She drew in a deep breath and forced herself to keep hts

The kitchen was just as ridiculous as she suspected Larger than half her apart all the way up to the ceiling, stainless steel double ovens and a gas grill, and one of those space-age looking fridges that probably tracked ent in and left it The countertops looked like white , the kind of countertops she’d only ever seen on HGTV

And the kitchen didn’t even look used--oh ht struck her Were they one of those super wealthy families that had, like, two kitchens? One for looks basically and another where the real cooking was done?

Who needed two kitchens?

"Grab a seat," he said as he crossed the kitchen, his bare feet silent on the slabs of tile covering the floor

She dragged herself over to one of the bar stools lined up in front of the large island She pulled out the stool, surprised by how heavy it was She winced at the horrible scratchy sound it made She froze and peeked up

Lucian’s back was still to her as he grabbed a s, she watched hied her head off theshe needed was a second head injury "You can’t just microwave the water? I’m fine with that"

"Microwave?" He shook his head like she’d suggested they drink pond water "You have to do it the correct way It makes all the difference"