Page 52

The day had been long—too long.

We’d made the unanimous decision to push off our plans until tomorrow. I’d walked by the two sheet-covered statues in the foyer on the way to my quarters and never glanced at them.

Whatever happened tomorrow, they’d both be gone and the space would once again be empty. Henry was already making plans to put a big grand piano there. If the house hadn’t screamed hotel to everyone already, it surely would after the piano got installed. One of Henry’s people played. All we needed was a bar nearby and someone making drinks.

I felt tempted to buy a rusted suit of medieval armor to stand next to it just to mess with Henry. Maybe I’d stick a cigar in the mouth hole and light it up once in a while. That would at least make me chuckle when I headed to bed.

I wandered into the sitting room with its new furniture. Today, they added another beautiful piece. It took a moment to notice it wasn’t a bookcase like I thought at first glance. It had shelves that held a wide assortment of glassware. That could only mean Henry had fulfilled yet another of my wishes.

I opened the lower set of doors and found a lovely assortment of alcohol waiting. This was great. Now I could dig my emergency bottle of Jamieson’s out of the storage tub because it finally had a home.

I needed a drink but I was too tired to go storage tub diving tonight. So instead I picked out a nice bottle of cognac and found a suitable glass. I guessed my way to a double pour, put the cognac back, and carried the drink to a chair. It took me a full moment to find the remote for the fireplace, but I finally did.

Now I had everything a tired woman could want—a drink, a fire, and a few minutes of peace. My contentment lasted for nearly two minutes this time. Then I had to rouse myself to answer the door.

I knew who it was but not what he wanted. I knew what I wanted but he’d already declined to give it to me. So why was the guardian here this late?

“Evening,” I said.

Rasmus smiled. “Would you like some company for a while?”

“What would do if I said no?”

His smile widened. “Talk my way in, anyway. I missed you too much to sleep.”

I stepped back and held the door open. “I’m having a drink. I know you don’t imbibe so I won’t bother offering ya one. I may have a bottle of water. Come to the sitting room and I’ll look.”

“Water will be fine if you have it.”

I turned back to the sitting room and heard the door click shut behind me. Then I heard the lock being thrown. An urge to laugh at the finality of it hit me but I bravely fought it off. Did he think I’d try to escape? Or had he locked himself in here on purpose?

I found a few bottles of regular water and several mineral ones next to the booze. Maybe I’d look into getting one of thosetiny refrigerators. Then I could have ice and cool drinks because I wasn’t already spoiled enough.

I carried the bottle of water to him and handed it over. His gaze remained on me the whole time I sat and picked up my drink.

“Are ya sizing me up to kill me? Yer gaze is very intense.”

“Sorry,” he muttered, looking away.

I returned to sipping my drink. “Are Zara and ya okay upstairs? Since we know nothing’s going to happen until we make it happen, I figured there was no reason for the two of ya to spend another night on cots.”

“We’re fine. Zara was in her room reading when I left.”

“Were ya too restless to sleep?”

“It wasn’t a problem of restlessness. I couldn’t sleep in my bed because it smelled like you.”

My sigh echoed into my glass. “I forgot ya were in the blue house last night. Since I’d climbed the stairs already, I stripped and slept in yer bed.”

“I’m really sorry I missed that.”

I lowered my glass and softly laughed. “I suppose the polite thing would be to offer to share my bed with ya tonight.”

“Yes, and that would keep me from having to beg.”

I did laugh then because Rasmus sounded so humble. I knew that wouldn’t last but I could make the most of it while it did.

I smiled at him. “The idea of ya begging has a certain appeal, guardian. But I won’t make ya work that hard for the privilege. I’m happy if ya want to sleep with me tonight. I missed ya too.”