Page 32 of Saving Soul

My mouth parted as he retreated to the fireplace, where he placed the books onto the coffee table and plonked himself onto the wingback chair.

Not bothering to read the blurb or judge the cover, he grabbed the top one and flipped it open.Oh shit.If Adam got any more skills in the bedroom, they’d be writing books about him.

8

Atwinge of loneliness radiated through my body the moment Adam left the mansion Monday morning. The subtle shift in his attitude the night prior left me wondering if we could be friends. While I read, he continually interrupted me with the funny and unrealistic situations from his book, then encouraged me to disclose mine. As much as I pretended to be irritated, I enjoyed his presence.

It wasn’t until Max called Adam to dinner that I felt the divide. Adam’s conflicted gaze struck mine, and I almost thought he was going to ask me to join him…until he didn’t. He simply offered me a tight smile, dropped his head, and silently left the room.

I scolded myself for expecting more. Men like Adam Harlow didn’t interact with the help. He was merely using me to pass the time, or to distract himself from his ailing grandfather. Either way, it was nice to have company in this lonely place, if only for an afternoon.

“Ladies,” Marc greeted us with a nod when he arrived for Liam’s check-up a few days later.

“Oh, hi,” I said, from the cozy couch in Liam’s room while Nora smiled.

I’d been working on the finer details of the funeral while Nora sat on the couch opposite, organizing his medication.

“If I was twenty years younger…” Nora whispered as Marc continued to Liam’s bedside.

I couldn’t help but giggle. He was definitely a catch.

Marc placed his hands on his hips as he stared down at Liam. “I don’t know what you’re doing, old man, but your bloodwork came back and everything is looking great. Better than expected, actually.”

Liam smiled over to where we sat on the other side of his bedroom. “Looks like surrounding myself with beauty is working a treat.”

I shook my head with a smile. Adam was definitely Liam’s grandson.

“Oh, Liam.” Nora’s large frame jiggled with her laughter.

“You’re a lucky man indeed,” Marc said, catching my gaze.

My cheeks warmed, but there were no butterflies. Not the familiar flutter that invaded my stomach every time Adam was near. I smiled tightly and lowered my gaze back to the job at hand while chastising myself. A perfect, charismatic doctor was making eyes, and I was cock-blocking with the memory of a one-night stand. It was ridiculous. I needed to get Adam out of my head. Fast.

“Surprise,” Adam’s voice filled the room from Liam’s doorway.

“Adam!” Liam cried out happily.

I dropped my pencil and lost it amongst the funeral papers sprawled out across the coffee table. I’d been working from Liam’s sitting area all week and had a few things to finish before I packed up for the weekend.

“This isn’t your weekend,” Grayson said, walking around his grandfather’s bed to greet his brother.

Josie eased Harrison into Liam’s arms. “Most unexpected.”

I rummaged up the paperwork and closed my laptop, hoping to sneak out before Adam noticed me.

“I thought it’d be nice to spend some time with my family.” He rotated his gaze to mine like the freaking Terminator. “Hi Cass.”

I barely found my voice. “Hey.”

Josie exchanged a look with her husband before turning back to Adam. “Who are you, and what did you do with Grayson’s brother?” She held up her hand. “Wait! Forget that. We’ll keep this one,” she said, cackling as she approached him for a hug.

Adam grumbled but returned her affection. “I thought I’d delegate some of my responsibilities this week and deal with the rest from here. That’s what the internet is for, right?”

Week? Surely, he meant week-end.

Grayson stared at his brother, completely dumbstruck, while Liam’s smile grew ear to ear.

“Well, I love seeing my grandsons together.” Liam squeezed Adam’s hand as he shook it. “It reminds me of the summers you spent here as children. Your grandmother lived for those days.”