Page 16 of The Gilded Heiress

he’d worn yesterday. Mouth parted, he snored softly. I sniffed, searching for hints of perfume. I couldn’t detect any, but

that didn’t mean he hadn’t visited a lady. Or two.

Ignoring the ache in the pit of my stomach, I made tea and eggs. I would not ask him about his night or hint that I cared.

Because I didn’t.

As I was eating at the table, I heard him groan. Clothing rustled as he shifted. “Too loud,” he murmured.

I banged my cup on the wood as I sat it down.

“Damn it, Josie.” He was facing away from me, toward the back of the sofa. “Let me sleep.”

“It’s half past nine, tomcat. Get moving.”

“I didn’t get to bed until three.”

“Not sure why that’s my problem. And you need to shake a leg. We have a Broadway producer to see.”

“ Christ. ” He rolled over and pinned me with a hard stare. Dark circles rimmed his eyes. “Is this what I have to look forward to every

morning?”

“I don’t know. Are you planning on going out every night?”

The irritation disappeared from his expression, quickly replaced with an annoying smirk as he sat up. “You’re jealous.”

I let out a derisive sound. “You are delusional.”

“No, you are. You are jealous I went out alone last night.”

“That would mean I cared about you and your whereabouts. Which I don’t. But I don’t wish to be awakened at two o’clock by

your drunken stumbling.”

“I wasn’t drunk.” He dragged a hand through his hair. “I couldn’t see.”

“But you did go out drinking.” While I was here. Alone.

He leaned over and put his elbows on his knees. Leo was usually so polished and put together. Slick and guarded. I liked this version better, the one with whiskers on his jaw and wrinkled clothing. His hair was a delightful mess.

He stood and stretched, throwing his arms over his head. I dragged my gaze off him. I needed to remember this was a business

arrangement, nothing more. Leo had no problem keeping it straight.

He doesn’t want me as a friend or lover. It’s about money for both of us.

“Do you want to hear where I went?” he asked.

“Nope.”

“I wasn’t with a woman.”

“Bully for you.”

He sighed, but I concentrated on my food. I heard him digging around in his case. “Any chance you made some breakfast for

me?”

Unbelievable. I went to the sink to clean my dishes. “I’m not your wife or your housekeeper, Leo. Make your own damn breakfast.”

“Cold, woman. Very cold.” I heard the door open. “I’m off to get cleaned up down the hall. Try not to miss me.”

I didn’t say a word. I had a problem letting my mouth get away from me, so better to keep quiet than risk saying too much.

Like yesterday.

When he finally returned, Leo was back to his usual fancy self. I flipped through the magazine in my lap and tried not to

lament the transformation. He fixed a cup of coffee, then leaned against the counter and fixed his eyes on me.

I pretended to read the magazine. “Do I meet with your approval?”

“Of course. However, I am curious why you are upset with me.”

I shut the magazine with a snap. “If I can’t go out at night, then neither can you. It’s not fair.”

His lips parted slightly, the cup paused halfway to his mouth. “You know it isn’t safe for you out at night alone.”

“Then I guess we’ll be going out together, partner.”

He set his cup carefully on the counter. “Josie, I need to go out at night for business meetings and the like. You should

stay in and rest your voice.”

“Oh, so you had a business meeting last night?”

“No, but I will at some point while we’re here.”

“If you have a meeting that concerns me and my career, I expect to be present.”

After all, this was what Lotta had stressed. A man like Leo is not on your side, honey. He’s on his side. Never forget it.

Leo’s back stiffened as he frowned, little lines of unhappiness emerging to bracket his mouth. “That won’t always be practical.

It’ll be easier to talk candidly with producers and directors without you there.”

“Then I’m going back to Boston.” I tossed the magazine onto the tea table and stood. “We are either in this together or we’re

not. Partners or nothing. You promised me we would work as a team. That you have my best interests at heart. Prove it. Let

me attend these meetings.”

“That isn’t how it’s done.”

“I don’t care, Leo. I’ve got to look out for myself.”

Head down, he fixed his gaze on his shoes. “I see what’s going on. You don’t trust me.”

Was he trying to guilt me into allowing his selfish behavior? If so, he wouldn’t succeed. I wasn’t giving him license to do

as he wished without me when it pertained to my career. “I trust you well enough... when I’m able to keep an eye on you.”

“Fine.” He threw his hands up. “You want to stick? We’ll stick. You’ll stay by my side except for sleeping. Happy?”

“Yes.” I was oddly relieved. I thought he’d fight me harder on the issue.

“Thank god. Now, what would you like to do today?”

“Go see Mr. Birdman.”

He picked up his teacup. “I thought we said we would wait a few days, get accustomed to the city first.”

“No, you said that. I want to pay the visit today.”

“You’re a real peach in the morning, you know that?”

“If you think I’m insulted, guess again. Are you ready to leave?”

“Any chance that I might convince you to postpone this outing?”

“None.” I collected my hat and gloves. “Now, do you know where we’re going and how to get there?”

“Of course.”

I squinted at him skeptically. “How?”

Sighing heavily, he picked his derby up off a side table. “While you thought I was out tomcatting, I was walking around. Getting

reacquainted with the city.”

He had? This surprised me. It was very responsible of him, not at all what I thought he’d been doing.

He leaned against the wall near the door. “Care to retract your earlier statement about not trusting me?”

His blue eyes twinkled with amusement and I felt myself nearly falling into his trap again. It would be too easy to forget

my wits around this man.

I was tough, though, tougher than most gave me credit for. Merely to torture him, I moved in close. I let him think maybe

he’d affected me, like maybe we were more than friends. I ran my fingertip over the gold stud he wore to keep his tie in place.

“No, I don’t,” I whispered.

His throat worked as he swallowed. I gave him a victorious smile and opened the door. As I sailed into the corridor, I heard

him chuckle. “I am going to change your mind about that, Josie Smith, if it’s the last thing I do.”