Page 44 of The Temptation of Truth

Levi raises a brow at Sav, then rolls his head toward Mabel.

“This is late for you, Mabes. Busy night?”

Mabel hums, but as she opens her mouth to speak, her eyes fall on me, and she stops short. Her lips purse momentarily, but then the flicker of concern is gone.

“Something like that.” She gives me a soft smile before picking up a plate and piling it with fruit. “Morning, Roar.”

I return her smile, then check out the table in an effort to quell the blush triggered by her presence and the nickname on her tongue. Maybe it will be easier if I’m not looking directly at her.

“Good morning.”

“She’s still here, then?” Sav’s tone is flat, and when I bring my attention to her face, her expression matches.

“Yep.” Mabel’s response is clipped. Her voice is pitched like she’s trying to come off cheerful and failing. “Here for the week.”

They’re talking about Kat, and all at once, the images of her wrapped around Mabel flood my head. Those images plagued my dreams, only instead of Kat and Mabel, it was me and Mabel. I don’t understand where it came from or how it happened, but the memory makes me blush hot with guilt and embarrassment. Witharousal. It’s all so confusing, my feelings muddled and indecipherable. I try to force them away, but the truth of what I did remains.

I’d managed to dam up these thoughts while I was working with Brynn, but now that dam has busted, and I’m drowning. I’llchoke on them and die. My palms start to sweat, and my heart starts to race.

I need to get out of here.

Sav hums, and Levi pushes himself up from the table, picking up his tablet and empty plate. He flares his eyes at me, then leaves the kitchen area without another word. In his absence, the tension in the air thickens, and if leaving didn’t require me walking right through Sav and Mabel’s stare off, I’d sneak out just like Levi.

“Should we re-brief the Caveat boys, then?” Sav asks cryptically.

“Ham took care of it.”

“Then why is she hiding in your room while you bring her breakfast? Still doesn’t want to be spotted?”

Mabel scoffs. “No. It’s because she knows you’re pissed, and she doesn’t want to deal with your glares.”

“Excuse me. I won an Oscar. I can pretend to be civil.”

“Please. You might have won an Oscar for acting, but you can’t lie for shit.”

Sav smirks and gives Mabel a nonchalant shrug, but then her expression shifts to something kinder. When she speaks, her voice is soft, and her tone is genuine.

“I’m glad she showed up for you. I’ll be nice. I promise. Tell her to come eat breakfast with us.” Mabel squints to study Sav’s face, making Sav bark out a laugh. “I’m serious. Here, I’ll even invite her myself.”

As Sav takes out her phone to send a text, my heart starts to pound. When I look at Mabel, she’s staring at Sav, but I get the distinct feeling she’s also paying attention to me. I stand up straighter and clear my throat.

“Right, well, I’m going to head back to my room. I’ll see you all for the show.”

“Wait, Aurora,” Brynn calls from the couch. “Can you come here? I’m a little stuck.”

I look from Brynn to Mabel and back. God, I don’t want to be here when Kat Hughes struts in, all glitz and glam in her supermodel body, but helping Brynnlee is my literal job at the moment. She is why I’m here.

I’m taking a seat on the couch next to Brynn when there’s a knock on the door. I keep my eyes pinned on the computer screen, but I still see Mabel open the door in my periphery. I can still see the blurry, shadowy figure of Kat Hughes walk in, too. It might all be in my head, but I swear the encroaching scent of musk and orange blossom taints the oxygen in the room. I clear my throat and stifle a cough.

I fidget once more with my dress. It takes effort to keep my shoulders back and my chin up when everything inside me is screaming to bolt. Greetings take place between Sav and Kat. I can’t make out the words. I can’t analyze the tone. My heart is too loud in my head.

Then the figures in my periphery grow closer, until I can feel them standing only feet from me.

“Aurora and Brynn, this is Kat. Kat, this is Sav and Levi’s daughter Brynnlee, and her tutor, Aurora.”

I glance up at them. Kat’s smiling, but it’s tight, as if she’s nervous. Even with the unnatural expression, though, she’s beautiful. Almost lethally so. Like a spy in a blockbuster movie. Like a Bond girl. No doubt a face like hers could con someone out of nuclear codes or convince them to open a top secret safe. Not a shiny hair out of place. Not a wrinkle or blemish to be seen on her golden skin. She might actually be perfectly symmetrical. It makes my skin prickle with jealousy. I think I hate her.

“Hey.” I raise my hand in an awkward wave, but I can’t bring myself to stand. Not yet. “Nice to meet you.”