Page 65

The moment between us lingered, something tentative and new.

I'd never seen Nicolaus truly relax—his analytical mind seemed to run constantly, cataloging and processing.

But there was something softer in him this morning, as if Julian and I crossing that threshold had shifted something for all of them.

Christopher slid another plate of French toast onto the island. "Miles, stop hogging all of Lilianna's attention and eat before it gets cold."

"I wasn't hogging," Miles replied mildly, but he shifted slightly, giving me space while somehow still remaining close enough that I could feel his warmth. "I was appreciating." The distinction sent a pleasant shiver through me.

"And what exactly are you appreciating?" Christopher asked with a playful smirk, sliding into the seat on my other side.

I felt myself caught between them, not uncomfortably, but with a heightened awareness of how different each man was. Miles's quiet intensity on one side, Christopher's playful energy on the other.

"Everything," Miles said simply, his gaze sliding over me again before returning to his plate. The single word carried weight that made my cheeks warm.

"You're making her blush again," Nicolaus observed, though his own eyes lingered on my face with subtle interest.

I took another bite of French toast to hide my smile. "I'm beginning to think you all enjoy that a little too much."

"Guilty," Christopher admitted cheerfully. "You're beautiful when you blush. Though lately, you're beautiful all the time."

I rolled my eyes at the flattery but couldn't suppress the warmth spreading through my chest. "You're all going to give me an ego at this rate."

"Good," Miles said quietly, his fingers brushing mine as he reached for the honey. The brief contact sent electricity up my arm. "You should know your worth."

The simple statement hit deeper than any flowery compliment could have.

I looked down at our hands—his tan and strong, mine smaller and pale—and felt something shift inside me.

These men weren't just flattering me; they were helping me see myself through their eyes.

Eyes that found me valuable, desirable, worthy of love.

Before I could respond, the front door opened, and Julian's familiar footsteps echoed through the hallway. My heart immediately quickened at the sound, my body responding to his presence even before he appeared in the kitchen doorway.

He looked impeccable as always in his dark suit, but there was something different about him this morning—a satisfied ease in his posture, a subtle softness around his eyes that hadn't been there before. When his gaze found mine across the room, the intensity in his hazel eyes made my breath catch.

"Good morning," he said, his voice carrying a warmth that seemed meant just for me, even though he addressed the room. "I see everyone's making themselves comfortable."

"We're just having breakfast," Christopher said innocently, though his grin was anything but. "And admiring how well-rested Lilianna looks this morning."

Julian's mouth quirked as he shrugged out of his suit jacket, draping it over the back of a chair. "Is that so?"

"Very well-rested," Miles confirmed, his voice dry but eyes amused. "Almost glowing, one might say."

I felt heat rise to my cheeks again as Julian moved toward me, his presence filling the kitchen with something electric. Without hesitation, he bent down and pressed a kiss to my temple, lingering just long enough to breathe in my scent.

"Good morning," he murmured against my skin, just for me to hear. "Did you sleep well after I left?"

"Yes," I whispered back, acutely aware of the others watching our interaction with barely concealed interest. "Though I missed having you there when I woke up."

Julian's eyes darkened at my admission, his hand coming to rest possessively on my shoulder. "I had to take care of some things related to your parents' latest attempt at interference. But I'm here now."

The mention of my parents sent a chill through the warm atmosphere, but Julian's touch kept me grounded. "What kind of interference?"

"Nothing that can't be handled," he assured me, though I caught the look he exchanged with Nicolaus. "We'll discuss it when Mara arrives."

Christopher cleared his throat pointedly. "Well, this is all very sweet and domestic, but some of us are trying to eat breakfast without drowning in sexual tension."

"Speak for yourself," Miles said quietly,"I'm quite enjoying the show," Miles continued, his green eyes dancing with amusement as he took another sip of coffee.

Julian raised an eyebrow but didn't move his hand from my shoulder. Instead, his thumb traced small, deliberate circles against my skin through the thin fabric of my sweater. Each touch sent ripples of awareness through me.

"When is Mara arriving?" I asked, trying to steer the conversation back to safer ground despite the pleasant warmth spreading from Julian's touch.

"One-thirty," Nicolaus answered, glancing at his watch. "Which gives you approximately an hour and forty-five minutes to finish breakfast and prepare."

I nodded, grateful for his practicality. "I should probably change into something more... professional."

"You look perfect," Julian said, his voice carrying that quiet authority that left no room for argument. "Comfortable, but put-together.”

There was something protective in his tone, as if he knew I was about to retreat into formality—the way I'd been trained to do when facing conflict. His hand squeezed my shoulder gently. "This is your home, Lilianna. You don't need to perform here."

The words settled into me, filling spaces I hadn't realized were empty. Your home. Not a temporary arrangement or a conditional stay, but home.

"Thank you," I murmured, covering his hand with mine. The simple gesture felt intimate despite being witnessed by the others.

Christopher pushed away from the counter with a dramatic sigh. "If you two are going to keep looking at each other like that, I'm going to need another cup of coffee. Strong enough to counteract all this sweetness."

Miles chuckled, the sound low and warm. "You're just jealous."

"Absolutely," Christopher agreed without hesitation, “And after the meeting with Mara I would like to steal her away for my date.” His attention went to me now, “if you are up for it?”

"I'd love that," I replied, suddenly excited at the prospect. "What are we doing?"

Christopher's eyes gleamed with mischief. "Remember, I promised you cooking lessons? Today seems perfect—we could do something fun after all this serious business."

Julian's hand tightened briefly on my shoulder before relaxing. "Just try not to make too much of a mess….and if you do, you are cleaning it up… alone. ”

Christopher gasped in mock offense, pressing a hand to his chest. "Julian Ashworth, are you implying that I'm messy in the kitchen?"

"I'm stating it as fact," Julian replied dryly, though his lips twitched with amusement. "Need I remind you of the great flour explosion of last month?"

"That was an isolated incident," Christopher protested, though his grin suggested he wasn't particularly sorry about it. "Besides, Lilianna will keep me in line. Won't you, sweetheart?"

I laughed, feeling lighter than I had in days despite the looming conversation with Mara. "I make no such promises. For all you know, I might be just as messy."

"Impossible," Miles said, his voice warm. "You're far too careful for chaos."

I glanced at Miles, wondering if his words were meant as a compliment or observation. His eyes held mine for a moment too long, something unspoken passing between us.

"You'd be surprised," I said softly. "I think I might have a bit of chaos in me after all."

Something flickered in Miles's expression—interest, perhaps, or challenge. "Is that so?"

"Everyone does," Nicolaus interjected, his analytical gaze moving between us. "It's just a matter of what unlocks it."

Julian's thumb continued its gentle circles on my shoulder, the touch both comforting and distracting. "Speaking of unlocking things," he said, "I should review the documents for our meeting with Mara. Once you are done eating we can go over things.”

I nodded, I felt like today was going to be eye opening.