“Salt,” Tessa blurted. Then she pressed her lips together and squeezed the book tighter against her.
He chuckled. “Are you using them to trap unsuspecting travelers? Tempt them with nasty treats?” He pulled a glass from the cabinet and filled it with the strawberry chamomile tea. He gulped it down and poured himself another glass.
Tessa frowned. “Nastyis a little harsh. They’re not that bad.”Why does he seem so familiar?
“Not bad if you’re starving, and even that’s debatable,” he said, shoving a hand through his hair. “I hope you didn’t dress up at my expense.” He finished the second glass of tea.
Tessa sensed he was teasing her, but still her mood curdled. She glanced down at her worn-out clothes. She was dressed like a college student who hadn’t done laundry in weeks, given the food stains on her clothes. Great first impression.Why do I care what he thinks?“That’s rich coming from someone who looks like he’s been sleeping in his clothes for days.”
He looked down at himself and nodded. “Touché.”
“What are you doing here? How did you get in?”
He held up a set of keys on a silver ring and jingled them. “This is my parents’ place. I knew my dad hid a set of keys in a magnetic box under the outside stairs. Who are you?”
Tessa’s mouth fell open. She realized why he looked familiar, why his smile reminded her of someone else. “Paul?”
It was his turn to look surprised. “Have we met? Apologies, but it’s been a long day, and I’m usually good with names, but I don’t recall ever meeting you. Unless you’re that girl from the lift in London. The vesper martinis were dangerously strong, and I’ve forgotten a good portion of that evening.” He sounded like he was joking.
“I’ve never been to London.” Tessa went to tuck her hair behind her ears and realized it was still shoved back with the tie-dye headband. She groaned. An attractive man walked into her apartment, and she was wearing food-stained clothes, and her hair was a greasy mess. Not to mention, he’d eaten her awful pancakes. Not her best performance. “We’ve never met,” Tessa said. “I know your parents.”
“Why are you in the apartment?”
“Mystic Water flooded, and I lost my condo. Your parents have been letting me stay here.”
Paul yawned. “Excuse me. Long day. Sorry about your condo. Nice of them to let you stay here for a while. They weren’t likely expecting me.” He leaned down, grabbed his bag, and walked past her and into the bedroom. He dropped his duffel on the floor next to the bed.
“They haven’t seen you in five years,” Tessa said, staring at him, feeling panic rise in her chest at the sight of him in the bedroom.
He sat on the bed and untied his boots. Then he pulled them off and dropped them against the floor onethumpat a time. Tessa’s stomach knotted. He gazed up at her with his pale-blue eyes. “Hope you’re not planning to scold me for being the world’s worst son,” he said playfully, but Tessa heard the faint hint of disappointment in his voice. He yawned again.
“Should I? I’m sure they’ll be surprised to see you. Especially sinceI’mstaying here.”
Paul laid back on the bed with his arms splayed. His eyes closed, and his head rolled toward his shoulder. “What did you put in that tea? A sleeping potion?”
Tessa’s heart thudded. “Chamomile. And umm . . . you’re on the bed.” What was he doing on the only bed in the apartment?
“Nothing gets past you, does it?” He yawned again.
“But—but I’m agirl.”
Paul opened his eyes and stared at her. A sleepy grin dimpled his cheek. “Very much so.”
Tessa’s stomach flipped upside down. The evening wind crept through the bedroom window. “I know this apartment was meant for you, but I’m staying here now. If you’re planning on hanging around until the morning, you should sleep on the couch.”
Paul closed his eyes. “I’ve been up for twenty-four hours, Ms.—” He opened his eyes long enough to look at her again. “What did you say your name was?”
“Tessa.”
“Yes, well, I’ve been up for twenty-four hours, Ms. Tessa, maker of awful pancakes and drafter of strong sleeping potions, and I could use a nice bed to sleep in. If you’re dead set on sleeping in the bed”—he patted the mattress beside him—“then have at it. I’m not sleeping on the bloody couch.”
Tessa gripped the collar of her T-shirt and pulled it up higher on her neck. Was he serious? She wouldn’t be caught dead sleeping in the bed with a stranger, even a handsome one. She opened her mouth to argue, but he was already snoring. Tessa exhaled a loud sigh and finished picking up the scattered papers. She left them on the dresser and turned off the bedroom light.
“This was unexpected.” She dropped onto the couch and texted Lily, even though Lily would probably think it was a prank.
There’s a jerk in my bed.
A few minutes later, Lily responded,Don’t feed him the pancakes.
