“And I’m very fond of you too, honey,” I replied just as something at the windows caught my attention.
Christian was walking through the garden again.
“I’ve spoken with Janelle,” Battle said in my ear while Christian passed. “Alas, she’s not very fond of me right now, but I’ll be home Thursday evening this week and working there from Wednesday on, for the most part, for at least the next six weeks.”
“That’s awesome, baby,” I said distractedly as I slowly got out of my chair and surreptitiously moved to the windows to see if I could get an angle toward the house and gardens to see if Chastity was on Christian’s trajectory.
It wasn’t a good angle. I was very much secluded by plants and shrubs and trees. I could see a hint of the caps of the north and south wings, but not much more.
And no Chastity.
“Did I lose you?” Battle said in my ear.
I turned away from the windows to give him my attention, but as I did, I saw something on the other side.
I focused on it.
Chastity was standing, wearing a pretty yellow sundress, and since the day was warm, no cardie. She had garden gloves on her hands, clippers in her fingers, her hair was a chaotic glory…
And she was gazing after Christian with…
Holy shit!
Longing.
“Vivi?”
I stared at her.
“Vivienne,” Battle growled in my ear. “Are you there?”
I twirled from the window and moved back to my desk chair, saying, “Sorry, yes. I’m here. I got distracted by some photos.”
Lie!
“Photos?”
“Would you be averse, if my publishers wish to print them, to me publishing some photos in the book?”
“No. Though I’ll add a caveat it depends which ones. Then again, I can’t imagine there would be anything in them I’d have concerns about sharing publicly.”
“I’m flagging them. I can show you when you get home.”
“That works.”
“It’s a plan.”
“Am I still in you?”
His words gave me a full body shudder.
“Yes,” I whispered.
“Brilliant, darling,” he purred. “Now I must go. I’ll text a goodnight.”
“I will too.”
“Speak soon.”
