“All right,” she said after a few seconds.Let the games begin.
“Brayden, do you have something nicer to wear, or should I send Charles out to buy some clothes for you?” Laylani asked.
Scarlett narrowed her eyes.This bitch doesn’t quit.
Brayden remained unfazed. “I’m all set, thanks. I’m sure Scarlett will make sure I’m dressed appropriately—won’t you, sweetheart?”
He was so good at managing Laylani.
Her face lit up. “Of course.” Scarlett would love to pick his clothes out every day for the rest of his life, if he’d let her. Her eyes raked over him. Even in his rumpled travel clothes, all it took to rile her up was a long glance at his muscular body. Goddess, he looked good in everything he wore.
“Excellent. I’ll ring The Twig and Vine. Let’s plan for dinner at seven tomorrow evening.” Laylani’s high heels sounded like hammers on the marble floor as she walked away.
Beni emerged from the hallway that led to his old room carrying his computer and a pile of clothes in his laundry basket. “I’m moving into Manon’s room.”
“Good idea,” said Scarlett, relieved to hear he’d be closer to her. She and Brayden followed him up the marble staircase.
Upstairs, she led Brayden into her bedroom. The bed was made, and the IV stand and other hospital equipment were gone. She let out a sigh and wrung her hands, unsure of what to do now that she was home.
Brayden set their bags down and studied the art in her room with interest. Elaborate hand-painted wallpaper decorated the walls, and a fresco of a dawn sky, complete with frolicking angels, covered her ceiling. He stopped near one of her walls to study a detailed peacock roosting among a cluster of brilliantly blooming flowers, which had always been one of her favorite bits of art in this room.
“This house is something else,” he said.
“Do you like it?” she asked, eager to know his thoughts. She’d always loved her family home. It was filled with ancient art kept in timeless perfection. The ceilings were covered in either frescoes or crown molding. There were tapestries andoil paintings on almost every wall. Brayden lived in a working castle, so it wasn’t like he was used to a snug family home like Manon’s tree house, but would he think this was like living in a museum? His room, while spacious, had been much cozier than hers. To her surprise, the mental comparison made her like her own room just a little less.
“I can’t believe this is your room,” he said. “Is the whole house like this?”
“Some of the best frescoes are in here, but yes. The whole house is pretty elaborate.” She held out her hands, wanting to touch him.
Brayden crossed the space between them in two steps. She wrapped her arms around his waist as he looked down at her. “How are you?” he asked. “After seeing her again.”
Scarlett’s face fell as she let some of the emotions she’d been battening down below the surface rise. “It took everything I had to remain calm down there. She ruined my life when I was a child, and for what? Did she even love my dad in the end? It’s harder than I imagined, being here again.” Her voice broke. “I’m glad you’re with me. I know it’s not convenient for you and the whole visit might be awful.” She rubbed her eyes, sniffing. “But I’m so glad you’re here. I’d be struggling more if it were just Beni and me.” Scarlett leaned into his touch.
As she pressed her face into his chest, his grip tightened around her.
“I’m really glad I’m here too. And Scar?”
She pulled back to look at him. He seemed conflicted. “Yes?”
“I was thinking while we were on the train.”
Uh-oh.
“It’s not like that,” he said hurriedly, seeing her tense. “It’s just about the reason I’m here. I’m here to protect you.”
She cocked her head. “And?”
He gestured to the couch next to her bookshelves in the corner.“I think I should sleep there.”
Scarlett flinched and took a step back. “Why?”
He pulled her closer, refusing to let her back away. “Just for now, okay? Until you get a bodyguard, I need to focus on keeping you safe. I’ll probably get up a couple of times a night to do a sweep of the house and check the security footage. I can’t do that if I’m getting lost in you for hours every evening, which I know will happen if I don’t have some discipline.”
She lifted her chin. “So you’re not rejecting me because you’re mad at me?”
He cupped the nape of her neck. “I’m not rejecting you. I’m putting your safety first. I also don’t want to make this week more intense for you than it needs to be. You need rest.” He swallowed, searching her face for a reaction. “Goddess knows, neither of us slept much last night.”
She stared at the floor. Her thoughts spun as she focused inward, trying to process what he’d just said. How could she not take this as rejection? Did he really think it was necessary to sleep on the couch? She’d probably lie awake later wondering if they were headed for a quick divorce as soon as this was all over.
