Desire?
I deny it the moment I recognize the feeling, but I can’t ignore the dampness between my legs.
Baylor’s mouth comes an inch closer to mine, but as soon as my hands connect with his chest, his equally hungry stare is replaced with the cold steel I know all too well.
What the hell just happened?
“I’ll give you the room,” he finally says, lowering his mouth so I can feel his breath against my neck, “as long as you promise me you’ll never do that again. Not for me or anyone else in this house. You hear me?”
All I manage is a single nod in agreement.
Baylor’s hand rifles in his front pocket, and he pulls out a few large bills, throwing a dark grin down at me as he shoves the money in my face. “For the show.”
My blood boils. I slide one of my legs between his and slowly raise my knee to his groin. “Put that back in your pocket, or I’ll make sure you never have children.”
Baylor’s brows shoot up as the threat drips from my tongue. He chuckles, placing the money back inside his pants. Then, he leaves me, walking out with a certain swagger in his step I’m sure all the boys mastered at a douchebag academy of some sort.
“I’ll come by in the morning to grab my things.Do nottouch anything,” I hear him say from the bedroom door before it slams shut.
I hold on to the sink for a few minutes until I can gather myself again, and then I saunter over to the closet. The wood door slides open with the tiniest bit of effort, revealing Baylor’s neatly organized wardrobe. I run my fingers over the expensive fabric of his shirts and menacingly take one out, slip it over my head, and climb into bed.
His scent invades my nose and alarms me from my sleep in the early hours of the morning. Baylor’s clean, sweet smell of bergamot and persimmon from his shampoo and the airy, woodsy smell on his shirt give me the illusion of what it must be like to be wrapped in his arms. It confuses me why that doesn’t make me want to rip the shirt off and chop my hair with the nearest pair of scissors, but I ignore the lack of disgust and focus on my grumbling stomach.
I stand and look down at the white cuffs of the button-up I’m swimming in and smile. The fabric is soft and luxurious, but, fortunately, prone to wrinkles. I giggle as I remove it and carefully place it back on the hanger in the closet, precisely where I found it.
After changing into jeans and a dark green flannel, I fix my hair into some loose curls and put on a spot of makeup before heading downstairs to find some breakfast.
I’m led to the kitchen by strings of frosted garland and warm lights. I wish I could frame the view of the snow-covered pine trees and mountain peaks from the large bay window. It almost doesn’t look real. I don’t understand how Mr. and Mrs. Donner miss this every year to spend the holiday in Paris. There’s no way the view there is as good as this one.
I’m surprised to find I’m not alone with how quiet the house is when I meet one of the Donner family’s workers, Marta, taking ingredients out of the refrigerator. She looks exhausted and crabby, but I would be too if I had to get up this early every morning to feed a bunch of people. I guess that’s what I’m doing, but I got plenty of sleep last night, and I want to make breakfast even though I don’t have to.
It takes a lot of convincing, but I finally pry the eggs out of her grip and send her back to bed.
My stomach growls as I familiarize myself with the kitchen, searching for ingredients, bowls, and a pan. I’ve never made food for four guys, so I decide on pancakes since they’re filling and easy to make a lot of.
“Aspen Holly.” A deep voice pierces through the quiet.
I jump, sending my bowl onto the floor. I quickly turn and see Luke wincing at the loud crash of metal.
“Jesus, Luke! Are you trying to give me a heart attack?” I try to calm my racing pulse.
“Sorry about that. Good thing it was empty, eh?” he says, handing it back to me. “I heard you got in last night. How come you didn’t come hang out with us?”
I smile to hide my nerves. “I was just tired.”
“We didn’t scare you away by crashing your plans with Henry, did we?”
I shake my head.Was I that obvious?“Why are you awake so early?”
“I’m an early riser. It’s a curse and a blessing, I guess.”
“Why do you say that?”
“Well, I don’t always get my beauty rest.” His grin is flirtatious as he slides down the counter next to me. He braces the heels of his hands on the marble countertop behind him.
“And the blessing?” I dare to ask.
“Well, today, I get to spend some quiet time with you.” His grin is the only thing I find attractive about him. That and his rather remarkable IQ.
