“Thank you,” Madison says quietly, going over and sitting on the bed.
“Yours is across the hall,” Lillianna gestures toward the door opposite.
“Get settled in and then come to my room,” I tell Madison.
She nods, and I turn to Lillianna, who has stepped into the hallway. “I’m across the hall, all the way at the end.”
“Where’s Thorne’s room?” Heat rushes to my cheeks. Why did I ask?
Lillianna’s brows shoot up, and her smile is…it’s trouble. My heart begins to pound. Does she know something? “Any reason you’re asking?”
“I want to know which areas to avoid. You know, to give everyone their privacy. Space.” Shut up. Stop babbling. I clamp my mouth shut.
Her expression tells me she’s not buying it, but all she says is, “Let me show you your room.”
She opens the door to reveal a room decorated in soft grey-blue tones. Modern furniture, floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the pool. The door to the walk-in closet that is bigger than my apartment sits open, and I see my luggage.
“The pool is heated year-round,” Lillianna says. “Gym is in the walk-out basement. That’s where you’ll find the second pool. You can get to it from inside and outside the house. The home theater is in the east wing. There’s also a library. It’s next to the entry. Also, on the main floor at the back of the house is Thorne’s bedroom.” She looks directly at me, and I swear there’s a trouble-making glint in her eyes.
I clear my throat. “Good to know. I’ll be sure not to wander in there by accident.”
A grin spreads across Lillianna’s face. “Yes, not by accident.”
“Lillianna…” But I’m not sure what I want to say. Thank you? I'm sorry? Do you somehow know I slept with your brother?
“Look, I get it,” she says. “You’re her guardian. You didn’t ask for this either. Neither did I…”
“But she’s fourteen and alone. Looking for a family,” I add.
Lillianna tilts her head from side to side. “And she’s a sister from my dad’s mistress. It’s complicated.” Her gaze moves between Madison’s door and me. “So let’s go with being civil. We’ll figure out the rest as we go.”
It’s not warmth, but it’s not hostility either. It’s the best we can hope for under the circumstances.
“Civil works,” I agree.
“Good.” Lillianna checks her phone. “I have some calls to make. Settle in, take a shower, whatever. Dinner’s at seven.Patricia will send someone to get you if you can’t find your way back.”
She leaves without another word, her footsteps fading down the hallway and then the stairs.
My phone buzzes, and I pull it from my purse.It's from Dave.
Hey. Just checking you made it. Let me know when you're settled. Dinner this week?
I should jump at the chance. A man who is genuinely happy to hear from me, uncomplicated and easy, no hidden agendas or cold blue eyes that see straight through me one minute and look right past me the next.
We never ended up meeting. Not after the bomb Madison dropped. I'd told him about my three month stay. He had been way too happy about the news for my casual hook-up guy. Since I want nothing serious, I considered breaking things off with him. But I need a reminder that there's life beyond Blackstone drama. That there are men beyond the man I'll be living with for the next three months.
I type back.
Made it. It's complicated. I'll be in touch.
Vague. Noncommittal. Fair, given everything.
I toss the phone on my bed and unpack.
I'm hanging the last of my blouses in the walk-in closet when Madison appears, arms wrapped around her middle. “Lillianna hates me.”
“She doesn’t hate you. She’s just... processing.” I’m not sure that is true, but what else can I say?
