“Did you enjoy your tour?”
Cora looked up at Saiden’s question and nodded. “This place is incredible, and I’ve never seen anything so grand before. It’s hard to imagine people just living here like a regular home. It feels more like it should be a museum or something.”
“Wait until you see the gardens tomorrow,” Tressa gushed. “They’re so gorgeous you could die.”
Cora dropped her fork, cringing as a loud clatter echoed through the dining room.
“Not funny, Tress,” Saiden said to his cousin who looked mortified by her own comment.
“I’m so sorry,” she stammered. “I didn’t even think.”
Cora evaluated the panicking woman for a second. The spike of anxiety she’d felt from the offhand comment seemed to slither away, and she chuckled. “It’s okay. I had the same reaction yesterday when I told Saiden he drove like a bat out of Hell.”
“Well, that is true,” Tressa pointed out, taking a sip of her water.
A silence settled over the table as Cora finished up the last of her pasta. “Aren’t you guys going to eat?” she asked, eyeing the empty plates in front of Tressa and Saiden.
“I already ate,” Tressa blurted out at the same time Saiden said, “I’ll eat later.”
“Okaaaay,” she drawled, feeling a slight itch of discomfort when she remembered just who she was sitting across from. She should be thankful they weren’t indulging in what was likely their standard dinner.
Cora set her fork down and stood up from the table. “I’m starting to feel a little stuffed. Could one of you show me where I can crash tonight? I promise I’ll be out of your hair as soon as I talk to Marquin. He’ll be back tomorrow, right?”
“Oh, definitely,” Tressa said. “But let’s worry about tomorrow later. Now, about your room…”
“I’ll take her,” Saiden interjected, pushing back from the table. “She will be most comfortable in the East Hall.”
Tressa and Saiden exchanged a quick look, and Cora was starting to get annoyed at all the unspoken conversations those two had. Either they knew each other very well, or Saiden was hiding a telepathic ability because Tressa just settled back into her seat, seemingly happy to let Saiden take over.
Cora traipsed after Saiden as he led her around a few corners and down a long hall toward the east side of the mansion where he paused in front of a closed door.
“Listen, about your room…” he began.
“I’m sure it’s fine,” Cora interrupted. “As long as there’s a bed, I’ll survive. It’s just one night.”
“Right. Ummm… Okay then.” Saiden pushed open the door and gestured for her to enter.
Stepping over the threshold, Cora tried to keep the disappointment off her face. The room was so… boring. She’d honestly expected something a bit more gothic and dramatic, something that fit the rest of the home’s antique interior. This room barely had anything on the lame beige walls, and the basic blue curtains looked like something she could buy on the cheap at any discount thrift store. One blocky dresser squatted next to a bookshelf loaded to the brim with classic hardbacks, and another sat next to an oversized bed that took up the majority of the space. With a deep mahogany frame and black comforter, it was the only thing even remotely dark and mysterious. So much for gaining inspiration from her surroundings.
“I know it’s small, but…”
“It’s fine,” Cora cut him off, setting her overnight bag on the dresser beside the bed. “Like I said, all I need is a bed.”
“I’m sorry it’s not very nice. This room hasn’t exactly seen a woman’s touch. There’s a bathroom through there,” Saiden said, pointing out a door off to the side that she missed in her initial inspection. “Towels are in the cabinet if you want to shower. If you need anything, just open the door and yell. The rooms are somewhat soundproofed, so you should at least have some privacy here.”
Cora nodded as she sat on the edge of the bed and waited for Saiden to close the door. When he leaned against the frame with no obvious intentions of leaving, she asked, “Is that all?”
He ran a hand through his hair. “Yeah, I guess. Unless you need anything?”
Cora eyed him, the casual way he rested with one arm on the frame, his muscular body taking up the entire doorway. The man wore death like an old familiar jacket, yet seeing him so relaxed made her want to dive inside and unravel his darkest mysteries. Cora could practically seeherself getting up from the bed and crossing over to him. She imagined wrapping her arms around his neck and pulling his lips down to hers. She imagined forgetting for just one night all the things that were wrong with her, and all the reasons being with Saiden was a bad idea.
Unfortunately, her head had always been stronger than her heart. Okay, it was actually something a bit further south that was making demands, but rationality still won out.
“I’m good,” she said quietly. “Thanks, Saiden. For everything. Not just the white knight routine this afternoon but bringing me up here at all. It means a lot that you’re willing to let me have a chance. I’m guessing you don’t do this often.”
“Never,” he confirmed, backing out of the room. “Good night, Cora.”
“Good night, Saiden.”
