“No problem whatsoever,” I declare.
“Good. You can make it a double date with Amalee. She has been asking about you nonstop.”
Amalee is the embodiment of a self absorbed narcissist and is the last person I want to spend any time with. But I guess it gives me an excuse to keep an eye on Cleo.
“Fine.”
Samuel narrows his eyes. He knows how much I detest Amalee. “Really?”
“Sure. People change, right?”
“Right. I’ll let her know you’ll pick her up around seven.”
“No need. She lives across the street from you, and Cleo lives in the same house as me. We can drive our respective dates and meet there.”
“Not exactly the beginning of a romantic encounter, allowing another man to chauffeur her.”
“I’ll make sure to let her know I insisted.”
Samuel huffs. “Fine.”
I raise a brow. “Fine.” He turns and disappears up the stairs after his team.
I make quick work of cleaning up the kitchen before goingin search of Cleo. I enter the pool house to find her stalking around the living room and picking up cushions. “Looking for something?” I ask.
Her body jerks, and she raises a hand to her chest as she spins to face me. “My book.”
I lean against the door frame and jerk my head at a stack of books under the side table. “Have you tried over there?”
She frowns and ducks before plucking up the book she is reading, the same one I read last night. “That makes no sense, this is my TBR pile.”
“TBR?”
“Yeah, to be read.” She holds the book close to her chest like a shield, her gaze flicking suspiciously between me and the pile, so I change the subject.
“What are you planning on doing first?”
She starts toward the bedroom. “A swim, followed by some reading. I guess I’ll see where the day takes me.” She pauses on the threshold. “It’s lasagne for dinner. Do you have it in hand or should I make it?”
“I’ve got dinner covered.”
“Cool.” She drags her teeth over her bottom lip, a gesture I’m realizing means she’s nervous or unsure.
“Did you need something else? I’m at your beck and call today.”
“No, that’s okay, thank you. I don’t normally take days off, even though Helen tries to force them on me. I like to keep busy, as it stops the thoughts.” A bright blush spreads across her cheeks and she peers at her feet. “I don’t know why I just told you that. I hardly know you,” she mutters.
I stalk closer. “We could rectify that.”
She blinks at me. “What?”
“Not knowing me. I’ll offer you a deal. Every day, I will tell you one truth of your choice, and you tell me one of yours.”
Her eyes widen with interest before a frown creases her forehead. “I’m not doing that.”
I hold up my hands. “I promise not to ask questions linked to what or whom you are running from, and if I do, you can refuse.”
She swallows. “Okay. What do you want to know?”
