He helps me out of the back of the cab, then lets his eyes roam down my body. “How tall are you?” he asks.
“Five six.” I frown. “Why?”
He shrugs. “You seemed taller.”
Men.
“That’s because all the times I’ve seen you, besides the bakery, I was in four-inch heels.”
The wind picks up at that moment, whipping my hair in front of his face.
Harrison reaches out with both hands—I ignore the warmth shooting through my body as our skin touches—and pushes my hair behind my ears.
“Better,” he whispers. “Your face is too perfect to hide, especially from me.”
“I beg to differ. It’s probably you I need to hide from the most.”
With his hands still cupping my face, he leans down and lightly kisses my lips. “Let’s go.”
I glance around the penthouse in complete awe.
It’s stunning.
Lived in, yet contemporary and well-designed, not to mention the kitchen is to die for. Top-of-the-line appliances and enough workspace on the thickly veined marble island with a waterfall edge to do some serious baking on.
“It’s beautiful here, and so much more lived in than the last place you took me,” I joke. “Is this your home?”
“It is. Would you like a glass of wine?”
I wasn’t going to drink today, but maybe one glass will help my nerves. “Sure. Could I please have some water as well?”
I want to wander around and take it all in. I see a baby picture of who I can only assume is Claud in the corner, but I stay close to Harrison instead.
His demeanor changed the second we entered his private elevator. I think he’s uncomfortable with me being here. Which makes sense based on what he’s told me, so instead of wandering around, I lean on the counter and take in the rest of the kitchen.
“I don’t know why I thought maybe you would live in a townhouse, not a penthouse. Though I have to admit this place is bigger than most houses.”
He passes me my wine and clinks my glass, smirking. “What?”
“Nate and Leo are building me a house. You’ve been there.” I narrow my eyes, confused. “At the BUO event.”
“Still have no clue what you’re talking about.”
“The masquerade party, Juliette.”
“Oh.” I scrunch up my nose, embarrassed. “I was invited last minute, and then I was so distracted with you once I got there that I never found out what the charity was for. I know that’s terrible.”
He chuckles softly. “Building Unity Organization was founded by my brothers to build up towns and villages that need assistance.”
“Oh.” I gulp my wine back, even more embarrassed now. “That’s amazing and something I probably should have paid more attention to. So, are they both architects?”
His eyes linger over me briefly before answering. “They are. A bit attached at the hip, those two. They were in the same classes in college, had an internship at the same firm, and now own one together.”
“That’s impressive.” I think for a second, unsure if this is an appropriate question, but it’s been on my mind. “Can I ask you something?”
He leans back on the counter and crosses his legs at his ankles, and for a second, my brain fizzles. He takes a long sip of his wine, his eyes never leaving mine. “Sure.”
“You refer to Leo as your brother, is he…”
