I hold my breath.
More silence.
Whoever it is must’ve stopped walking.Outside my door?
I tighten the sash on my bathrobe and pad over to the door, still gripping the tiny wine bottle. I twist the handle and ease the door open.
Arms folded, Alex is across the hallway, leaning back against a doorframe I presume is his. He’s ditched his tie and jacket, but not the rest.
He lifts his head and looks me straight in the eye.
“Well, this isn’t awkward at all,” I say.
His mouth twitches. “Couldn’t sleep?”
“No.” I step into the hallway and lean against my doorframe, mimicking his stance. “Don’t tell me you’re out here hoping for a breakthrough in some math problem.”
“I’m out here hoping for…” He shrugs. “I don’t know. Air. A better mattress. You?”
“Wine,” I say, lifting the bottle. “Didn’t help.”
“Mine didn’t either.” He straightens and takes a step toward me. “So, I take it you don’t have a backup bottle?”
“Were you planning to steal my sad minibar stash?”
“I’d offer to trade you my peanuts,” he says, “but I already ate them.”
“Ah.”
He stops in front of me.Close. Too close.
We stare at each other for a moment. He’s disheveled and a little crumpled but still magnificent. I’m wine buzzed and sleep-deprived, facing him in the fluffy glory of terry cloth.
I should bid him good night. The only sensible thing to do is to retreat, close the door and remember all the reasons I can’t stand him.
Instead, I hear myself say, “You want to come in, don’t you?”
He swallows hard. “Do you want me to?”
“No,” I say. “Sleeping with the enemy never worked for anyone.”
“Wiser words were never spoken,” he agrees, his dark gaze glued to my cleavage.
I adjust the bathrobe. Then I turn around, and walk back inside, leaving the door open.
Behind me, footfalls follow. He closes the door gently.
I toss the bottle into the bin and turn to face him.
Alex stands in the middle of my room, watching me with an intensity that makes my heart skip a beat.
“This is a terrible idea,” I say.
He walks toward me. “Definitely.”
“You’re Geoffroy’s brother.”
“Estranged half brother,” he corrects. “Are you grieving him?”
