I growl a little.
“Want him out of there?” Killian asks.
I blow out a breath. This sounds like an offer. “He’s got nowhere to go.”
“Is this your problem?” Killian asks, notching an eyebrow.
I shake my head. “No, but you gave him two weeks, so I figured that was time he’d have to get his life together.”
“You think he’s gonna do that?”
I shrug.
Killian puts his chopsticks down and crosses his arms over his chest, eyes on me, waiting for an answer.
I shrug again instead of answering.
He’s not gonna do that. He’s going to scramble to try to scam and figure things out and when he doesn’t get anywhere, he’s going to sit there and cry in front of Killian, pleading for forgiveness and then what’ll happen? What’ll Killian do about that?
“You want him out of there, I’ll get him out,” he offers.
“I’ll just deal when it’s time for me to go back. I’m used to cleaning up after him.”
“You shouldn’t have to clean up after anyone,” he grits out, then wipes his mouth with his napkin and stands.
“Susanna will help me clean up. I’m not alone anymore.”
Our eyes meet again.
And I almost ask. I almost ask what’ll happen to Ray if he doesn’t have the money by the deadline.
He goes back to the fridge and takes out another bottle of water and drinks half of it down.
Instead of asking, I say, “Well, I’m full. I should go start on my hair and makeup. We have to go in about an hour.”
“Yeah, I guess we do.”
I snatch up our dirty dishes and take them to the sink.
“Thanks,” he says. “Guess I’ll go make myself beautiful.”
“It won’t take much,” I say, appreciating his effort to lighten the mood.
His eyes sparkle and travel the length of me. Again.
“I mean… guys have it so easy. A quick shower and a shave and you’re ready. We have to primp, smooth, and pluck for hours to get presentable.”
“I do my share of manscaping, too,” he informs. “All this takes a bit of effort.” He gestures to himself.
My eyes peruse him from head to toe lazily, but then my cheeks go beet red.
He barks out a laugh but then moves closer, then leans over and tucks a curl behind my ear. “You’re already beautiful, Violet. No primping or makeup even necessary. Those dimples are one of your best assets.” He moves away and eyes my legs, or maybe my butt, or maybe both before he goes, I sway on my feet briefly. I sway toward him, like he’s got some sort of gravitational pull.
He looks over his shoulder at me and winks before he moves further away but then he stops and stares out the window. “What happened out there?” His back has gone arrow-straight.
“Do you mean the furniture cushions and lanterns? I put them away. I was out there and didn’t want them getting ruined with the weather. Or blowing away. It was getting a bit nasty earlier.”
He looks at me strangely. “Thank you.”
I shrug.
“You sweep out there, too?” he asks.
“Yeah. There were lots of leaves.”
He gives me a weird look. “You don’t have to do that shit. You’re a guest.”
“Aren’t I your prisoner?” I volley.
He smirks. “Yeah, actually. You are. And I demand you not do any manual labor.”
And then he turns and disappears down the hall.
I watch him go and continue to watch where he went, gaping at the hallway. It’s been a long time since Ray complimented my looks. I’m not a superficial person who believes that looks are everything, but it sure is nice to get a compliment. And as serious as Killian is at times (very), he’s also playful and fun.
I finish cleaning up and grab the extra shoes as well as my jewelry and go back to my room to finish getting ready.
I’m thrilled to have my christening necklace back. I always planned to save it for my first child. And there’s my diamond earrings and solitaire diamond necklace, a grad gift from my folks. They’re not overly flashy, just small princess cut diamond studs with a gold choker that has a matching diamond pendant inside the letter V, but I know my mom saved up for them and they mean a lot to me. I’ve only worn them on special occasions, but I’ve already decided they’re not coming off anytime soon – now that I’ve got them back.
In addition to that, I have back a pair of birthstone earrings from my grandparents that I got when I turned twelve and was allowed to finally get my ears pierced as well as a V initial ring that I got when I was sixteen from my parents, a delicate but much-loved Gucci-style silver bracelet that my brother bought me for Christmas two years ago, and a gold anklet that Susanna bought me for my sweet sixteen birthday.