Red Lily (In the Garden 3)

“David packed you a bag.”

“David . . . well, that’s all right then. He’d know what I’d want.” She felt giddy little bubbles rising up in her throat. “We’re just staying?”

“That’s the plan. If it’s okay with you.”

“If it’s okay with me?” she repeated, and a gleam came into her eyes as she launched herself at him. “Let me show you what I think about that.”

LATER, SHE CAME rushing out of the bathroom. “Harper, did you see these robes? They’re so big and soft.” She stood rubbing a sleeve against her cheek. “There are two of them, one for each of us.”

Lazily, he opened one eye. The woman, he thought, was proving to be insatiable. Praise Jesus. “Nice.”

“Everything in here is wonderful.”

“Romeo and Juliet suite,” he murmured, almost drifting.

“What?”

“The suite. It’s the Romeo and Juliet suite.”

“Really, but that’s . . .” Her brows drew together. “Well, if you think about it, they were a couple of teenage suicides.”

On a laugh, he opened his eyes. “Trust you.”

“I never saw it as being romantic. Tragic is what it was—and plain stupid. Not the play,” she corrected, turning a circle to swirl the robe. “It’s brilliant, but those two? Oops, she’s dead, I’ll drink this poison. Oops, he’s dead, I’ll stab myself in the heart. I mean, Jesus, and I’m babbling.”

“What you are,” he said, staring at her, “is fascinating.”

“I get pretty opinionated about books. But whoever it’s named for, the suite’s downright awesome. It just makes me want to dance all around it, buck-ass naked.”

“I knew I should’ve brought a camera.”

“I wouldn’t mind.” Holding the robe up like a cape, she swirled once more. “I think it’d be sexy if we took naked pictures of each other. Then when I’m old, and all brittle and wrinkled up, I’d look at myself and remember being young.”

She bounced onto the bed. “You got any naked pictures of yourself?”

“Not so far.”

“Look at you.” She tickled his knee. “You’re embarrassed.”

“Not entirely.” Oh yeah, he thought, she was fascinating. “You got any?”

“Never trusted anybody enough before. And I’ve got this bony build. But you didn’t seem to mind it.”

“I think you’re beautiful.”

He meant it, and wasn’t that a miracle? She could see it in his eyes. She’d felt it in his touch. “I feel beautiful tonight.” She rose, wrapping the white robe around her. “All plush and lush and decadent.”

“Let’s order dessert.”

She stopped twirling. “Dessert? But it’s almost two in the morning.”

“They have this amazing invention called twenty-four-hour room service.”

“All night? I’m such a rube. But I don’t care.” She plopped back down on the bed. “Can we eat it up here? In bed?”

“The rules attached to twenty-four-hour room service are if you order after midnight, you’re required to eat in bed. Naked.”

She grinned wickedly. “Rules are rules.”