Page 168
Her stomach betrayed her with a soft growl. "I wasn't hungry," she lied.
"Well, your stomach just told me that you are hungry now."
"I suppose."
"Dinner is in twenty minutes,” he said.
"I can make myself something,” she assured.
"Maria has already made dinner."
Lily sighed dramatically. "I feel spoiled. I’m not used to having someone make me my meals.”
"You've mistaken basic care for spoiling, Lily,” he said.
His quiet observation hit harder than either of them expected. She opened her mouth, but no words came out. She couldn’t argue with him, because he was right. No one had simply taken care of her before. Not in years. Maybe not ever. The lump in her throat returned, and she quickly looked toward the bookshelf before he could see how emotional she had become. But it seemed to be too late. Soren noticed everything.
"I'll give you five minutes,” he said.
"For what?" she asked.
"To choose a book.” He nodded to the bookshelves, and she smiled.
"What if I need six?" she asked.
His expression remained perfectly serious. "I'll allow it."
She laughed—a real laugh this time, but Soren didn't laugh with her. She didn’t miss the tiny upward tug at the corner of his mouth. He'd smiled. It was only for a heartbeat, and then it quickly disappeared, but she had made him smile.
As he turned and left the library, Lily hugged the book to her chest. For the first time in a very long time, she felt something she hadn't expected to find inside the home of a man she should fear—she felt safe.
Chapter Seven
Lily
Sleep never lasted. It came in short, fractured pieces, each one dragging Lily back into the conference room. Every time she closed her eyes, she heard the gunshot, saw Richard collapse, and felt the glass explode behind her. Then the dreams changed. She was back in her old apartment. The smell of stale beer filled the air. She could hear heavy footsteps and the familiar rattle of keys in the front door.
"What did I tell you?" It was her ex’s voice, and she couldn’t help her tremble. She flinched before the first blow even landed.
"No—” Her voice came out as a whisper. "I didn't mean to—” The bedroom around her faded, and the nightmare swallowed her whole.
"You're always making me angry," he growled.
"I'm sorry." She was always apologizing for the way that he felt because he told her that his feelings were her fault. She believed him too.
"Sorry isn't good enough,” he spat. She jerked awake with a strangled gasp, her heart pounding so violently she thought it might burst through her ribs. Darkness surrounded her, and for one terrifying moment, she couldn't remember where she was.
Lightning flashed outside the bedroom windows, and she quickly looked around the room. She was at Soren’s estate—in his house, and safe. She dragged in a shaky breath, but it did nothing to stop the panic tightening around her chest.
She couldn't stay in her room—not alone. Before she could talk herself out of it, she threw back the covers and padded into the hallway barefoot. The house was quiet. She could only hear the distant rumble of thunder as it echoed through the halls.
She remembered Soren saying his bedroom was at the opposite end of the second floor. Her feet carried her there as though by instinct. She reached his door and hesitated. This was ridiculous. He was probably asleep, and she didn’t want to bother him.
Lily was about to turn around and head back to her room when she heard the faint sound of running water coming from inside the room. She was sure that it was the shower, which meant that Soren was awake. She knocked softly, and he didn’t answer. She tried again, a little louder.
"Lily." His deep voice carried easily through the door. "It's open." She eased it open just enough to peek inside. The bedroom was dark except for a bedside lamp left burning low. Steam drifted from the partially open bathroom door.
"I—I'm sorry,” she stuttered when she realized that she was interrupting his evening.
