Page 12 of Seduction Under the Southern Stars

“The top floor?” I say.

“Only the best,” he replies.

My eyes widen. “You’re in the penthouse?”

He leans against the side wall of the carriage, just smiling.

I stand against the back wall, and we observe each other for a moment.

“You’ve done well for yourself,” I say eventually.

“So have you.”

“I’m not a millionaire.”

“‘The blessing of the Lord makes a person rich, and he adds no sorrow with it.’”

“Oh, for God’s sake, don’t quote the Bible at me,” I say crossly.

He gives a short laugh, sliding his hands into the pockets of his trousers. “Sorry.”

“I know I was prissy and self-righteous back then. But I’m not like that now. Not as much, anyway.”

“I liked self-righteous Lora,” he says, tipping his head to the side. “Innocence is an attractive quality.”

“Maybe when you’re ten. Not when you’re twenty-four.”

He just smiles. His gaze is a gentle caress. “You were the first person ever to show me kindness. I’ve never forgotten that. You were all of ten when I arrived at Greenfield. I was sitting outside your dad’s office, terrified, and you came and sat next to me and gave me half your Twix.”

“I remember. You had scars all over your face.”

“But you weren’t frightened of me?”

“No.” It hadn’t even occurred to me. All I’d seen was a scared boy who needed a friend.

His gaze skims down me, right to my shoes, before brushing back up to my face. Now, his eyes hold a hint of heat. “You’ve grown up,” he comments.

“All the way to a C cup,” I say with some sarcasm, presuming that he’s commenting on my figure.

He laughs as the elevator stops and the doors slide open. “You don’t blush as much,” he says as we walk out.

“I do. But my foundation is six inches thick now so it’s not as obvious.”

He chuckles, walking along the quiet corridor to one of the two doors that face each other in the middle. “You still have an English-rose complexion. I used to think you were cute, but you’re beautiful now.” He waves the keycard over the pad on the right-hand door, opens it, and goes inside, holding it open for me.

I pause on the threshold for a moment. He watches me, his brows drawing together.

“You okay?” he asks.

“Yes.”

“Are you coming in?”

“Give me a second.” I close my eyes and breathe in and out a couple of times.

“Elora,” he says softly. “I didn’t think. You don’t know me from Adam anymore. I shouldn’t have asked you up here.”

“It’s okay. Just give me a sec.” I think about his lovely compliment, I used to think you were cute, but you’re beautiful now. He’s not a stranger. We spent a lot of time alone together, walking in the forests around Greenfield, talking about archaeology and travel. He was like a brother to me, and I’m safe with him.

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