Page 52 of The Killer Who Kept Me

“Well, were you able to sort sleeping arrangements?”

“Mostly, but Penelope had to go to the study. I think we’re short one or two bedrooms, but I’m working it out.”

“You can give my room to someone. I rather like the conservatory, and the couch in there is so comfortable.”

She smiled and squeezed my arm. “I’m not sure Mr. Tancredi would like that very much.”

“Oh, because it’s his favorite room?”

She chuckled. “No, because you’re his favorite person, and he’d like you to have a bed.”

“Me?” My voice squeaked. “No, I’m not, but that’s nice of you to say. I’m really fine giving up my room, and that’s a choice I’m making.”

“Noted, dear. Why don’t you get some food? I know it’s ridiculously early, but when the body and mind are awake, they need energy.”

I was a little hungry, so I went into the dining room and fixed myself a small plate.

Kids were running around, the excitement of being up long after they should totally be asleep giving them boosts of energy. I was sure that in a couple of hours, they’d all be zonked out somewhere.

A few people came up and said hi, asked if I knew what was going on. While I did, it wasn’t my right to say anything, so I simply told them I was sure Saros would explain things soon enough.

I decided to go upstairs, and even though Martha told me I shouldn’t get out of this room, I grabbed a large duffel bag I saw at the bottom of the closet and started packing things up.

A knock on the door startled me and without thinking, I yelled, “Come in.”

Saros entered and opened his mouth only to frown. “Are you leaving?”

“Leaving, what?” Then I realized he had no idea what Martha and had I talked about. “No, not leaving, just relocating.”

“To where, and why?” He placed his hand on top of the bag as if in some sort of peaceful protest.

“Martha said they were short a room or two. While your house is huge, you have more people who work for you than you have bedrooms. I told her I loved the conservatory and wouldn’t mind moving there.”

“She’s putting you in there?”

“Oh, no, she isn’t. She actually argued with me over it, so I decided I was just going to go there. That will free up a room.”

“Absolutely not.” He pulled the bag away from me.

“Because you don’t want me in there?”

“You know I have no issues with you being in the conservatory, but there’s limited privacy.”

I waved him off and tried to yank the bag to me. “I don’t need privacy.”

“Everyone does, but I think I have a solution to the lack of space.”

“Oh?”

“Paulo will likely stay downstairs, and there are three beds there. I have my guys on rotation, anyway. But to free up this bedroom, I have an idea.”

I raised my brows. “Let’s hear it.”

“You can stay with me in mine.”

I blinked…then blinked some more because there was no way I wasn’t dreaming. “Stay with you, in your bedroom, in your bed, with you. Like the two of us together, beside one another?”

He chuckled. “Yes, Em, and regardless of what you’ve heard, I can be a gentleman.”

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