“I’m sorry.”
She’s quiet for an eternity—a torturously long eternity.
“No bullshit,” I say into the silence. Because I owe her at least that much. “It won’t happen again. I’ll make certain of that.”
More quiet in response.
More torturous silence.
More stormy gray eyes.
But then she seems to unstick, her fingers working on the buttons on my coat again—this time to undo them before she slips the material from her shoulders and hangs it onto the hook.
“Right then,” she says, brushing her hands together. “Should we get back to work?”
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Jade
I wake to a crackling sound.
The fireplace.
I’m warm and comfy and—wait.
There’s no fireplace in my room.
My eyes pop open, and the first thing I see is Royal, bent over, stoking the fire. And his ass—covered by loose gray sweats—looks good enough to take a bite out of.
I blink and rub my eyes.
“What time is it?” I ask in a voice still raspy from sleep.
“Just after nine in the morning.”
“When did…” I look down and note that I’m covered in a warm fleece blanket, a pillow tucked under my head.
“You fell asleep while we were talking,” he said, finally standing up straight and turning around. “You looked so comfortable, I grabbed a blanket and just let you sleep.”
Why does he have to be so sweet when he wants to be?
If he would just be a jerk all the time, it would be easier.
“I need to freshen up,” I murmur, swinging my legs over the edge and sitting up.
“I brewed a pot of coffee, so we can have breakfast whenever you’re ready. And I want to show you something I’ve been working on.”
“Okay.” My phone is still on the coffee table and as I stand up, my ringtone plays the theme to “Hawaii Five-0,” Farrah’s name flashing on the screen.
Firing her has turned into a whole situation that I’m sick of.
I press the button to send the call to voicemail, scowling at the screen.
“Someone can’t take no for an answer,” I mutter.
“What’s going on?” Royal asks quietly since he’s probably close enough to see who was calling.
“I fired my publicist, but my management company uses her for all of their artists so they’re pushing back.”