Page 177 of Pervade London
Xavier leaned in for a kiss, and then made me uneasy by pulling back a little.
It was as though he was trying to read me better, the way he assessed me with his laser-sharp perception.
“I’m nervous about seeing Kitty again,” I said quickly. “I was a bit mean to her yesterday.”
“Nothing to be nervous about.”
I reached for the seatbelt and clipped it in.
“You’ll have a great time.”
“Yes.”
He started to turn away, and then looked back at me. “Are you hiding something, Em?”
“Did you know?” I asked, gazing at him steadily. “That she was spying for James.”
Xavier gave a cautious glance over at Gary and continued in a low voice. “I should have taken the time to meet her.”
“You didn’t want to meet my friends.”
“We’ll talk more when you come home.”
He leaned in and kissed me tenderly, his soft lips as yielding as mine—as forgiving as they were comforting.
“I love you,” I whispered.
His eyes crinkled into a smile and then there came a change in his expression, an uncanny reflection of doubt in those pale blue irises. Then he pulled away and walked back into the house.
Had I just given myself away?
After unclipping my seatbelt, I leaned forward to get Gary’s attention. “I forgot something.”
He let me out and I ran back, ducking by the front window. I accessed the garden with a turn of the key and then quickly picked up my violin case, along with the canvas bag that was resting beside it. Sneaking along the wall, I exited the garden and hurried back to the SUV.
After settling into the luxurious passenger seat, I braved a look into the rearview mirror and found Gary staring back at me.
“We can go now,” I said.
“Ma’am, I thought you were having dinner?”
“I am.”
“Then why are you bringing your instrument?”
“Kitty’s never seen a Strad.”
His brow furrowed. “What’s in the bag?”
I glanced down. “A gift.”
His fingers tapped the steering wheel as he thought this through.
I stared through the front window, trying to act casual. “How’s traffic?”
Giving me one last suspicious look, he relented and started the engine.
Don’t do it.
