Page 24 of At His Wife's Behest

“I rarely eat breakfast.” He seemed distant, unlike the night before. Had the kiss crossed a line?

“Most important meal of the day,” Connor murmured above the rim of his cup.

Kellan sighed. “You’re as bad as Abby, though I think you’re to blame for that.”

“As bad as Abby? I take offense to that, mostly because your daughter is a damned delight.”

Kellan half-smiled over the rim of his cup. He placed it back on the table and sized Connor up. “Are you just saying that because you’re spending the week in my family’s Italian villa?”

“I think we both know I’m not. Abby is one of my best students. She’s competent. She’s kind. Shows compassion.” Connor smiled. “I think I know where she gets allthatfrom.”

Satisfaction spread over Kellan’s face—yet there still seemed to be a sense of distance.

He bit off another bit of pastry, inwardly moaning at how good it was. “You’re really going to let Ana Maria’s hard work go to waste?”

Connor grinned, watching Kellan reluctantly get up and fill his own small plate. “I did a little research for the museum. I don’t know if you drove in or not—or if we’d need to call for a taxi? How’s your Italian?”

Kellan returned to the table. “I know a bit of Spanish, which I know isn’t all that helpful—but a lot of the words are similar. Between that and Google translate, I might be able to make my way through.”

“That should do it.” Connor took another bite of his pastry, noting Kellan had yet to touch his food.“Eat.”

“I’m not very hungry,” Kellan murmured, his expression tired.

“Did you not sleep well?”

Kellan shrugged. “Well enough, I suppose.”

“Something wrong?”

“No.”Kellan spat. He grabbed the pastry and tore off a piece, dipping it in his coffee before popping it into his mouth.

“Was it something I said?”Or something I did?

Kellan met his gaze, face blank. “I saidnothingwas wrong.”

“Okay, fine,” Connor lifted his palms in surrender. “Be a grump if you want.”

“I’m not a grump,”Kellan snapped.

“Okay then,” Connor whispered.Maybe he’s not a morning person. No, I’ve seen him many a morning dropping Abby off, and he’s never appeared cranky. It’s me… it has to be me.

Kellan drained his coffee and rose to pour another. They finished their breakfast in an uncomfortable silence until Kellan reached for his phone and dialed a number.

“Buongiorno,”Kellan said. “Un taxi?”

After prattling off the address for the villa, Kellan eyed him. “I think they said twenty minutes. Trenta is twenty, right?”

“Going by Starbucks cup sizes,” Connor said. “It’s thirty.”

“Right!” Kellan said, chuckling.“Ventiis twenty.”

The chill to the air warmed with that chuckle.

“If you need to collect anything before we leave, I suggest you do it now.”

“I’m good to go,” Connor said.

Kellan met his stare. He moved a bit closer, looking as if he wanted to say something.

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