Page 64 of Immortal By Morning
That was rather embarrassing, she decided.
“Abril is not in the office!”
Crispin’s panicked voice reached the kitchen a heartbeat before he did. That panic was also on his face, until Lucian pointed her way and he spotted her still in the corner between the window and the refrigerator.
“What are you doing out here?” he asked with surprise, hurrying over to catch her arm and usher her toward the hall, making sure to position himself between her and the windows. “You should not be out here now that the blinds are open.”
“I know,” she said with a little exasperation. “But I was thirsty. I also got us some snacks. I thought we could eat them while we watch a movie,” she told him and when he glanced at her empty hands, she said, “I already took the snacks into the office, but the drinks are on the island and I didn’t get glasses or ice cubes.”
“Oh. Okay. Well, I put your suitcase and overnight bag in the bathroom across the hall from your office so that you can change and do whatever women do before bed in there when you are ready. But in the meantime, a movie sounds good.”
“Actually, I think I’ll take a quick shower and put on some pj’s now to be comfy while we watch the movie,” she announced, breaking off from him to enter the bathroom as they reached it. “That way if I fall asleep during the movie I won’t have to wake up enough to do it then.”
“Sounds like a plan,” Crispin said with amusement. “I will go back and get the drinks while you do that then.”
“Okay,” she said lightly, and smiled at him before easing the bathroom door closed. She waited until she heard his footsteps moving away up the hall, and then turned to peer at the items he’d set beside the sink counter.
As he’d said, Crispin had brought both her suitcase and her overnight bag, and both were full. He hadn’t just packed her clothes, which were very neatly folded by the way, he’d also gathered all her items from the bathroom, from her toothbrush and Waterpik, to her face soap and lotions. She didn’t think he’d missed athing. Not only was the man fast, but he appeared to be as detail oriented as she was, Abril thought to herself as she turned on the shower.
Abril wasn’t someone to relax and take her time over her bedtime ritual. She was usually exhausted by the time she started it, and rushed through everything to get it done and get to bed. It was no different tonight. Not because she was exhausted, but because she knew Crispin was probably waiting for her. All told, she probably only took fifteen minutes in the bathroom, and that included her shower. She then closed up her suitcases and set them in the hall just so the bathroom wouldn’t be so cramped when he wanted to use it.
Pulling the bathroom door closed, Abril then hesitated outside the closed door to her office, suddenly shy about entering.
“Stop dillydallying and get in your office,” Lucian suddenly barked from the kitchen.
“Oh my God!” Abril snapped as she reached for the door handle. “Is it possible to have any privacy at all around you people?”
“No,” Lucian said promptly.
Glaring at the back of his head where he sat at the island, she opened her office door and entered.
“Lucian can be difficult,” Crispin told her with sympathy, letting the blinds slide back into place from where he’d tugged them aside to look out at the side yard where the excavations were taking place.
Abril pushed the door closed and shrugged. “He’s not as scary as he thinks he is.”
Crispin’s eyebrows rose slightly and amusement pulled at his lips. “He will be crushed to hear that, I am sure. I am also sure most people would not agree with you.”
“Most people didn’t grow up with my father, Agustin, and Agustin’s father,” she said dryly as she crossed to the bed and then stood there uncertainly.
“I like your pajamas. They are quite nice,” he said after watching her get settled. He was still hovering by the blinds that covered the sliding doors, looking like he didn’t know what to do with himself she noted, but smiled faintly at the compliment.
She was wearing pajamas she’d got from Costco that consisted of long pajama bottoms in a pretty pale green and pink floral design, a sleeveless top with a green and white lattice pattern on it, and a housecoat that matched the pajama bottoms. She thought it was attractive, but it was also comfortable. It was something she wouldn’t be self-conscious about wearing around the house, despite the men presently filling it. That was part of the reason she’d chosen it. But she’d also chosen it over the sexier, slinkier nightgowns she’d brought with her because Lucian had ordered Crispin to remain with her tonight. She hadn’t wanted him to think she was intending to jump him or something.
Not that she was opposed to them making out again. In fact, the very idea sent tingles through her body. But she didn’t want to seem too forward or fast. Besides, now that she knew Lucian would no doubt hear every sound that came from her office, she was thinking that making out might not be a good idea.
Apparently taking the fact that she hadn’t yet got into bed as a sign that she was uncomfortable, he offered, “I can spend the night in your office chair if it would make you more comfortable.”
“No,” Abril said at once. “My desk chair isn’t verycomfortable at all. I think Gina bought it with the thought that the discomfort would keep me from falling asleep on the job.”
When Crispin chuckled at the claim, she asked, “You aren’t expected to stay up all night watching the side yard, are you?”
“No. Cassius is in Gina’s office doing that,” Crispin told her.
Abril’s eyes widened and shot to the wall behind her desk. It was the wall between her temporary office and Gina’s. There was definitely going to be no making out tonight.
“Well, then,” she said, her voice a little squeaky. “There’s no reason for you to sit up all night in my torturous desk chair. Besides, I wouldn’t be able to sleep with you sitting up, staring at me anyway, I’d feel too guilty. We can share the bed.”
Crispin nodded, and then glanced from the office door to the blinds covering the large window on the outer wall, before saying, “I am not sure which side of the bed you prefer, but I think it would be better if I sleep on the side closest to the window just in case the intruder does try to break in through this room.”
