Page 20 of Tied in Knots

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“Oh.” I blink, a bit annoyed by her tone.

Silence.

Then I hear her giggle.

“What’s so funny?” I growl.

“You’re dying to ask what you smell like to me, aren’t you?”

“No,” I say defensively, crossing my arms with a huff.

“Now who’s lying?” Her sly tone catches me off guard.

I narrow my eyes at the door. What game is she playing here?

“Not lying,” I grit out.

“Marshmallows,” she says.

“Huh?” I wrinkle up my nose.

“That’s what you smell like to me. It’s heavenly.” I hear a soft thump on the door and wonder if she’s resting her head on it.

I scoot over and lean my back against the door now, also resting my head against it. “Strawberries with honey and cream,” I murmur.

“That sounds delicious,” she practically pants.

“Mmm.”

“Are you getting it?” she asks after a beat.

“What?” I shake my head, slightly confused.

“I’m starving.”

“Oh. Oh! Shit, of course. But no,” I say, standing up with a smile, and placing my hand on the door separating us. “That’s what you smell like to me. To us.”

Nothing.

“I’ll get you some food,” I murmur, embarrassed that she didn’t respond.

I walk away, back towards the stairs when there’s a soft weep.

“Thanks,” she mutters.

Her sadness breaks my heart.

ChapterThirteen

Benjamin

It has taken everything I have, not to go to her in the night. I managed a few minutes sleep with Matt’s shirt on my pillow, but that was about it. Now, it’s nearing dawn and I feel that I’ve been restrained enough.

I’m relieved to see that Harvey is still outside the door, which means Xander would’ve been thwarted in his quest to gain entry to her bedroom.

“Hey,” Harvey says when he spots me loitering near a huge tapestry of the second St. James.

“Everything okay?”

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