Page 64 of Kissing Games
She walked to the bed where a strand of embroidery thread was sticking out from under the pillow.
‘War and Peace. I was reading it on my phone.’
She moved the pillow to one side and picked up the embroidery panel.
‘Hmm. This doesn’t look likeWar and Peaceto me.’ She grinned. ‘If Abuela sees this, she’ll definitely want to fight me for you.’
His cheeks burned. He’d rather be naked than have her look at this part of his life.
‘Did you do all of this?’
He cleared his throat. ‘Barbara, Rory’s mum, started it, but she’s given it to me to finish. I was thinking of giving it to my mother when it’s done.’
She smiled and his heart squeezed. ‘Charlie, it’s beautiful. I’m sure she will love it. You’re such a caring man.’
Shame burned like acid in his throat. ‘I’m not,’ he replied thickly. ‘I’m not a good person.’
She looked at him, her gaze appraising and assessing. She laid the panel carefully on the bed. ‘If I can be hot, then you can be kind.’
He rolled his eyes.
She tilted her head at his reaction. ‘Just because you believe something doesn’t mean it has to be true.’
‘That’s not a fair comparison, Valentina, and you know it. You’re objectively hot as fuck. It’s a fact. Like gravity. Or taxes. I, on the other hand, can point you to a long list of people who think I’m a thoughtless prick.’
Her expression was blank. ‘Hmm. If you say so.’ She paused. ‘I’ve spent the last two hours overseeing a present for you. Would you like to have it?’
‘What?’
She smiled. ‘I had an idea. To do something for you.’ She took his hand. ‘Shall we go and see it?’
Shehad done something forhim? He felt uncomfortable and embarrassed. He already knew he didn’t deserve it.
‘Come on, Charlie, if it makes you feel better it’s also a present for me.’
Now he was even more confused. ‘Have you bought a sex swing?’
She pushed at his chest. ‘No! Charlie!’ She looked shocked and a little bit aroused. ‘Is…Sex,’ she whispered, ‘all you ever think about?’
He shrugged. ‘If you’re around, then yes.’
Her nostrils flared. She put her hands on her hips and lifted her chin. He couldn’t help his eyes dropping to her magnificent chest.
‘Charlie!’ she hissed, crossing her arms in front of her.
He pouted.
‘Do you want your present, or not?’
She ledhim through the castle until they reached the door to the library.
‘Come on,’ she said, tugging him inside. ‘It’s in here.’
He followed her through. The room looked the same as it had earlier, but the dust cover had been removed from the grand piano and the lid was raised. His stomach clenched with unease.
She pulled him towards it. ‘I found a piano tuner in Inverness and he came and tuned it this afternoon.’
His legs felt wooden. Sickness rose into his throat. She sat him down and he looked at the keys, his eyes blurring.
