Page 47 of For Wrath and Redemption
Jonah’s chair is facing away from mine, so all I can see are his feet propped up on the footrest. I don’t know if he’s awake or sleeping. I don’t know if he’s reading or scrolling his phone. Briefly, I picture him with his glasses on with that serious expression on his face. Full lips tilted downward in a faint frown.
“Are you excited for Lisbon?”
I tear my gaze away from Jonah’s feet and turn back to Sav. She’s smirking again.
“Hm?”
“Are you excited for Lisbon?” she repeats, her tone playful. “You said you’ve never been, right?”
“Oh, yeah. I’ve never been out of America. I’m excited, but I’m here to work. I probably won’t get much time to see anything.”
Sav’s smile turns mischievous, and it’s got me sitting up straighter.
“What?”
She shrugs. “I know things were a little weird with Stockholm, but we usually get to the cities a few days early specifically to have the free time. You should have some fun. Get out and explore.”
I shake my head. “No. Conrad—um, Mr. Henderson expects me to be working. I’ll have the time off when the job is complete.”
Sav snorts. “So, take Jo with you.”
I frown and arch a brow, and she barks out a laugh. “Okay, good point.”
As if I could trust Jonah not to be an asshole or run off and getwasted in a Portuguese bar or club or something. No. I’ll stick with the hotel gym and spa. I open my mouth to say as much when the back of my neck prickles and my pulse picks up speed. Sav’s eyes lift over my shoulder at the same time I’m hit with the scent of strong coffee and a faint, woodsy bodywash. The same kind I’d smell in the hotel bathroom after Jonah would shower.
Jonah doesn’t say anything. He hovers behind me, and I don’t bother turning to look up at him. I don’t even know why. Something about his presence spikes my nerves, and I fist my hands in my lap. I’m working to steady my breathing when Sav drops her attention back to me. Her lips twitch as she purses them, trying to hide another of her smirks, but there is no ignoring the humor in her eyes.
“I’m going to go get some sleep,” she says slowly, pushing to standing, then looks at Jonah once more. “Be nice.”
She disappears behind me as Jonah steps in front of me. I force myself to tilt my head up, and my eyes run smack into his. Piercing blue and beguiling. It’s enough to make my breath hitch.
“Double espresso.”
He holds his hand out to me, and I look down to find a coffee mug. I take it, and he drops into the seat Sav just vacated. His legs are longer than hers, so when he stretches them out, they bracket mine. His boots dwarf my simple black ballet flats, and I find myself staring at them. I don’t know why the sight captivates me, but it does.
I almost want to slide my foot closer to his and press them together. See what they look like side by side. The heel of my shoe beside the toe of his. The image of a pair of my heels sitting next to a pair of his boots in a closet flashes in my head, and I’m surprised by the excitement that stirs in my chest.
Then, as if reading my thoughts, his foot slides over and nudges mine. I snap my eyes back to his.
“Double espresso?” He leans forward and props his hands on his knees, then nods to the mug in my hands.
“Oh. Yeah. Thank you.” I set the coffee on the small table beside my chair. “Did you need something?”
“Just needed a change of scenery.”
He flicks his eyes behind me, and I hear a deep voice followed by alaugh. I just know it’s Callie and Torren. I tilt my head to the side and narrow my eyes, studying Jonah’s face. I know that expression. A familiar feeling stirs in my empty stomach, causing nausea and a slight buzzing in my ears.
“Are you jealous?”
He looks back at me, brief surprise passing over his face before he’s stone again.
“No.”
“You’re lying. I know jealousy when I see it.”
“Yeah? You’re an expert, now?”
I jerk out a single nod. “When you’re prone to jealousy, you recognize it in other people. You’re jealous of Callie and Torren. But is it because you want what they have, or because you want what he has?”
