Page 51 of Fragile Kiss (Fragile 2)
“You don’t seem to know what you want.”
“Yes, I do.”
“Then what is it?”
“I don’t want to argue, for one.” She peeked out and saw him put his hands on the counter, looking at his reflection. He took a couple of breaths then picked up his toothbrush and toothpaste.
“I don’t, either.” He started to brush his teeth and said through a foamy mouthful of toothpaste, “It just kills me, not knowing where we stand.”
Lillian leaned back, letting the water cover her head and block out the sound of Cayden brushing. As much as she wanted him there, the morning wasn’t as fun as the night was. Especially when they both knew time was almost up.
“Are...” she began, wondering if it was a good idea. She decided talking was better than staying silent. “Are you happy here?”
“In Los Angeles?” He spat into the sink.
“Yeah.”
“Hmm. That’s a tough question.”
“Can you see yourself being here?”
“Another tough question. I’d have to give it some thought.”
Come on, just give me something, she begged. “What about your business? Do you think it would do well here?”
Through the shower curtain gap, she saw him unwrap the comb the hotel provided and run it through his hair. “Yeah, that I know for sure. It’s already doing really well, and I haven’t even tried to make it.” He chuckled to himself. “I know Janine would be thrilled if I didn’t go, but it would be hard to break the news to the replacement I just hired.”
“Katharina has about five hundred people who want to work with you, the way I understand it.”
“Yeah, that’s what she says.”
“Is it true?”
He shrugged. “Obviously the five hundred part isn’t. But, yeah, it’s true. Most of the people I get calls and emails from are contacts of hers. Janine always knew I wanted to go back home, so she only told a couple of people and made sure they knew I would only be here short-term. I miss my yard.”
“I bet your yard misses you,” Lillian grumbled, soaping up the shower pouf and watching the bubbles cover her body.
“Does it look okay?”
“Can’t you see on your cameras?”
“Not very well.”
“It’s fine. Don’t worry about it.”
“Fine for you means something completely different for me, you know.”
“Relax. It’s fine by your standards. I wouldn’t lie about your babies.”
Cayden stepped over and poked the shower curtain. “The way I’m hearing it, Katharina has about five million people who need your skills.”
“Who knows?” She inhaled the honey-scented body wash and was overcome by a flashback of Cayden in the shower with her back home. How he gently washed her body with the same wash. How he slipped his hand around her waist, tracing his finger down her belly...
“Do you think you could do well here?” he asked cautiously, startling her.
She felt a tiny sting in her eye. Now isn’t the time to get emotional, Lillian, she fussed. “I think I could. Katharina made a call yesterday to a friend who wanted me to come straight over to her mansion.”
“Mansion?”
