Chaos & the Geek (Grace Grayson Security #1) - Elizabeth Stevens Page 0,22
third person had me keeping my head. Sort of.
“Are you okay?” he asked, his eyes staring super intensely right into mine and literally taking my breath away.
Reminding myself I was the only one hung up in a moment, I nodded and took my hands back as quickly as wouldn’t seem rude. The damn things tingled at his touch and I was having trouble breathing. I subconsciously wiped my hands on my pants, feeling like they were suddenly super sweaty and gross. All the awkwardness was back.
Kit cleared his throat and stepped back. “Carmel, this is Amber.”
Carmel took her glare off Kit and gave me a warm smile. “Miss Amber, lovely to meet you. When Christopher told me he had a young lady living with him, I got all excited. Then the great lummox is standing around while you clean up. You were brought up better than that, mijo. I’m disgusted in you.”
Kit replied to her in Spanish with a frown.
“So?” she asked, throwing me a look I felt like I was supposed to know about. “I don’t care if she’s your maid or the woman who’ll bear your children. You show her some damned respect!”
Kit looked at me in the same sort of cheeky way he’d have looked at Patrick in that moment and Carmel smacked him upside the head. I covered my mouth just not quickly enough to hide my laugh. I saw Kit’s eyebrows rise at me as a smile played at his lips. It might not have been sexual tension, but it was definitely the height of Chaos cheek and that was just as dangerous.
Carmel frowned at him again, then turned to me and took my hands.
“Anything you need, mija, you let me know. Shopping list, washing, dry cleaning,” she threw a pointed look to Kit, “man trouble. I’m here. My numbers and things are in the book in the top drawer of the table in the hall. I’m used to Christopher’s odd hours and he pays me handsomely for any bother.” She winked. “So feel free to bother me whenever you like.” She looked me up and down. “Oh, you are beautiful, aren’t you? Nothing like that lummox of a brother of yours.”
I giggled, my nose wrinkling the way it did. “Thank you,” I placated her.
But she seemed to know I disagreed. “You don’t think so?” She made a tutting noise. “Shame. We’ll have to find a real man to prove it to you.” Here, she winked again.
I blushed so hard I was sure I went pink this time and I fiddled with my glasses again and I choked on my own spit. “Uh, I think I’m okay. Thanks, though.”
Kit said something in Spanish and Carmel’s eyes softened as she nodded. “The boys will look after you, mija. They’re a boisterous lot, but their hearts are in the right place.”
I nodded to her. “You might be right.”
She smiled. “Now…” She turned back to Kit. “Why are you half naked when there are young ladies in the house?”
Kit looked suitably chastened. “I left my clean shirt in the hallway and then there was the milk mishap.”
“Yes. That you didn’t do anything about.”
I smiled as I watched them banter, slipping between Spanish and English. I’d had no idea Kit knew Spanish. I wondered if maybe he’d learnt on a mission. I wondered if that meant Patrick knew Spanish too.
The milk on my jeans was getting cold.
I’d have to interrupt them to get past them to go and get changed. I waved my hand stupidly like I was still in class and cleared my throat. “Uh…”
Kit’s eyes flew to me, and Carmel turned.
“Sorry. I should go change my…” I hung my head and grimaced as I realised I was swiftly running out of wearable clothes.
“What is it?” Carmel asked.
I forced a smile. “Nothing. It’s fine. I’m fine.”
Carmel frowned just like my mum would if I’d tried to lie to her and I felt the truth coming out. Well, the semi-truth.
“I’m just going to need to wash earlier than planned.”
The full truth would be that I needed to go and face my ex-best friend and potentially my ex-boyfriend to pack up the rest of my stuff. And move it…into Kit’s place, I guessed.
Carmel’s frown brightened. “Leave it in your hamper and I’ll sort it tomorrow.”
“I can do it–”
“Where? The great lummox doesn’t have a laundry. No. It’s fine. It’s what he pays me for. I’ll pick it up tomorrow.” She looked over Kit. “I suppose you’ll need shirts doing?”