I hold the lapels of the white robe I found together. He gestures to a chair at the granite-top island.
“Thanks. Have a seat. I’m boiling water for hot chocolate. That, I can do without disaster.”
A smile tugs at my mouth. “Is that the extent of your cooking abilities?”
He folds his arms, and frowns. “I’m afraid so. Well, I can empty the sachet of hot chocolate into the mug without incident too, but that’s about it.”
I giggle. He always makes me laugh...even when I don’t want to.
“You do like hot chocolate right?”
“I love it.”
Bryce shoves his fingers through his hair and exhales. He seems nervous, and I can’t imagine why. “Good. Feel better?” he asks, glancing over his shoulder.
I nod. The warm shower revived me a little. “Sure.”
The whistle of the kettle pierces the silence that falls over the room. Bryce busies himself making hot chocolate, and I gaze through the sliding glass doors. There are a few outside lights on, allowing me to see the backyard. The little I can see shows that the backyard is just as nice as the front. “You must love it here. Your neighbors are nowhere in sight.”
“That’s one of the reasons why I chose this place.” He places a steaming cup of chocolate in front of me. “Here you are. This is about all I can make you without risk of poisoning you.”
I smile. “Thanks. Surely, you’re exaggerating about how much you suck at cooking.”
He shakes his head, expression solemn. “I’m afraid not. I really do suck. I barely know how to turn on the stove.”
“How do you survive?”
He rubs the back of his neck and gives me a sheepish grin. “I pay someone to cook for me.”
“Of course.” I’d actually forgotten that he’s disgustingly wealthy. He’s just so down to earth, it’s easy to forget.
“The refrigerator is stocked with all sorts of read-made meals, if you’d like anything.”
“No, I couldn’t eat a thing right now.” It has nothing to do with the time. My metabolism is freakishly fast. I can scoff down anything at one a.m. without worrying about the calories. I just don’t have any appetite to speak of.
Palming the mug, I savor the feeling of the heat seeping into my palms. “This is good for tonight.”
Bryce is watching me, his brows furrowed and eyes troubled. “I know I said we don’t have to talk tonight but I can tell something is bothering you. And that’s bothering me.”
Blowing out a breath, I take a few sips of hot chocolate to buy a little time.
Chapter Fourteen
Abby
I don’t want to talk but maybe I should. Who else am I going to talk to? Certainly not my sister. I’ve been playing the strong older sister for so long, I can’t stop now. I can’t talk to Charlie either. I don’t want to burden her with my problems. Watching Bryce over the rim of my mug, I take in his concerned expression. I don’t want to burden him with my problems either.
As if reading my mind...or my expression, he says, “You can talk to me, Abby.”
“I know. I don’t usually share too much so it’s hard to get started.”
He scrubs a hand over his face and nods. “I get it.” He rests his arms on the counter and pins me with his sharp gaze. “Let me start then. I’m sorry about the way I behaved the other day.”
Staring into my mug, I lift my shoulders. “I guess I can understand why you were upset. I gave Jake hell about what he did after you left.” Eyes lifting to meet his, I add, softly, “He really is just a family friend. I wouldn’t do that... mess around with you if I had someone…”
“I know. You don’t have to explain―”
“Please, let me.” Now that the conversation has started, it’s easier to get out. “Jake has been around since I was a kid. He and my father have always been tight. He’s kind of like my uncle so the thought of he and I being anything but family is just... disturbing. He behaved the way he did in his twisted effort to protect me from you.”
“Why would you need protection from me?”
Lashes lowering, I study him through them. “He’s convinced you’re only after...sex.”
“You know that’s not true.”
“I know and I told him.”
Relief is apparent in his expression. “Good. So, he’s in on the secret, then?”
“He won’t tell anyone. I’m sure of it.”
“Honestly, I don’t care if he does.”
My eyes fly back to his face. “You should care, Bryce. Your