Page 47 of No Control
“I’m terrible at maintaining relationships, I guess,” she laughs lightly, and then sighs. “I always forget to text people back and sometimes it’s easier to stay home than it is to go somewhere.”
“I get that. If it weren’t for work, I don’t know how often I’d leave.”
She nods and hesitates, her demeanor tensing. “I’ll go grab my notebook. I should’ve came prepared.”
Right. Because this is a business meeting.
I watch her walk away, transfixed on the soft curve of her ass, the fullness of her thighs, and the way her hips gently sway as she makes her way to her room. I’m fully intending to keep this meeting short and move on to the real reason why I brought her here. The patter of Duke’s paws draws my attention away, and I turn to see the dog, coming in to get a drink of water from his bowl.
“You’ve settled in quickly,” I tell him.
Duke looks up at me, tilting his head and wagging his tail.
I smile. He’s growing on me.
eighteen
Lydia
My hands shake as I pick up my notebook. Henry’s mere presence has my body aching in a way I haven’t felt in a long time—maybe ever? I shiver as I recall the way his eyes trickled over me, drinking in every inch. Of course, maybe he’s just that intense? Maybe that’s how he looks at everyone?
I don’t know, but the initial fear I felt when we first met is wearing off, though I’m not sure if that’s because I’ve decided he’s not terrifying, or I’ve just come to the conclusion that being here is better than being home.
Even if Mason isn’t around.
Pushing the thought of my ex away, I swoop up my papers and head back to the kitchen, noticing Duke standing at the door. I peer out, and seeing that the contractors are gone, I open the door for him to go and explore. He sprints out, forgetting I exist as his nose touches the ground. Typical.
“Well, what do you have for me?” Henry’s voice comes from behind me.
“Um, so, your only notes were stalker, jealousy, and assassin,” I read off the words at the top of my page. “And you didn’t mention anything about romance, but I was thinking there could be a subplot with that.”
“Naturally.” He continues to lean against the counter, his glass gripped in his hand. I’m pretty sure it’s empty.
“And so I thought that if you wanted a dark thriller, the main character could be an assassin—and he can either stalk his victims or maybe he’s the one being stalked.”
“I like the latter.”
“Me, too.” I grin. “And then we can give him a love interest that’s in some way related to the stalker...”
“Or she could be the stalker.”
I raise my brows. “But then he’d have to kill her.”
“Not necessarily. Maybe he accepts it…Maybe he likes it.”
“Okay,” I draw out the vowel sound in the word, my heart flipflopping at his teasing tone. “I can work on that. I’ll put together a synopsis with that idea and then make a chapter outline for you to approve of.”
“You don’t have to have my approval. Just go with it.”
I shake my head, setting my notebook down on the island. “I always request approval before starting.”
“And I’m giving it to you.” He sets the glass down and takes a step toward me. My breath hitches, and a smirk forms on his perfectly shaped mouth. “Do I make you nervous, Lydia?”
Holy shit.
“Um...”
He crowds me then, placing a hand on either side of me. “Um isn’t really an answer.”
