Page 42 of Priceless
I didn’t know what kind of weight Laura thought I was going to lose with only days till the wedding, but she was doing her best to make it happen. Whether she really thought it was the best way or she wanted to take it one step further after our conversation, it didn’t matter.
But since the wedding was now tomorrow and my dress fitting was complete, movers were here to take everything over to the DuPont mansion. I hadn’t been there yet, but if it was anything like the house Isolde’s parents lived in, it would be stunning.
The movers were doing an amazing job. I felt like I should help them, but they were faster than I was. There was just one thing I was worried about. My hand was on my phone to text one of them, but I wasn’t sure if it was something I should bother them with.
Them.
There was no easy way to refer to them yet.
“Any way I can take that frown off your face?”
I looked up, startled, to find Everett standing in the doorway to my rooms. “What are you doing here? I mean, hi.”
He smiled as he stepped in, and I took him in now that I was over the shock of seeing him at all. No suit this time. Jeans and a long-sleeved shirt that clung to him in ways that were sinful. My eyes bounced away of their own accord. When I saw things like that? I started to think Laura was right about the differences between us.
“I came to make sure everything was going well for the move. And to check on you. We haven’t heard from you since the photograph.”
“Want to make sure I’m not getting cold feet?”
He chuckled and stepped closer. “You’re about to be our wife. We want to make sure you’re doing well.”
The long, slow inhale as he entered my space was imagined, right? He wasn’t scenting me. And he wasn’t looking at me with hunger. That was just my stomach after Laura trying to starve me.
“They’re doing a good job. Almost done.”
“Good.”
“Except—”
Everett’s eyebrows rose. “Except what?”
“It doesn’t matter.” I shook my head. “I was going back and forth about asking, and you don’t need to be bothered.”
He reached out, pausing to see if I would let him touch me. When I didn’t pull away, he slid a hand around my waist and drew our bodies nearly flush. I was already wearing the corset, though my skin was slowly being rubbed raw from the tightness and how long I’d been wearing it. Still, I sucked myself in.
“Or, you can tell me.”
I bit my lip, and his eyes followed the movement. Did he taste like his scent? Almonds and pistachios and a tang of sweetness that reminded me of cookies made with the same ingredients. It was subtle and spicy and rich and I found myself inhaling him just as deeply.
Shaking my head, I swallowed. I must be hungrier than I thought. “My flowers.”
Everett tilted his head. “What about them?”
“I, um, I have a greenhouse here. I breed new types of flowers, and some of the plants belonged to my mother. I’m worried about them if I’m not here to take care of them.”
I didn’t trust Frank and Laura. Now knowing exactly how she felt, she’d ruin all my plants for spite. As it was, the building remained locked at all times, including when I was inside it.
“We don’t have a greenhouse, but we can build one,” he said. “Do you have anyone you trust to take care of them? We’ll pay to make sure they do until we can make a place for them, and I’ll make sure they have no problem accessing it.”
“You would do that?”
The smile he gave me was blinding. “I think you’ll find there’s very little we wouldn’t do for you, Ocean.”
Because I was saving them in their PR nightmare. Well, I supposed they did owe me for that. “Thank you. My employee, Sally. She’d do it. I just need to ask her. But I wasn’t sure they’d let her in.”
Everett’s eyes darkened. “Why wouldn’t they?”
“No reason.” The answer was too quick, and I knew it.
