“Sorry, I’ve been worried,” he mumbles.
“You okay?”
“Dandy. You?”
“Good and good. I will call you back later when I have more time. Just wanted to check in.”
“Make sure you do this time.”
I smile at his order. “I will, my darling boy,” I whisper, sensing his glow down the phone. “I love you.”
“I love you, Lizzie,” he says. It warms me up inside that he calls me that again.
I hang up to find CK watching me with a pained expression. He adjusts his features quickly and clears his throat.
“This one,” he says, holding out a beautifully cut dress in black. It has thin straps, a low-cut square neckline with three buttons to hide or enhance your cleavage. I take it from him and step into it. It fits perfectly, skimming over my stomach and hips, to fall a couple of inches above my knees.
CK zips up the back and I spin. “Well?”
He reaches out and undoes all three of the buttons to flash a large amount of skin. “That’s not very classy,” I say haughtily.
“We are on a bit of a schedule here,” he says with a chuckle.
I concede because I agree.
I help him on with this suit jacket. It’s all very domestic. But very odd. However, I am happy to have my suited sire back. It’s familiar and comforting after the upheaval of recent events.
He hands me my ring that I took off to shower. “Don’t take it off again,” he warns me.
“I took it off to shower.”
“Don’t take it off again,” he repeats.
“Fine,” I snap as I push it back on my finger. “It’s your millions of dollars that you ask me to mistreat.”
Ignoring my outburst, he takes my hand and expecting to be Teleported into The Council reception, I am surprised when he walks me downstairs to the kitchens. We both stiffen when we spot the studded door, but he ignores it and greets Marguerite. She has coffee. Strong and black. It smells delicious, even though I am normally a tea girl. His phone rings and he answers it, leaving me alone with Marguerite as he steps out of the kitchen.
I smile politely as she is watching me closely. I raise an eyebrow at her inspection, causing her to look down.
“I find it odd. Seeing him like this,” she confesses quietly.
Ooh, sounds like more juicy tidbits. She really must be rattling around this place all on her own.
“Like what?” I press.
“Happy,” she says, as if she can’t quite believe it.
Clamming up again, she comments on my dress, “That looks lovely on you. I’m glad it fits; I only had your photos to go on.”
Yep, thought as much. “Well, thank you. You really didn’t need to go shopping for me, I could have bought my own things.”
“Oh no. Mr. D’Arcangelo said you weren’t to be burdened with luggage. It was no trouble. I enjoyed it,” she adds shyly.
Starting to feel quite sorry for this girl, who clearly doesn’t get out much, I smile at her and say, “Well, you have impeccable taste. Maybe one day we can go together.”
There is stunned silence as CK walks back into the kitchen. “Go where together?” he asks.
“Shopping.”