Chapter 45: The First Night We Fell Asleep Holding Each Other

She woke to darkness and distance. The bed felt too big without his arm. It surprised her how much she missed it.

Don’t start wanting. She got up, found a light, scrubbed her face—and nearly screamed.

Her makeup had been a crime scene: raccoon eyes and streaked blush. She’d napped like that? With him?

She stripped it all off, slapped on moisturizer, and tried not to die of secondhand embarrassment.

A knock. “Ma’am, dinner is ready. Shall I serve?”

“I’ll be right down.”

The villa wasn’t as sprawling as the estate, which made it…cozier, somehow. When she reached the dining room, Julian was there with a paper, every inch composed.

She hovered. After a day like this, weren’t they supposed to be…something? Closer? Farther? She couldn’t tell.

He folded the paper. “Not hungry?”

She sat and reached for her soup. The first spoonful stopped her. This taste—

“Worried you wouldn’t like the local chefs,” he said, casual. “I flew our cook in.”

Warmth pushed against her ribs. Don’t be stupid. He’s taking care of the baby, not you.

“Thank you,” she said anyway, and took another spoonful.

Maybe that could be enough for tonight.