Page 122 of The Grand Duel

“Lissie,” he warns.

I frown at his tone, my playfulness lost. “Look at me,” I tell him.

He does, almost instantly. And all I find reflected back at me is guilt.

I tilt my head in question, not realising he was so upset.

What did I do to upset him?

“I’m sorry,” he tells me, voice gravelly.

“Do you want me to leave?” I ask.

“What? No.” He rolls onto his side to face me. “I’m…”

Talk to me.

Please.

“What’s wrong?” I try.

Awkwardness settles over us, and I hate it. Mostly because this version of him doesn’t even feel like day one Charles who ignored me.

It feels worse.

“Honestly?”

I nod.

“It felt safe out there, in the corridor. But in here, you next to me and wearing nothing but underwear and my shirt.” He sighs. “You’re impossible to ignore.”

I watch him, trying to keep my face neutral, but I know my smile lurks. And why not. This man looks at me, and I instantly feel like the most beautiful girl in the world.

“The things you do my ego, Charles.” I repeat his words from earlier.

He huffs a laugh, running his hand through his hair, just staring at me.

With the way he’s been so off since walking into this room and sensing he’s still not comfortable now, I get up and grab the two spare pillows from the cupboard.

“What are you doing now?” he asks, sounding so over my shit.

“Making this a safe space for you.” I place the pillows down the centre of the bed. “You cross this line, and you’ll owe me ice cream every day for a month.”

I’m not sure, but I think his eyes gloss over a little. “And if you cross it?” he says, his voice rougher than before.

“Then we’re both screwed,” I say. “I’ll buy you another boat or something.”

He finally smiles at me, and I relax into the pillow, lying on my side facing him.

“Can I ask you a question?” I say, trying to distract him.

“Fire away.”

“What made you want to go into law?”

His brows rise, his fist going under his pillow to prop his face up so he can see me over the divide. “I had no idea what I wanted to do when I was in college. Mason, Elliot, and Lance put some options into a peak cap one night, and I pulled out law school.”

What?“You’re lying.”