Page 216 of The Grand Duel
As if the fact she hasn’t been physically hurt makes it okay.
“Do I need to beat the shit out of someone right now, Lissie?” I ask, pulling her into me. “Is it me? Do I need to beat the shit out of myself?” I point to my chest, and she grabs my hand.
“No,” she says with a smile, a real one, falling into me again. “Take me home, Charles, please.”
I look down at her, trying to figure it out, wondering if I look hard enough, I’ll find whatever it is that’s wrong.
I’ve not known her long enough to know all the answers, but I want to. I want to know and to make it better and to make sure it’s never going to happen again.
I nod and reach for her bag, taking it from her.
She steps back and out of my hold, walking to the passenger side. I catch up to her at the door and open it. Once she’s sitting inside the car, I quickly pull my phone out and fire off a text.
When I get back in the car, I reach into the back seat and grab the blanket I brought with me from home. “Here. Your heated seat is on, but it’s always freezing outside after leaving the club.”
The place is like a sauna on the upper levels.
She puts the blanket over her legs, tucking it under her thighs, and leans back in the seat. “You’re an actual angel, Charles.” She looks up at me, the corners of her mouth lifting. “Thank you.”
My phone pings, but I ignore it, just watching her as she looks down, a frown following and marring her brow.
I follow her gaze to my car’s touch screen and read the message displayed.
Nina
Probably carby food, wine, and a hot bath. Is Lissie okay?
“I…uh…”Crap. “I wasn’t sure what would make you feel better so I…I?—”
“You texted Nina?”
“Sorry, Lissie. This is all new for me. I know I should be able to figure it out.” I point at the screen. “Doesn’t seem as complex as I expected either.”
Her lip twitches. “It’s surprisingly simple actually, Charles.” She leans over the car and kisses my cheek. “You’re better at this than you think, you know.”
“I am?”
She nods. “Perfectly so.” Sitting back in her seat, she sighs, as if letting go of a weight. “Tell me about your evening. Are you feeling better now after everything with Lance today?”
My brows lift as I contemplate it. “I don’t know how I feel about it if I’m being honest, but I know that this is the right thing for Scarlet. What she needs to move forward.”
“I think it’s the right thing, too,” she says. “For you all.”
I smile despite the way my chest grows heavy, and then try to change the subject. “I went out to the cottage tonight. They’ve finished the main bathroom, and the bedroom is ready to paint.”
“Already? They’ve finished the bathroom?”
I look across at her and nod, loving how excited she gets about the place. “I’ll take you out to see it on the weekend. They delivered the new mattress, but the furniture is being delivered on?—”
“Take me now,” she cuts me off. “Please. Can we get the girls and go tonight? I want to see.”
“It’s late, Lis.” I look at the clock. “Do you not want to get to bed?”
“No. I want to see the house. I want to see what you’re doing with the place.” Her lips twist. “I want carbs and wine and a steaming hot bath.”
I look across at her and give her a look. “You want to christen my bath before me?”
She bites her lip, taming her smile. “We could christen it together.”