Page 95 of Blaire

“I've been enjoying my time with you,” Charlie says. He sits next to me, causing me to sink into his side because the bed dips. He looks down at me, his eyes too blue. “I've not wanted to leave.”

My chest does that odd squeezy thing as he says that. How strange that we both feel the same?

Or do we, really?

“Do youwant tocome with me for the weekend?” he asks, his eyes flickering between mine.

I don't answer his question. I'm searching for the right words to pose my own niggling question at him.

“Blaire?” He glowers at me, and he seems on edge.

“What did you mean by, 'you think we're a bit past that now'?” There, I asked him, and I feel better for it.

There's a moment where we stare at each other. I'm beckoning him to just tell me the fucking truth. He's very deadpan.

“I've got feelings for you,” he says in time, sounding really sincere. “What'd you think I meant?”

“Oh.” I blink at him all cross-eyed, my cheeks blazing. I never expected him to say that. “I don't know what I thought you meant. I guess I just...” Shaking my head, I stop this conversation with, “Never mind.”

“Oh'kay,” he says, skeptical. He then touches a length of hair on my shoulder; runs his fingers down it. “Do youwant tocome to London with me then?”

I shake my head minutely, dropping my gaze. I don't want to be anywhere near Maksim while living with Charlie. It's too weird. What if Maksim calls me over or something? Would I need to ask Charlie for permission?

Fuck, this is so uncomfortable.

“S’all right, Blaire.” He gives my foot a squeeze, making my toes curl against his hand. “If youwant tostay here, then you can—I've told you many of times, you can do whatever you want to do while living with me.”

Closing my eyes, I breathe out with relief. That was easier than I thought it would be.

“Do you want me to bring anything back for you?” he says softly. “Do you need anything?”

I try to focus on my needs but I can't—my head is swimming—so I shrug.

“All right,” he whispers.

“Will you be okay going on your own?” I ask, a sickening feeling of worry coming over me. What if something happens to him and I'm not there to protect him?

He flashes me his most doting smile. “I'll be fine, Blaire. All my men will be around.”

“At the hotel too?”

He nods.

That eases my worry a little, though I'm still nervous something might happen to him. Maybe I should just go with him? But what if we bump into Maksim?

I frown to myself, conflicted.

Though I'm clearly acting awkward, Charlie isn't. He gets up, leans over and kisses me on the head, sending some strange feelings through my chest.

“Here's the key for the white Range Rover.” He pulls it out of his jeans pocket and puts it on the bed beside me. “There's money under the driver's seat, so if you need to go out for anything or if youwant toget a takeaway... There's a few takeaway menu's in the drawer under the coffee machine. To leave, the gate code is four sevens, two ones and nine.”

I smile at him, mentally bidding him goodbye.

He leaves for two days—I count every minute.

22

Day one alone: I wake feeling relatively normal, I guess because I'm subconsciously expecting breakfast to be made and waiting for me in the oven. It isn't of course, so I thoroughly beat a few eggs, season in salt and pepper, melted butter and double cream, and scramble them in a hot frying pan with a drizzle of olive oil. It feels peculiar to be cooking again, but over the days, it all comes back to me.