Chapter 11
CHAPTER 11
“ I have wonderful news,” Adoria trills, entering the office with a flourish.
I spin around in my chair, regarding her with a ready smile. “The director you met for lunch signed on?”
She claps her hands. “He certainly seems excited. We’ll be visiting him on the set of his current project.”
I pull out my notebook, jotting that down. “Will you need a car?”
“And a flight, and a hotel room.” Adoria ticks off her fingers. “Some dinner reservations of course, and maybe a ticket to that new musical. We’ll be in New York, by the way.”
She could be referring to any number of musicals, but I don’t bother to ask for more details. Taylor and I will figure it out. We always do.
“I’ll get started booking the trip. How many days will you be away?”
“Hmm. Ten, probably? Victor!” Adoria raises her voice, calling out for her husband. “Victor, will our trip be for a week?”
“Make it two!” he shouts from somewhere on the second floor.
Taylor’s shoulders stiffen, reminding me to drop mine. I paste on another smile, scribbling frantically in my planner as I wait for the other shoe to drop. Organizing a two-week itinerary is no small feat…but I expect the Havens will make it near-impossible.
“Okay. And when did you plan on leaving?”
“Monday,” Adoria says simply, like that’s not literally a single weekend away.
And there’s that shoe.
I nod and nod again as I wait for her to leave the room so I can have a mental breakdown in peace. But she only steps closer.
“I’ll need you to house-sit, of course.”
Of course. “Yes, absolutely. I’ll make it happen,” I say through my teeth. Because living in the Havens’ fake-gothic manor isn’t the last thing I want to do.
“Oh, not alone, dear,” Adoria says with a sniff. “Now that I know anyone can break in, it simply wouldn’t be safe to have a young woman living alone.”
I press my lips together. The Havens were…less than pleased when they discovered I entered their house through their second-floor balcony. Adoria has been ranting about her numerous security concerns ever since.
“Um…” I rack my brain, trying to think of a solution. Offering to invite a friend to stay with me can’t possibly be what she means. But the only alternative… my eyes widen, praying she isn’t implying what I think she is.
“Taylor,” she starts, and my stomach sinks. “You will house-sit with Ayla, won’t you? That way you can both keep an eye on things.”
I know Taylor is dying to refuse. I’m praying he will. But we both know he can’t. Especially not after Victor comes strolling into the room.
“It’s settled, then?” he asks, nodding at each of us. “Excellent. Taylor, I know the construction at your place was bothering you. Perhaps this will be a nice break from all the noise.”
Taylor swallows his refusal. I can literally see the lump it forms in his throat.
“Yep,” he says thickly. “It’s settled.”
We avoid each other’s gazes until our bosses leave the room. And then for another two hours afterward. We would have probably ignored each other indefinitely if our hands hadn’t accidentally collided when we both reached for the office doorknob.
Taylor’s expression is pinched when he looks down at me. “I’ll bring my bags over Sunday night.”
I nod, hoping I appear as pained as he does. “Same.”
We stare at each other for a few uncomfortable seconds before he abruptly turns, scrambling down the driveway like his shoes are on fire.
I don’t blame him.
We may never be friends.
But we’re about to become roommates.
“This is impossible,” I seethe. “No, actually, I think Adoria’s trying to kill me.”
I push apart hanger after hanger, trying to find a single article of clothing that doesn’t make me want to set my closet on fire.
“What are you supposed to wear when you’re living under the same roof as your sworn enemy?”
Rose cackles, and her amusement pushes me one step closer to committing arson.
“Rose!” I turn back to my computer, eyes narrowing on the face filling up the screen. I’ve had my best friend on FaceTime for the last half hour, and her single sage piece of advice was to bring extra condoms. Like an actual psychopath.
“All right, all right,” she holds up both hands, attempting to temper her glee. “What about those pink pajamas we bought last spring? Throw those into your suitcase for sure.”
I find the satin camisole and patching shorts tucked inside a dresser drawer. I hold up the set, appraising Rose’s selection. But my favorite pair of pajamas look different knowing Taylor might see me in them. The lace ruffles that hit my mid-thigh appear so much shorter now; the thin fabric of the tank top is practically see-through.
“No.” I toss them over my shoulder. “No way. I should buy a fuzzy jumpsuit or something. Ooh, maybe I can sleep in a Snuggie.”
I can practically hear Rose’s eye roll. “Sweetheart, there’s nothing wrong with showing a little skin. Especially when you’ll be breathing the same air as that sex god for the next week.”
My gaze shoots to hers. “I’m breaking up with you.”
“C’mon, you know he’s hot.”
“He’s a goblin. A devil! He crawled out of hell just to torture me!”
“Oh, ‘cause you’re such an angel to him?”
We exchange a look. “Okay, so maybe I could be nicer. But you should’ve heard him on Friday.” I lower my voice, trying to mimic Taylor’s raspy drawl. “We will never be friends, Ayla. I wish you were dead.”
Rose snorts. “I don’t recall you mentioning that last part.”
I wave a hand in the air. “Semantics.”
“I’m driving over to your place and stuffing those PJs in your suitcase. Don’t test me. I’ll do it.”
I cross my arms. “I literally cannot pack them. What if he sees? What if he thinks I’m trying to seduce him?”
Rose arches a brow. “And what would be so wrong with that? Maybe you should try seducing him, Al. Play some psychological warfare type shit.”
I blink. “What?”
She bares her teeth, getting into it. “No, I’m serious. What if you packed a whole bunch of skimpy clothes and paraded around that stupid mansion like it’s your personal runway? You’ll make it so hard for him to concentrate he won’t get any work done. And ta-da , just like that you get your rival fired!”
I purse my lips, trying not to consider her idea. I can’t lie, the thought is tempting, but… “No.” I shake my head. “Taylor’s never looked at me like that. I could prance around stark naked and he wouldn’t notice. I don’t think it even registers to him that I’m a living breathing woman.”
I say the words, but my mind darts elsewhere. To warm hands lingering on my thighs. How they left tingles in their wake as Taylor held me steady on the branch…
I shake my head, ridding myself of the cursed memory.
“Are you sure all that animosity isn’t pent-up sexual tension?”
Rose’s ill-timed comment has me stumbling back a step. “No,” I practically growl. “Rose, he basically told me he hated my guts.”
And I still don’t know why. No one’s ever loathed me the way Taylor does.
But my best friend merely shrugs. She leans closer to the camera, dropping her voice like she’s about to impart an important secret. “Clearly, you’ve gotten under his skin. You live rent-free in his head, Ayla. Now you just have to decide what you’re going to do about it.”