Total pages in book: 118
Estimated words: 110859 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 554(@200wpm)___ 443(@250wpm)___ 370(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 110859 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 554(@200wpm)___ 443(@250wpm)___ 370(@300wpm)
***
When they returned to the hotel it was after nine o’clock. They rode the elevator to the top floor and Lucian used his key to let them in.
“I thought we’d go out for dinner, but I know you’re tired. How do you feel about ordering in?”
She thought about her promise to Dr. Sheffield and smiled. Perhaps this man had the ability to end her days of roping off waistbands and bulky, ill-fitting clothing. For the first time in her life, she might actually get to a place where she was comfortable with her weight, gain some curves and not feel her bones protruding beneath her flesh. “Okay.”
“I’m going to change out of this suit. I’ll call down and have them bring up something, and then I’m going to give you your first lesson in chess. Any special requests?”
He slid off his shoes.
“Um, explain it slow and don’t get upset when I ask you to repeat yourself?”
He paused. “What?”
Her head shook. “What are you asking me, Lucian?”
He laughed and came over to her. He placed his hands on her shoulders and smiled. “Have I told you how much I enjoy hearing you use my name?” He pinched her chin. “Dinner. I was asking if you had any special requests for dinner.”
“Oh.” her cheeks heated. “Whatever you choose is fine.”
He tilted his head, his eyes moving over her curiously. “What’s your favorite food, Evelyn?”
She shrugged. She didn’t have a favorite food. Food to her wasn’t what it was to Lucian. To rich people it was a ritual, an experience, a display of beauty. To her it was what filled her belly at night and fought off her hunger pangs for a time.
“I don’t have one.”
“Well, what do you like?”
He seemed to really want to know what kind of food she enjoyed. She thought about Raphael. “Um, there’re these little melon things. They make them downstairs. Their wrapped in this fancy kind of meat.”
He grinned. “Prosciutto.” The ethnic word rolled off his tongue almost sensually.
Her fingers snapped. “That’s it!”
“Why don’t you pour us some drinks and meet me in the sitting area. The chessboard’s in the case along the wall.”
Scout did as he asked. She wasn’t sure what Lucian usually drank, but there was some stuff in a crystal decanter so she poured him a tall glass of that with some ice. Taking a bottle of water from the fridge, she poured it into a glass for herself.
The chessboard was housed in a glass hutch. It was heavy and very old and looked to be made of marble. She told herself it was marble because she didn’t want to consider that the antique game might actually be made of ivory and some poor elephant might’ve died so that rich people could play chess. Babar was one of her favorite stories that Parker had used to teach her small words.
Carefully placing the heavy game on the table, Scout sat and sipped her water. Lucian spoke on the phone with the front desk and she waited patiently.
She liked the colors Lucian used in his decorating. They were warm and cozy. He looked good against them.
When Lucian emerged from the master bedroom all thoughts scattered from her head. He wore loose-fitting silk pants and no shirt. Muscles existed on him where she didn’t even know there were muscles. She had never seen a real person with a body like his. The image appealed to her in a fundamental way. He looked like the models she saw in magazines and on billboards. Her mouth was suddenly very, very dry. She gulped her water.
“Dinner should be here shortly.”
Lucian sat next to her on the sofa and pulled the heavy marble chess board onto the cushion between them. The action caused his arms to bunch and flex. His tanned torso twisted. His nipples were very dark and flat.
Scout needed a distraction. Plucking her shoe off her foot, she asked, “Do you mind if I take off my shoes?”
“Not at all, make yourself comfortable, but you may want to hear my rules first.”
She stilled, shoe hovering in her hand just above the floor. “Rules?”
He expertly placed the various shaped pieces on different squares. “I find people learn fastest when under a bit of pressure. I expect you to give me a decent challenge. Playing chess is one of my favorite pastimes and I’m in need of a good opponent. We’ll be playing strip chess.”
“What?”
“You heard me. For every piece I take of yours, you remove an item of clothing. The same goes for me when you get my pieces.”
“But you’re only wearing pants!”
“Very good, Evelyn. It takes a keen sense of observation to excel at chess.” His sarcasm was playful, but she was too afraid of what he was suggesting to laugh.
There was a knock at the door. Lucian stood to answer it. She kept her gaze averted as the men delivered the food.