Total pages in book: 73
Estimated words: 72308 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 362(@200wpm)___ 289(@250wpm)___ 241(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 72308 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 362(@200wpm)___ 289(@250wpm)___ 241(@300wpm)
He swiped his thumb over the surface of the glass as he examined it. “Good observation.” He slipped the watch over his wrist and clasped it into place. “I love it. Thank you.” He left the bed and walked to his jacket on the dresser. He pulled out a small black box and brought it to me. “I got you something too.”
“Oh…you didn’t have to do that.” I was so surprised because buying Christmas gifts didn’t seem like his thing. I opened the lid and saw the diamond necklace inside. It was simple and subtle, but the same diamonds were flawless in the way they shone. It was probably the nicest piece of jewelry I’d ever own. “Grave…”
“Merry Christmas, sweetheart.”
My heart ached as I looked into those eyes, realizing I’d fallen deeper than I ever knew. “Merry Christmas, Grave.”
9
CAMILLE
It was Christmas evening. After sleeping all day, I finally showered and got ready. I had nowhere to go and no one to see. Cauldron didn’t call or text, not that I expected him to.
I went to Grave’s study and found him sitting behind his desk, working like it was a regular day. He was in his sweatpants and a long-sleeved shirt, focused on his laptop just the way Cauldron used to be in his study.
“Want to have dinner together?”
His eyes flicked up like he didn’t realize I was there until he heard my voice.
“You know…since it’s Christmas.” And he had nowhere to go. I had nowhere to go.
All he gave me was a nod.
I returned to the dining room and took a seat even though dinner wasn’t ready. I drank my wine as I sat there with my phone beside me, hoping it would ring, but also hoping it wouldn’t.
Almost an hour later, Grave joined me. He took the seat beside me, setting his phone on the table like he expected a call. Maybe from Elise.
His staff started to set the table, an enormous feast that was far too much for just two people. I assumed they would be joining us since it was a holiday, and it would be stupid to let all this food go to waste.
When one of the girls came around with the gravy, she bumped into the butler and spilled gravy all over Grave’s shirt.
It must have been hot, but he didn’t give a shout. He just grabbed the linen napkin and pressed it into his chest, absorbing the warm gravy and the heat.
“Oh my god, I’m so sorry…” She grabbed the linen napkin herself and started to dab at his chest.
“Stop.”
She dropped the cloth.
All the staff backed away, utterly horrified.
The butler gave her a nasty look.
Grave got to his feet. “Shit happens.” He left the table and disappeared from sight.
Everyone let out a collective breath of relief before they scrambled to finish setting the table.
My eyes went to the phone he’d left behind.
Just sitting there.
Everyone was distracted, so I quickly grabbed it, found Elise’s number, and then returned the phone exactly where he’d left it. I finished in the nick of time because Grave rounded the corner in a new shirt and took a seat.
Now, we were alone together, and I tried not to look guilty.
He served food onto his plate like everything was normal.
I got away with it.
We sat in silence together, hardly looking at each other, somewhat friends, somewhat strangers. I was still embarrassed by our previous conversation, when I threw myself out there and not only did he reject me, but he saw my intentions clear as day. “Do you think you’ll ask Elise to move in with you?”
He continued to eat as if he didn’t hear a word I said.
“It seems like you guys are close.”
He lifted his head and looked at me, his dark eyes annoyed. “I already told you my personal life is none of your business.”
“I’m asking as a friend.”
“A friend?” he asked, his voice slightly incredulous. “We aren’t friends.”
“We aren’t enemies. At least, I thought…”
With his eyes down, he continued to eat, pretending I wasn’t there at all.
“Why is it so hard for you to talk about—”
“Because you slept beside me for three years.” He raised his chin and looked at me, eyes furious. “Because I asked you to marry me. Because I asked you to be the mother of my children. It’s a little fucking weird to talk about my romantic life with you.”
“So the relationship is romantic.”
His eyes narrowed.
“Your words. Not mine.”
He looked down at his food again but didn’t touch it.
“You’re my only friend in the world, Grave. I guess I just want to hear about your life. I didn’t mean to pry. She’s very pretty and seems nice. And I can tell she’s really into you.”
“She’s a whore, Camille. She’s paid to be really into me.”
“I think it’s more than that.”
He reached for his glass of wine and took a drink.