Page 22 of Harder Betrayal

“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.