Despite the severity of her tone, the corners of her mouth had tucked inward again, just a tiny bit, and he narrowed his eyes at her.
Was she winding him up on purpose? Was she … was she playing with him?
Still pondering the matter, he settled down to watch the first round of judging. Only to stir some undetermined amount of time later, roused by gentle fingertips tapping his upper arm.
He blinked awake to find—Lauren. Bent over him, those incongruously beautiful eyes of hers kind and patient.
She spoke softly. “It’s time to get to our gate, Alex. I waited as long as I could.”
When he shifted, her cardigan fell to his lap. She’d covered him?
“Groggy, huh? Naps can do that to you.” Before he quite registered her words, her small, warm hand slid into his, and she was helping him to his feet. “All right. Up you go.”
Stupidly, all he could do was stare at her and think, This is the first time we’ve touched since we shook hands the day we met.
“Steady now?” When he nodded, unable to find words, her fingers slipped away.
Then they were gathering their belongings and walking down the long hall toward their gate, their luggage rolling along at their sides. About halfway there, he managed to find his wits and his tongue once more.
“I’d thank you for your help,” he said, “if I weren’t so disappointed by your insufficient harpy energy as you woke me.”
He could practically hear her eyes roll. “Next time, I’ll kick you awake.”
Her words were as dry as the air in the terminal, and he grinned.
“Much better.” He dipped his head in approval. “That would constitute Middling Harpy Energy, at the very least. Maybe even Substantial Harpy Energy.”
“How wonderful.” That deadpan tone was glorious, really. “I look forward to causing you pain in the future, then.”
He snorted at the sally, but not because he believed her. By now, even a man as self-absorbed and unobservant as him knew the truth.
She wouldn’t hurt him, even if he deserved it.
And at some point, he definitely would. He knew that too.
Casting a sidelong glance at her, he snapped the fingers of his free hand. “Try to get those Smurf legs of yours moving faster, Nanny Clegg. You’re going to make us late for our flight.”
As she stared at him in disbelief, he smiled back at her contentedly.
DAMN, IT FELT good to be home.
Alex’s virtual PA had arranged for car service from LAX, and after a horrifically long day of travel, the sleek sedan was finally pulling up to his house in Beachwood Canyon.
Lauren raised her head from the plushly cushioned back seat, and her bleary eyes widened. “Is that …”
As soon as the car stopped, she climbed out and stood on his circular driveway, hands fisted on her ample hips.
“You—you have a mini-castle.” Her voice wavered. “With turrets. And a moat.”
Then she threw back her head and laughed.
The joyful sound floated through the evening sky, rich and warm, bright as the smile transforming her features into near-beauty, and— And he couldn’t seem to look away.
Fuck, he couldn’t seem to look away.
Texts with Marcus: Sunday Afternoon
Alex: Thank fuck, we’re finally at cruising altitude
Alex: So BORED
Alex: Nanny Clegg is sleeping and made me promise not to wake her up except for meals, because she’s cruel and wants me to suffer
Marcus: Maybe she’s just tired?
Alex: SHE’S TIRED ON PURPOSE, TO THWART ME
Marcus: Apart from her malicious napping, how are things going with Lauren?
Alex: …
Marcus: Alex?
Alex: She says GBBO is “okay”
Alex: NADIYA’S SEASON, MARCUS
Alex: How am I supposed to put up with such
Alex: I don’t even know the right word for it, nothing suffices
Marcus: Wrongheadedness?
Alex: Maybe she truly is a harpy
Marcus: A harpy???
Marcus: That’s mean. Do better, man.
Alex: FML
Alex: NO ONE UNDERSTANDS ME
Alex: You know what? I wasn’t going to tell you, but now I am
Alex: I just found a treasure trove of smutty Aeneas/Cupid fics
Marcus: Nope, don’t want to know
Alex: Apparently our shipping portmanteau is Aeneid
Marcus: Clever, but still NO
Alex: Just wanted to thank you for all that very tender lovemaking
Marcus: OH MY GOD STOP
Alex: Your stamina was truly impressive
Alex: Also your girth
Marcus: AGGGGGGH
Alex: Good luck forgetting this conversation, my stern but loving daddy