“I’d like nothing more than to stay locked away with you, but I have to go to Paris.” He twined his fingers with mine. “And if you kept doing that we aren’t going to make it out of your room.”
“Now you have something to look forward to.”
His eyes bored into mine. “I won’t be able to think of anything else.”
Eventually we finished getting clean and dried off. Thankfully, there were extra toothbrushes in the cabinets. I pulled out some new clothes and got dressed while he pulled his jeans from the night before back on. He stood there for a minute, looking around the room.
“What?” I pulled on a sock and looked at him as he frowned.
“I think my shirt is downstairs.” Alex looked at me and raised an eyebrow.
“Oh.” I realized we had left evidence. “Oh! I’ll go down and grab it.” I opened the door, but someone had folded and stacked his shirt and jacket neatly just on the other side. “So much for no one knowing what happened here.”
He took his shirt and pulled it on. “They won’t say anything, Samantha.”
“I know.” I frowned. “It’s not them I’m worried about.”
“The press?”
“I just got here and this would be even more fodder for the tabloids.” I bit my lip. “But it’s not just me, Alex. The papers would eat this up because it’s you. I mean, can you get in trouble for this?” I motioned between us.
“I’m a grown man, or hadn’t you noticed?”
“I noticed all right.” I smiled and sat down on the edge of the bed next to him while he put on his shoes. “I just don’t want to cause trouble for you.”
“People are going to be interested in us no matter what. That’s not going to change whether we’re together or not.” He looked at me seriously. “And there is no reason I would get in trouble over us.”
“Is there an us?” It sure felt like there was an us after last night. And this morning. And the shower.
“You told me you don’t do one-night stands.” He brushed some of the wet hair away from my face. “And while the sex is awesome, that’s not all I’m looking for either.”
“So, us.” I shook my head. “Alex, I—”
“Don’t make this complicated.” He frowned. “We can keep it quiet, see how it works.”
“Someone already knows.”
“There’s no getting around that. People are going to know; some people have to know.” He didn’t look happy about this plan and I felt guilty.
“Alex, it’s not that I don’t want people to know—it’s that I don’t want people to put pressure on us. I’ve been famous for a week and I already know that we would never get a break.” I grabbed his hand.
“I understand.” He stood up and pulled me with him. “Let’s go get some breakfast, I’m starved.”
We went downstairs and were met with the sound of voices in the kitchen. Alex laced his fingers through mine before lifting our hands to his mouth and kissing my knuckles. Whoever had picked up the clothes by the door had to know what had happened. Or at least had a good idea. There was no reason to try to hide it.
Chadwick was sitting at the island, a plate full of food in front of him while Margie moved about the kitchen. Margie was the first to spot us and smiled.
“Good morning, Samantha. Sir.” She dipped a quick curtsy. “I wasn’t sure what you like for breakfast so made a little of everything.”
Chadwick looked over his shoulder at us and smiled. “Good morning.”
I grabbed a plate off the island and picked out some food. “Thank you, Margie. You didn’t have to make breakfast.”
“I like to cook and I love that I have new people to cook for.” She smiled as she cut up some fruit. “Chadwick did tell me you enjoy fresh fruit for breakfast.”
“Thank you.” I sat next to Chadwick and he pushed a cup of coffee in my direction.
“Where’s the normally grumpy Samantha this morning? Is there a coffeepot in your room?” He took a bite of his toast and looked at me with innocent eyes.
“It’s a pretty morning.” I shrugged and sipped my coffee.
“A very pretty morning.” Alex sat across from me and smirked. I glared at him over my cup, but that just seemed to amuse him.
“Spring is definitely on its way,” Margie said. Her back was turned to us, so she didn’t notice the looks that were being passed around.
“I believe I heard some birds this morning,” Alex said as he ate his pancakes.
“I wonder when the bees will make an appearance,” Chadwick said thoughtfully. “Pollinate a few flowers and such.”
“Really?” I shot them both looks.
“Ignore them, Samantha.” Margie looked over her shoulder at us. “Do you think you’re the first people to fall into bed together? Or the first people that had a lot on the line?”
I closed my mouth and set down my cup. Alex cleared his throat and turned to look at the older woman. “I’m sorry if we’ve put you in an uncomfortable position, but this is something we would like to keep to ourselves if possible. The less people who know about us, the better.”
“Oh, I understand. That’s why I folded up your clothes and set them next to your room.”
“You had clothes all over the house?” Chadwick chuckled. “Jess would be very proud.”