Lib Novel Page 23
“What . . . what are you doing?” she squeaked, trying to free herself.
“Stay still, Jilly. I don’t want to drop you.”
“You’d never drop me.”
No, he wouldn’t. But that didn’t mean that it was a good idea for her to squirm around. He never wanted her at risk.
Turning to the door, he opened it.
“Wait. My door was locked,” she said.
“I know. At least you did that,” he said. “I used my key.”
“Oh. Wait. What? You have a key?” There was a note of fear in her voice.
He hated hearing her sound like that. He found the light switch, turning it on.
“You have a key . . . to my house.”
Technically, the house belonged to him, but he didn’t say that. For all intents and purposes, this house was hers and her mother’s. And if it wasn’t for the tunnel access, he’d have signed it over to them years ago.
“Jilly, you know why I have a key,” he murmured, walking into the kitchen and turning on another light.
Then he sat her at the worn table. Years ago, as a child, he sometimes sat here while her mom snuck him cookies.
Before his father dragged him into meetings with Jilly’s father.
“Right. The tunnels. And technically, I guess this is your house. I just didn’t think that you . . . um . . . ”
“I would never enter without letting you know first,” he told her.
Unless he thought she was at risk.
“Okay, I guess that’s fair.” Although she didn’t sound like she thought it was.
She glanced up at him, then away, her shoulders hunched.
She looked uncomfortable. Her cheeks were flushed.
“Are you ill?”
“What? No.”
“You appear flushed.”
“It’s warm.”
“You’re wearing too many clothes,” he grumbled without thought.
“W-what?” Her mouth dropped open as she gaped up at him.
“I meant because you’re too warm.”
She appeared rumpled. Slightly messy with her brown hair escaping her ponytail and flying out at all angles while her blouse was creased and there were marks on her skirt.
“Oh, I see. I must look like a mess.”
He moved over to the kitchen and opened the fridge, pulling out a jug of water. Then he searched around until he found a glass.