Page 80 of Blue Gold

“Doesn’t everyone eat lunch?”

“I’m a model,” I said before entering the closet.

“I’m pretty sure models have lunch, too,” I heard him say from the other room.

“Not me. I drink coffee.”

“I thought you hated coffee.”

“Not anymore.”

Still unsure why I was this nervous, I looked at my clothes, unable to remember what I wanted to wear. My eyes latched onto my favorite pair of jeans, but wasn’t it too hot today for denim? But then I saw my jogging shorts, and I remembered my damn run⁠—

“How about an early dinner, then?”

Daniel’s voice made me jump, and I turned around to see him right behind me.

When did he sneak in here?

“Hey.” He reached forward and caressed my cheek. “Is everything okay?”

The expression he had on his face was so soft and adoring that I nearly fell for it. I had fallen for it in the past, so shouldn’t I know better?

His palm now fully rested against my cheek. The urge to lean in was strong, so I quickly pulled away and turned back to face my clothes.

“Everything is fine. I just really need to go,” I said, eyes focused on the shirt I pulled out.

“So, how about drinks?”

So you’ll have another excuse to come back to my room?

“Fine,” I agreed, because maybe I should enjoy this while it lasted. If not now, he’d change his mind soon. Tonight, tomorrow, or one week from now. Eventually, he’d panic and leave, and that would be it.

Grabbing me from behind, Daniel squeezed my arms as he leaned in to kiss my nape. “Good,” he murmured over my skin before he let go and walked out.

The places he touched still burned, and I hoped he’d change his mind soon, as I wasn’t sure I’d be able to hold myself back from falling even deeper.

Daniel

Elliot was behaving in a particularly odd way.

While last night, he’d acted snarky to the point of being rebellious, now, he was introspective and obedient. Watching him sip from his straw while looking around the bar, determined to avoid eye contact, put an uneasy feeling in my gut. He was behaving strangely this morning, too, when he so vehemently tried to avoid meeting today. Yet I pushed him into this, as we only had a few days left before he’d leave the city again. I’d already wasted enough time, and I wasn’t about to repeat the same mistake. Even if it meant cheating on my wife and risking everything I’d built thus far.

Wanting to grab his attention, I moved my leg under the table so my shoe nudged his. He jerked in his seat, his eyes finally meeting mine, the frown on his adorable face making me smile with satisfaction. Although if only he’d skipped the silly baseball cap he wore today, I could have seen more of it.

“How was your day?” I asked, hoping to ease the tense mood.

“Good.”

I raised a questioning brow his way. “Care to elaborate?”

Pinching the tip of his straw, he brought it back to his lips and drank his sparkling water. Another alarming sign, considering that on a regular day, he’d order himself a glass—or a bottle—of wine. Suddenly, this Frenchman insisted on a nonalcoholic beverage?

Shrugging, Elliot placed his glass back on the table. “We took photos. They turned out great. That’s it.” He then twisted his lips, eyes dropping down. “How was your day?”

“Not as exciting as yours.” I smiled to myself. “I’m afraid the life of a lawyer is far less glamorous than that of a model.”

He huffed. “You’d be surprised.”