Descent (Black Heart Romance presents Heaven & Hell)

salad while you eat breakfast, it can chill in the refrigerator until you’re ready to eat it, then you can
just sprinkle on the almonds so they’re nice and crisp, drizzle the container of dresser I make to go
with it, and voila. I have to stay anyway to clean up the mess.”
I glance at the bags of almonds and dried cranberries on the counter beside what I assume is the
container he plans to store my salad in while it chills. “No. Honestly, I can do that. You’ve done too
much already.”
“It’s my job, Miss Meadows,” he says gently. “I’m paid to do it. Really, I don’t mind. Your
boyfriend wanted to take care of things for you today, so let me do it. I’ll be out of your hair in no
time.”
I don’t know how to tell him that it isn’t him being “in my hair” that feels awkward, I’m just not
used to people doing things for me. I’ve certainly never had servants, and even though logically I
understand he was paid to cook for me today and clean up the mess, it still feels like I’m making a
stranger take care of me.
I’m still trying to figure it out when he steps away from the stove and grabs a bowl of fresh
sliced fruit off the counter. “Here you go, you can start with this if you want to. I’ll have the rest
finished in no time.”
“Thank you,” I say, taking the bowl and looking down at the juicy chunks of pineapple, grapes,
and strawberries so red and juicy, they make my mouth water. “All my favorite fruits,” I murmur, a bit
surprised.
He smiles benignly like he isn’t surprised to hear that. I don’t know what else to do, so I walk
around to have a seat at the small island counter where I usually eat meals alone. I pop a piece of
pineapple into my mouth, then drag the gift bag in front of me so I can see what’s inside.
There’s a box inside with another note attached. It reads simply, “To hold up your own books
someday.”
When I open the box, I find a pair of bookends nestled in a stiff bed of Styrofoam. William the
hippo bookends, to be more specific. He must have bought it at the Met gift store as soon as it opened
this morning.
That was sort of… thoughtful.
Shaking off the errant thought, I put the hippo back in the gift bag and try not to think too much
about what his note says. I don’t know why I even mentioned how I’d love to spend time writing my
own books someday. I never share that with anybody.
While I eat the delicious breakfast Chef Ryan has prepared for me, I open my laptop and check
my work emails. When I’m done with that, I go grab my phone half-expecting to see a text from
Calvin. There aren’t any, but I do have a missed call from Charity.
On my way back to the living room/kitchen area, I call her back. When the line connects, rather
than an actual greeting I get a string of curses, each dirtier than the last.