A Palette for Love by Charlotte Greene

Author:Charlotte Greene [Greene, Charlotte]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781626397590
Publisher: Bold Strokes Books
Published: 2016-10-03T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fifteen

When I woke, bright light was already streaming through the window. My head still sleep-muddled, I propped myself up on one arm and looked around for a clock, finding nothing. The bed was also empty, but at some point Amelia must have pulled the blanket around us, as I was loosely covered with it. A silk bathrobe was lying on a chair nearby, and, glancing around shyly, I stood up and slipped into it, finding slippers under the chair. They were both a dark shade of pink—a color I would never choose for myself, but the feel of the robe on my naked skin was sensuous and slick.

Before I opened the door to the bedroom, I waited for a second, trying to gather my nerves. I’d slept with exactly ten people before this, most of them one-night stands, and never with a woman. I wasn’t exactly experienced with the morning-after scenario, especially with someone I was beginning to care about. Somehow everything seemed more serious. I was decidedly frightened of saying or doing the wrong thing.

Taking a deep breath, I opened the door to find Amelia sitting at the small dining table, reading a newspaper. She looked up and smiled at me. Rather than making me less nervous, seeing her there in the morning sunlight made me instantly tongue-tied. Her gorgeous dark hair was down and framing her face, making her look even younger than usual. She was already showered and dressed, and she looked fresh and comfortable—not nervous like some people.

“Good morning,” I finally managed, making my way to the other chair. I grabbed the coffee urn and poured myself a cup.

“Good morning. I won’t ask how you slept, since you were out like a light all night.”

Trying to sound casual, I said, “That’s true. Something must have really tired me out.”

We shared an amused look, and some of my nervousness dissipated. She suddenly grabbed one of my hands in hers, running her thumb up and down against the back of my hand.

“You’re even prettier in the morning than I thought you’d be.” Her eyes were hooded and dark.

I blushed and looked away. “I highly doubt that. My makeup’s a mess, and my hair’s completely screwed up.”

She used her free hand to turn my face back toward hers, making me meet her eyes before letting go. “I never lie about a woman’s looks, and I never flatter. You’re gorgeous just as you are. And I love you in that color.”

I blushed again and then looked away, too embarrassed to respond. While she’d used the word love in relation to my bathrobe, it hung in the air. I turned my attention to the coffee and sipped at it while I stared out the window. We passed the next couple of minutes in, for me, an awkward silence. Amelia continued to read part of the paper, which, I noted, was the Arts section. It had a large spread on the auction later today. I glanced over at the clock and gasped.

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