Chapter 2
That night, the moon hung over the trees outside the estate. Julian was drying his hands in the bathroom when he heard a woman sobbing.
He stopped.
Had he upset her that badly?
He crossed the hall to Ellie's room, caught the door handle, and hesitated. If she was this miserable, perhaps he was the last person she wanted to see.
He withdrew his hand. His phone buzzed with a message from Nate. Julian had told him his sister was crying; Nate's reply arrived as an indignant voice note.
"If my sister's crying, go comfort her! You're practically family to her."
Inside, a stuffed bear lay on the bed beside a pumpkin-shaped tissue box. Ellie was sprawled across the covers, phone in one hand, fresh tissue in the other. On the screen, a couple embraced.
"This show is so sad," she sniffled, wiping her nose.
A noise outside brought her off the bed. She opened the door and found Julian standing solemnly in the hall.
Oh no. Had she been loud enough to give him a reason to kick her out?
She caught his robe sleeve, eyes still red.
"I won't cry anymore. Please don't make me leave."
"I won't." He looked slightly uncomfortable. "And I was too harsh earlier. I'm sorry."
So he thought she had been crying because of him.
Ellie's smile returned at once. "It's okay. I know you don't like me. I'm grateful you let me stay."
He sighed. "You can ask me for one thing. Within reason."
"Really?"
Her request led them downstairs, where she poured red wine from a decanter into a stemmed glass.
"I've heard all about the wine from your family's vineyard. Finally I get to try it."
Julian sat on the sofa, turning his glass as he watched her. She was old enough to drink. A little should be fine.
"Cheers, Julian."
She touched her glass to his and took a large swallow.
"That's good!"
She turned, then swayed.
"Except I'm a little… dizzy."
Her legs gave way, sending her straight into his lap. He caught her automatically. She clasped her arms around his neck, smiled with her face tucked against him, and rubbed her cheek into the side of his throat. Her fingers caught his robe.
Julian went rigid. He took her wandering wrist and looked down at her.
"From now on, no alcohol in this house."
Ellie closed her eyes, perfectly content in his arms.
The next day Julian sat in his office, fingers linked beneath his chin. His attention had strayed from work to the memory of white fabric, a bow in Ellie's hair, and her hand against his chest.
A folder hit his desk.
"Daydreaming about a woman in broad daylight?" Nate demanded.
"What are you doing here?"
Nate sat and pushed the folder toward him. The label read ELLIE: A SURVIVAL GUIDE.
"Information. She's living with you, so I listed her favorite brands, snacks, and things she likes to do."
"Do you understand that you're bankrupt?"
"As long as she's okay, my pride doesn't matter."
Julian gave an incredulous laugh and pushed the folder back.
"At least look at it."
"I'll take care of her. You don't need to worry."
Nate leaned over the desk. "Of course I need to worry. She's my actual sister. She isn't yours. How much do you really care?"
Julian pressed the speaker button on his desk phone.
"Security. Come to my office and remove the man sitting opposite me."
Two guards arrived and hauled Nate out between them. He fought their grip all the way to the door.
"If she loses a single pound before I come get her, you'll answer to me!"
His final threat faded down the hall. Julian remained braced against the desk, then looked down at the folder, rearranged it, and absently rubbed behind his ear.
