I didn’t like him, I told myself. That addiction stuff was nonsense. It was just that it had been a while since I’d been in close contact with the male species, so of course he was getting inside my head. I was lonely, that was all. Everybody got lonely. It was only natural.

“Right this way.” My voice was cool, professional. He wasn’t the only one who could be aloof. I pulled the curtain back to enter my room, and as I did, Elodie popped up around the corner, a little French jack-in-the-box.

“Hello!” she said, her voice high and cheery. She scared the hell out of me, and I jumped away from Kael.

“I left before you woke up. I had—” She stopped talking when she saw who was with me.

“Kael? Hello!” She double-kissed his cheeks and I moved out of their way. In fact, I leaned my back against the wall. An appropriate metaphor, I thought.

“Elodie. Hi.”

They talked for a moment, good-natured casual conversation. But when he put his hands on her elbows—a friendly and completely appropriate gesture—I felt a wave of anger swell. That’s when I knew I had completely lost my mind.

“I’m really hungry all the time. I can’t seem to gobble down enough food.” She laughed as she said this. Kael gave her a faint smile, and I found myself secretly pleased that it wasn’t the big smile he’d given me—the one I couldn’t get out of my head. Yep. Mind was lost.

“Well, I’ll see you around,” Elodie said, and made her way back to Mali.

I walked into the room without even looking at Kael. I was usually more polite to clients; I would never turn my back on them. But I did now. Let him follow behind me. Let him feel what it’s like to see someone’s back disappear through a door.

CHAPTER FORTY

The room was dark, so I lit a few candles. It was one of those small tasks that helped me ease into the day. Almost a ritual. Mali had a couple of those Bic automatic lighters in each room, but I preferred matches. I loved the scratch as you ran the match head over the striking surface, the tiny little explosion that brought the flame to life. So much better than the nervous click, click, click of those lighters.

I was aware of Kael, standing just inside the doorway. He might have been evaluating his escape route or maybe even considering a quick getaway. Who knew? I ignored him as I lit the candles. Almond, from Bath & Body Works. Yes, I knew the scent came from chemicals, but like most people, I couldn’t splurge on the organic ones.