Strife: Part Two (The Strife Series Book 2) Read Free Page B

against the doorway.
    “I don't have anything in the fridge for you to eat, but if you want, you can order room service. There's a menu on the kitchen table.”
    I think about the nine dollars in my purse, wondering what it could buy me. At the Chateau Silverbridge, probably not much. It would be better if I just went home and heated up the leftover ramen from last night.
    “I'm not hungry,” I lie, keeping my eyes on the floor.
    “Nonsense. Order something, whatever you want, as much as you want, and I don't want to hear another word about it.” He doesn't even look at me as he speaks.
    Guilt floods me. He's already done so much and has gotten nothing in return. I'd feel horrible taking charity from him. Still, the thought of an actual meal, when I haven't eaten anything but noodles for days, is more than appealing. I chew my bottom lip for a moment, fighting an internal debate between pride and hunger.
    Finally, I give in to hunger, pushing myself away from the door to go to the dining room and look at the menu. It has everything on it that a person could possibly want. Eggs, fruit, pancakes, and even more sophisticated things like eggs Benedict and poached salmon. My stomach rumbles just reading through it all.
    I start to pick up the phone to call in my order but then realize that Brodie might be hungry too. Silently, I chastise myself for being so inconsiderate in my excitement to eat. At least, I caught myself before the mistake was made.
    “Do you want me to order you something?” I yell, too lazy to get up and go find him. Besides, the thought of seeing him nearly naked again does funny things to me. I'd rather not put myself in a position to fantasize about a man I'll obviously never have.
    “Eggs and bacon,” he calls back. “And fruit. And a glass of milk.”
    “Hearty,” I mutter under my breath, smirking as I dial the number and rattle off our order to the restaurant staff.

 
     
     
     
     
     
    DMITRI
     
     
    Well, I did tell her to order whatever she wanted.
    I quirk an eyebrow at the carb buffet scattered across the table. Pancakes and biscuits and hash browns and muffins. From the looks of it, she ordered almost the entire menu. I might be a bit peeved if she wasn't wearing an adorable grin while munching on a strawberry out of my fruit bowl. As it is, all I can do is laugh and shake my head.
    “And here I thought you were going to go easy on me.” I slide into the seat across from her.
    “You take just as long to get ready as a woman,” she teases me. “Sorry, I didn't wait for you.”
    “No worries.” I shake my head, pulling my plate in front of me.
    There's a lightness about her that wasn't there before. It's like the night's sleep has erased all of her depression and apprehension. She's vibrant and bright-eyed and dare I say it, she actually looks happy. It warms my heart and makes the money spent on breakfast entirely worth it.
    “So what are your plans for the day?” she asks as she pours a heaping mountain of syrup onto the stack of pancakes in front of her.
    “You like a little pancake with your syrup.” I nod towards the never ending torrent of syrup spilling from the small pitcher that was delivered with breakfast.
    “A girl needs her energy.” She shrugs.
    For what, I wonder. The thought makes me feel uneasy. I don't like the idea of her having to be with a different guy tonight though I know it shouldn't matter to me.
    “I have a business luncheon today,” I sigh, trying to brush negative thoughts away.
    “You don't sound very enthusiastic about it,” she says before stuffing a forkful of pancakes into her mouth.
    “I am excited about it, actually.” I shift my weight in my chair, thinking about all of the important people I'll meet today. Part of me wants to tell her more, but I know that I shouldn't. “What do you have going on today?”
    “Well, first I'm going to head to Mister Sumner's house to see if he'll give me an advance for last night. Then, if he