Fidelity (Infidelity #5)(77)

Nox offered his hand. “Very nice to meet you, Jane…?” He allowed her name to linger in the air.

“Peterson,” I said. “Jane Peterson.”

She nodded and scanned Nox up and down. “My my, I see why Alex is smitten with you.”

A hint of pink dotted his cheeks. “She speaks very highly of you too.”

“That’s good to hear.” She leaned closer. “I like that smile on your face. It makes you even more beautiful than you always are.”

“I like it too.”

“Beautiful on the inside too.”

“Maybe one day you could tell me some stories about Alex when she was young?” Nox asked.

“She still young, but yes, sir. I have stories.”

“Alex said you’ve been here her whole life?”

“That’s true,” Jane said. “Mostly because I’m older than dirt. It seems like my brother and I been here since before time.”

“Your brother?” Nox asked.

“Yes, my brother, Brantley. He been driving Montagues before I had diapers to change.”

I shook my head. “When I was little and learned Jane’s last name, I thought they were married.”

Jane’s laugh warmed the room and filled my soul. I could listen to it forever. “Ain’t no man out there who can handle this.” She swept her hand down herself.

I laughed. “Keep looking. There are some good ones out there.”

“Yes, child, I’d say you might have found you one. Besides, Brantley and me ain’t never been that close.”

“But you’ve worked together… forever?” Nox said.

“This place is big. We came here at the same time ‘cause our parents worked for Mr. Charles and Miss Olivia.”

My tone turned serious as I scanned the otherwise-empty foyer and allowed my gaze to linger on the hallway that led to Alton’s office. “Tell me again that he’s not here.”

“No, ma’am. He’s at work. I know from Brantley’s phone, Mr. Fitzgerald’s not left Montague Corporation all day. When he’s here, he’s locked in his office or up in his room.”

“Thank you for helping us. We’ll be heading back to New York soon.” I reached for Jane’s hand. “What are you going to do?”

She shrugged. “What can I do?”

“Come to New York. Momma would love for you to be with her, and so would I.”

“I’d like that. I’d like Miss Adelaide to come home too. This is her house. It’s yours.”

I took a deep breath as I looked around the foyer, taking in the marble floor, the large staircase, and the ornate lighting. It wasn’t as scary as it had been, but it also didn’t fill me with the warmth of Rye. I turned back to Jane.

In her gaze was the warmth, the feeling of home. I smiled. “Who knows? Maybe someday.”

I reached again for Nox’s hand. “While we’re here, let me show you my room.”

His brows rose in question. “You do know that we have a car full of people waiting.”

“Two people. It’s hardly a crowd. Besides, when did you worry about Deloris or Clayton?” I tugged his hand toward the stairs. I’d never imagined having Nox at Montague Manor. I’d never wanted to bring my worlds together, but with his hand in mine, the steps seemed less daunting. The doors weren’t soldiers ensuring my obedience. The keyholes weren’t portals with eyes watching my every move. The corridor was only that—a hallway.

I opened the door to my room.

“Very girly,” he said, taking in the frill.

I hurried toward my bed and bounced on the edge. “It is. Flower wallpaper and a canopy bed.”

Nox sat beside me. “I like it.”

“You do?”

“I like learning more about you.” He ran his hand up the smooth wooden post that held the canopy. “And I like what we could do with these posts.”

Heat filled more than my cheeks as my insides twisted and legs squeezed together. “Car with people, remember?”

He leaned over me, pushing me back to the mattress. “Just imagine you tied to these posts, your legs spread wide and sexy tits vulnerable.”

“Nox?”

He ran his finger along the neckline of my dress down to my breast and circled my covered nipple. His smile grew. “Your nipples are hard just thinking about it. Think what I could do to them if we took off this dress?”

He was right.

“They aren’t the only thing that’s hard.” He reached for the hem of my skirt. “Come on, princess, let’s be naughty in your bedroom.”

“I…”

“What do you have here that I could use to tie your—”

A knock came on the doorframe, its sound stopping the rest of his question.

“Excuse me.”

My cheeks warmed as Nox and I turned to the open door and Jane’s smile. “Umm, yes?”

“The gate just called.”

I sat up as Nox sprang to his feet.

“It ain’t Mr. Fitzgerald.”

“Bryce?” I shuddered at his name.

“No, ma’am. It’s Mrs. Spencer.” When my eyes narrowed, Jane went on. “This is your house. You shouldn’t let that woman push you out.”