As Susanna instinctively reached out to push Hull away, she hadn''t quite
expected what happened next.
In an instant, her wrist was caught in his firm grip, his voice a gravelly murmur,
"What are you up to?"
"I-I wasn''t doing anything!"
"Really?"
Susanna''s eyes widened in shock.
She realized where her hand hadnded—right on Hull''s toned abdomen, dangerously close to the waistband of his jeans...
Her breath hitched.
Oh my God, what was it with her and Hull''s waist? First, she yanked on his belt,
then it was the towel, and now, well, there''s no belt, just his jeans?
Susanna''s cheeks flushed a deep red, and she instinctively tried to pull her hand back, only for Hull to tighten his hold on her wrist.
It seemed she couldn''t even y innocent if she tried.
"I''m sorry, I didn''t mean it."
Hull raised an eyebrow, "You sure you weren''t trying to get a little closer?"
Susanna was speechless.
Her mind was spinning, and she couldn''t quite recall how she''d ended up in his
arms.
In all honesty, she hadn''t meant to do it.
She had been trying her best to avoid any trouble by keeping herself locked away in her room.
"I''m sorry."
She wanted to add, "If you hadn''t climbed in through the window, this wouldn''t have happened," but she dared not.
Hull released her and turned away, his voice low and tinged with something unrestrained, "Just avoid chatting with Ste for a while."
Susanna felt a pang of frustration. She had been hoping to reach out to her friend, Star.
Hull continued, "We''ve got to sort this out before you can clear your name. I''m sure you don''t want this dragging on because of her interference."
Susanna sighed.
Her resolve to reach out to Ste crumbled under Hull''s reasoning.
His point was clear.
Even if Ste got involved, they needed to get to the bottom of things to clear Susanna''s name.
If Star interfered, it would likely only prolong the process.
Pulling her thoughts together, Susanna watched Hull''s retreating back. He was already at the door when she called out, a little intively, "Then have your people hurry up with the investigation."
She was desperate to clear her name as soon as possible.
Hull didn''t respond, simply walking out.
Susanna picked up a throw pillow, hugging it close, and closed the door with a sense of dejection. She returned to the couch, feeling rather stuck in the mess she found herself in.
Not long after, Ss showed up with a crew to rece some furniture Susanna watched them struggle with the heavy cabs, realizing there was no way she could have moved them herself.
Barnaby arrived as well.
He nced around at Susanna''s room, noting the perfectly good cabs being reced, and turned to her, "Got a problem with these cabs?"
It was curious to him.
His brother was going out of his way for a woman, which was quite the surprise.
Susanna shot Barnaby a look of annoyance but said nothing.
Barnaby was puzzled. What was that look for?
She had Hull''s attention, so why did she still look so put out?
Lottie didn''t return untilte evening.
Ronald, having just returned to Ferrond, was busy with his own matters. Before heading out that night, he gave the butler a list of instructions regarding Ste and her pregnancy, noting the things she needed to avoid.
Ste sat on a nearby couch, munching on a Granny Smith apple.
Ronald walked over with a report in hand, gently ruffling her hair, "Enjoying that?"
He nced at the wastebasket, noting several apple cores.
Ste grinned, "Yeah, these are really good."
She wasn''t too fond of overly sweet fruits, and the tartness of the apple was just right.
Ronald settled beside her, gazing at the ultrasound images on the report with the same tender warmth he always showed Ste.
Ste noticed his fixation, "You''ve looked at those a million times."
Ever since he got that report, it hadn''t left his side. What was so fascinating about
it?