My thoughts drifted back to Natalie as I tried to put my desire for her behind me. Astrid took a sip of her coffee. Then she gently pushed me away until our lips parted. With her back to me, I could only see tendrils of steam curling around her arms and wafting past her shoulders and head as she stood over the large pot. Do you think any parents hold their own children to the standards they set for others? Camille placed the bowl on the table and turned halfway from her work to look at me; her plush lips were compressed into a thin line of disapproval. The ride back to the club was quiet, a welcome change after a long conversation over dinner, but I kept catching myself glancing at Chloe as she operated the cart. I studied her freckled face for anything that might reveal what she was thinking behind that stoic visage. “No,” Astrid said, shaking her head. “Sorry,” I said to my chef. What kind of life had she led to develop that tough core? Astrid was cool as hell, smart, and stunning. What a bold question!
