Catherine's POV
After the dinner from hell, I got into my room, waiting. My heart skipped a beat every time a floorboard creaked in the hallway.
While waiting, I kept counting the minutes until everyone would fall asleep. I wanted Julian. I wanted to finish what we started, not just for the heat of it, but because I needed to feel something other than the fear and dislike I had for Richard.
A soft knock startled me. I jumped, my eyes darting to the door.
"Who is it?" I whispered, my voice tight.
"It's Gabriel," came the muffled reply.
I blew out a breath of both relief and annoyance, then stood up and smoothed my shirt, walking over to pull the door open. I didn't step aside.
"Hey," I said. "Everything okay?"
Gabriel stood there, looking at me with a sheepish, lopsided grin. "What, no 'come in'? Are you hiding a body in there, Catherine?"
"Ha-ha," I replied, forcing a smile as I stepped back. "No. Just... I was about to go to bed. It's been a long day."
