Chapter 6
Amelie
Iced coffee with muddled mint leaves, chocolate and cream swirled into them. The tall glasses sit between us as we take seats on my beloved balcony. In two silver bowls, thin slices of chocolate cake support fans of strawberry atop clouds of whipped cream. A pyramid of finger sandwiches, mostly smoked salmon with cream cheese and cucumber, sits on a plate by the desserts.
“I could get used to this,” Daniel says, saluting me with his glass before taking a long sip. His eyes squint with pleasure; his muscular throat works, and my fingertips want to reach and feel his skin. “You live in this palace by yourself?”
“Our family used to be much larger,” I reply quietly and he goes silent, focusing on his drink as I watch him.
“If it’s the family home, it would feel weird sell
