49

ADELINE’S POV

The smell of chicken stirred in my nose, pulling me from my jet-lagged slumber. The 32-hour flight had been brutal, leaving me more exhausted than I’d ever been.

I had been sleeping since we landed. But now, my stomach growled.

I pushed back the covers and sat up, rubbing my eyes. The smell was too tempting to ignore. I followed my nose, feeling like a cartoon character being led by an invisible scent trail, my feet padding softly on the cold, hardwood floors as I made my way to the kitchen.

There, standing by the microwave, was Xander. He looked as handsome and sexy as ever, even in the harsh fluorescent light of the kitchen.

His dark hair was tousled, and he wore a simple t-shirt and jeans that clung to his well-built frame. The sight of him took my breath away for a moment. I shook it off quickly, reminding myself why I was here.

This was a job, nothing more. I hated him. He turned as I entered the kitchen, his eyes locking onto mine. He smiled, a slow, lazy grin t