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I’ rather uncultured and intilass ‘You’re such a s a smile, I know it I wish he’d just loosen up with the sophistication and uptight s, and flashss?’ He raises his perfect eyebrows as he raises his perfect glass containing the perfect wine, taking a perfectly slow and suggestive sip with those perfect lips

‘Appreciate or obsess about?’ I put the word out there because if there’s one thing about Miller Hart that I’m absolutely certain of, it’s that he’s obsessive, and he’s obsessive about s is me

‘I’m more inclined to appreciate’

‘I’m more inclined to obsess’

He cocks his head, airl?’

‘Are you good at cracking codes?’

‘Thelass toward ue with him; he has, so I reach over and take some bruschetta ‘This looks delicious’

‘I concur,’ he says, taking a piece for hi that I’ sloondering what I’ve done now I soon find out He picks up his knife and fork and h the bread before slowly taking the piece fro his cutlery down neatly He starts to chew as he watcheswith embarrassment I need to take some lessons in refine downhis lead

‘Annoy me?’

‘Yes’

‘Far fro a little reckless’ He hitslook, which I choose to sidestep ‘You fascinate me’

‘With my common ways?’ I ask quietly

‘You’re not coht You’re a snob’ I pause briefly as he coughs his surprise ‘Soentleant twat

‘I don’t think well-mannered classifies as snobbery’

‘You’re e to put h’

‘Like I’ve said before, Livy Take me as I am’

‘I have’

‘As I have you’

I recoil on the inside, a little injured by his remark He means that he’s accepted my shameful history and lack of manners, that’s what he entle in his life perfect, while he’s accepted lass frolad he’s accepted s

‘Overthinking, Livy,’ he says quietly, snapping me from my mental deliberation

‘I’m sorry I just don’t understand

‘You’re being silly’

‘I don’t think--’

‘Stop it!’ he shouts, shifting his recently placed wine glass at the sa, like I said it would’ I retreat inquiet ‘I’ve already told you that I don’t necessarily understand, but it’s happening and there is nothing neither I nor you can, or should, do about it’ He swipes his glass up, o co – not a sip, he doesn’t savour the taste; he swigs it

He’s really lass down and grabbing his head ‘Livy, I’ He sighs and pushes hi his hands out toup froonto his lap and letting hiise,’ he whispers, kissing my hair ‘It upsets me when you talk like that, like you’re not worthy I’ back so I can get his lovely face in nature shadow holding fort and his light-blue eyes glistening Reaching up, I take a wave of his hair and twist it gently between ree’ He drops his y with a lazy dance of his tongue with ain, but the flashes of that te a concern He always looks momentarily feral, and I can see with clarity his battle to rein it in

After apologising thoroughly, he turns me around on his lap and feeds me some bruschetta, and then takes some for himself We eat in a comfortable silence, but I’m a bit bemused that Miller’s table manners accept htly off position

It’s all calm and lovely until the sound of his iPhone breaks our peaceful supper, ringing persistently froover to a set of shelves by the fridge I definitely see a look of irritation when he glances at the screen before answering ‘Miller Hart’ He walks fro me to settle back on my chair ‘It’s no problem,’ he assures whoever’s on the other end of the line, his bare back disappearing from view

I take the opportunity while he’s away fro to work out if there’s a theory to his madness I reach over and pick up the platter in a silly test to see if there is an outline which marks its place Of course there isn’t, but it doesn’t stopS, I reach the swift conclusion that there are outlines for everything, but only Miller can see thelass and stickcautiously

My attention is pulled to Miller when he re-enters the kitchen and pops his phone back where it belongs in the docking station ‘That was the er?’

‘Yes, Tony He takes care of things in my absence’