14. Kristin
14
KRISTIN
H oly Martha Stewart .
Will led me up the brick steps to his front porch. He unlocked the door, and I half-expected a butler or a maid to pop out. His house was on a different level. It almost looked like a miniature version of the Taylor Creek Inn.
Miniature in this case meaning fucking humongous.
Inside was equally impressive.
Sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows that looked out over the Neuse River. Hardwood floors snaked through the house. Throw pillows dotted couches that circled a massive fireplace.
It looked like the perfect spot to curl up and read a book on a rainy day.
“This place is beautiful,” I said, wonderstruck.
Unfortunately, that sense of awe quickly faded. I didn’t belong here. The last five years had just been one nightmare after another. There was no way this ended any other way than humiliation.
I was not destined for a life like this.
For a man like this .
My overnight bag caught my eye as it hung from Will’s hand. I didn’t even want to know what the girls had packed in there. Probably nothing but a toothbrush and a thong. I didn’t even want to think about having s-e-x. It had been so long.
Had sex changed in the last half-decade?
And this was our first date! Would he be expecting sex? The overnight bag kind of screamed, “getting busy.”
What if I didn’t put out? Would he be mad? Would he tell me to take an Uber home before slamming the door in my face?
“I can hear you overthinking, Kris,” Will said as he led me up the stairs. He gave my hand a reassuring squeeze.
We made it up to the second-floor landing that looked out over the living room below. Will led me down the hall that was covered in slick hardwood.
“Is this where the tour starts?” I asked, laughing nervously. Most people start in the kitchen or something.
He chuckled. “Something like that.” He reached into a dark room and flipped on the light. “What do you think?”
I stepped slightly behind him, my breath catching as I realized he had taken me straight to his bedroom.
Presumptuous much? “Oh.”
I stood slightly behind him, pursing my lips between my teeth. I couldn’t do this.
My eyes clamped shut as hot tears of humiliation welled up. Silently, I summoned the courage to ask him to take me back to Mel’s so I could get my car and go home.
Will turned and faced me. “Breathe, Sunshine,” he said, hands gently squeezing my arms.
“ I can’t do this, ” I whispered. I tried to back away, but he held me firm. “Will, please.”
“It’s a guest room, not my bedroom.”
“Then what?—”
“A while back, I asked you a question,” he said, gently squeezing my biceps. “Do you remember when I asked you if you could have anything in the world right now, what would it be?”
I nodded.
“Do you remember your answer?”
“Yeah,” I said, noticing that the bed was turned down. A bottle of wine and a glass sat on the nightstand. “A nap.”
Will handed me the overnight bag and nudged me through the threshold. “The door locks from the inside.” He jerked his thumb over his shoulder. “I’m gonna head downstairs and make dinner. In about an hour, we’ll eat. Figured it’ll give you a little time to nap and relax. Have some wine if you want.”
I clutched the bag to my chest, lip quivering. This had to be one of the most thoughtful things anyone had ever done for me, and I had just assumed the worst of him.
“There’s a bathroom in there, too,” Will said, pointing around the corner.
On an impulse, I eased up on my tiptoes and kissed his cheek. “Thank you.”
A half-smile twitched at the corner of his mouth as he caught me by the waist. He pulled me into his arms, and my skin buzzed electric.
I felt more alive at that moment than I had in a long time. Teetering on the steel toes of his boots, I still had to crane my neck up to get close to his eye line.
“For what?” he asked in a whisper, resting his forehead on mine. His large hands covered my waist to keep me balanced. The strong line of his nose bumped against mine.
Our lips were a breath apart.
I tipped my head up, brushing his lips with mine as if to say, kiss me.
He didn’t make a move.
I slid my hands from his shoulders until they lay squarely on his chest. “Thank you for listening. ”
I could feel the steady thrum of his heartbeat through the thin dress shirt. He smelled woodsy and spicy, like all the best parts of Christmas. It made me think he was the kind of guy who would pick out a live tree and chop it down himself.
Was this what Erica meant when she called Steve a lumbersnack? Will didn’t have a beard, but I felt those muscles that hid under his hoodies and pullovers. My mind wandered back to the day when he slept in and I got to see him in all his half-naked glory.
His lips brushed against mine again, and I sucked in a breath, but the kiss never came. Instead, he pressed his lips to my forehead. It wasn’t the steamy, passionate moment I was prepared for. Deep inside, though, I knew it was something more.
I felt safe. Comforted. Cared for. And if I was being honest with myself, that’s what I really needed.
“Get some sleep,” he murmured as he pressed his palm to the small of my back, urging me into the guest room.
The rhythmic thump of his boots carried through the empty house as he plodded down the stairs.
My fingers lingered over the lock when I shut the door, but I decided against it. Will had proven himself to me. And I wouldn’t mind if he stormed back in here and ravaged me with a heated kiss.
He knew I had hang-ups, though he didn’t know what they were yet. He was patient, waiting for me to come to him on my terms.
Well, my terms and those of the poker club girls.
Speaking of…
I pulled my phone from my purse and shot Logan and Kylie a text to check in and make sure they were okay. Of course, they were over the moon. They loved hanging out with Chase and Hannah Jane.
Since they were neighbors, that meant Hannah Jane would cook or order in. They’d have a big meal at her house before Chase took the boys back to his place for video games. Hannah Jane would keep Kylie and Zoey so she could pamper and spoil them.
Satisfied that the kids were safe and taken care of, I eyed the overnight bag lying on the bed. Lord only knows what sort of fresh hell the girls threw in there.
I yanked on the zipper and was pleasantly surprised to find a pair of sweatpants and a soft long-sleeved shirt on top. I pawed through the rest and found a cute set of pajama shorts and a tank top. There was a change of clothes for tomorrow and some basic toiletries.
I love my girls. They teased and gave me hell, but when it came down to it, they cared. Really cared.
I shimmied out of my dress and laid it across the vanity before changing into the sleep shorts and tank. Goosebumps sprang up across my arms and down my legs as the air condition chilled my skin. Slightly more effective than a window unit.
I contemplated a glass of wine, but sleep called my name.
Thick covers and silk sheets hugged me like a cloud as I crawled into bed. I groaned with pleasure when my head hit the pillow. Luxurious memory foam cradled every inch of me. It felt like a dream the moment I closed my eyes. In no time at all, I drifted off to sleep.
A soft knock on the door woke me, but I didn’t stir until the smell of steaks wafted into the room. Reluctantly, I lifted my head with a grunt. “Hmm?”
Will leaned against the frame of the open door, arms crossed and grinning like a buffoon. “I knew it.”
“Knew what?” I asked, yawning.
“That you’d look fucking adorable when you woke up. ”
I giggled and flopped back down. “My hair probably looks like a tumbleweed.”
He chuckled. “An adorable tumbleweed.”
Peering at him through hooded eyes, I noted that he had changed into gray sweatpants and white henley. He had the sleeves pushed up to his elbows, showing off all that delicious arm porn.
Thick veins snaked up the back of his hands and around his arms. I closed my eyes and imagined those hands gripping my body. Manhandling me into whatever position pleased him. Digging his fingers into my skin as he?—
“You hungry?” he asked.
I clenched my thighs together. “Mhmm.”
He sauntered into the room and sat down at the foot of the bed, resting a hand on my blanket-covered ankle. The mattress dipped under his weight. “Sleep okay?”
I nodded and smiled, curling my fingers and toes as I stretched. “I can’t remember the last time I slept that well.”
Will slid his hand up my leg, stalling at my thigh. I bit my lip, wishing he’d move just a little higher. The last two weeks had reawakened needs that had been dormant for years.
I didn’t bother changing out of my pajamas, considering he had slipped into a pair of sweats while I was asleep. God bless gray sweatpants.
Dinner was fantastic. Will grilled steaks and made green beans with bacon and butter—just the way I like them. The mashed potatoes were so fluffy I was convinced he had served me literal clouds from heaven.
We chatted about the inn and a little more about what he did for work.
He assured me that he wasn’t a tech-savvy mercenary. I remained unconvinced.
He asked a lot about the Taylor Creek Inn. Most of the questions would have seemed condescending from anyone else. But coming from him, he just seemed genuinely curious.
When Will checked out of his room, he sang my praises to Rich the Dick. In turn, I got a small bonus. It was nice to feel appreciated rather than invisible. Most guests rarely acknowledged housekeeping other than to complain. It was usually thankless work.
Will didn’t argue when I helped him clear the dishes. But once the table was clear and he had the dishwasher popped open to load, he poured a glass of wine and set it on the countertop beside the sink.
Ignoring the wine, I bent down to help him load the plates into the dishwasher.
“No, ma’am.” Will caught me around the waist. With little effort, he picked me up and deposited me on the countertop. “I’ve got it.” He picked up my glass of wine and slid it into my hand before pecking my cheek. “Just relax. This is a date, remember?” Will smirked. “I can’t have you doing the dishes on a date.”
Blushing, I relented and sipped on the cabernet as he rinsed dishes and loaded them up.
He was silent, but it didn’t bother me. Maybe it was the two weeks I spent cleaning his room as an excuse just to see him, but I felt more comfortable with him than I ever had with anyone else.
My wine glass was the last thing to go into the dishwasher. I put it in the top rack and waited as he dropped the detergent pod in and started the cycle.
As soon as the machine kicked on, Will stood in front of me and bracketed my hips with his hands. With me sitting on the counter, we could actually see eye-to-eye. His warm hazel eyes invited me in, tempting me to get lost in them. Flecks of gold swirled his irises like a kaleidoscope.
I wrapped my arms around his neck, drawing him in. There were so many things I wanted to tell him, but I didn’t know where to begin .
“Wanna take a walk?” he asked.
I looked down at the flowy sleep shorts that barely covered my ass. “Like this?”
“Don’t worry. No one will see us,” Will said, a playful grin on his lips. Without hesitation, he slid his hands under my ass and hauled me off the countertop. He gave my cheeks a gentle squeeze that sent lightning down my spine.
I giggled as he took me by the hand and led me outside through a pair of glass doors situated between the kitchen and great room.
“You okay going barefoot?” he asked, glancing at my feet as we strolled across the deck and down the steps to the grass.
I laughed. “Yeah. I’m good.”
Glassy water reflected pink and orange hues as the sun descended over the Neuse River. A row of old oak trees stood tall along the edges of the grass, giving the property a sense of privacy from the passing sailboats as they sluiced through the water.
We walked hand-in-hand across the dewy grass to a hammock that was stretched between two trees. Autumn was right around the corner. While the days were still blistering hot, the nights were cool.
I shivered as we neared the edge of the water.
Will let go of my hand and sat down on the hammock, steadying it before swinging his legs across to stretch out. He beckoned me with open arms. “C’mere, sweetheart.”
I didn’t hesitate to climb into the hammock with him. I didn’t hesitate when I snuggled into his side. And I didn’t hesitate when I laid my head on his chest as if we had done this a thousand times before.
It felt natural.
A light breeze rustled the trees, and water lapped against the shore. Crickets and frogs performed a gentle symphony .
Will’s arm snaked around my body, pulling me closer as the hammock gently rocked back and forth.
“This is nice,” I whispered.
Will hummed in agreement. His soothing fingers trailed up my arm, then my shoulder, until they found my hair. He gently dug them into my scalp.
An involuntary moan escaped me. “Oh my God, that feels amazing.”
We laid together as the sun dipped below the horizon. Perfectly timed string lights turned on and made the trees glow like magic. He cocooned me in his arms, and we fell into a comfortable silence.
I could’ve fallen asleep out there, lulled into a trance by mashed potatoes and salty sea air. But I knew I had a few things to ‘fess up to.
“You’re thinking again,” Will said, mumbling against my hair.
His fingers teased my skin where my tank top had ridden up. It sent a shiver up my spine.
“You got somethin’ on your mind, sweetheart?”
“A lot,” I admitted, finally ready to tell him everything. “But I, um… I don’t know where to start.”
He brought my hand to his lips, pressing a kiss to the center of my open palm. Tenderly, he asked, “Would it be easier if I ask?”
I knew damn well I could say no, and he wouldn’t question it.
But the time had come. No more hiding.
“That might help.”
He combed his fingers through my hair. The simplest touch from him had me feeling calm.
“Will you tell me about the kids?”