Chapter 15 #2
“Stop getting distracted. People have change. Now, back to the plan. If anyone happens to be lurking outside, Nana and I will distract them while you sneak into your car.” He bit a chip in half and put it on the diagram next to his chip truck.
“You’ll wait until everyone is out of the front yard before you leave. ”
“And you’ll tell your parents that the tour went well, I have lots of ideas, and I’ll get back to them with an official plan in a few days. Meanwhile, no one will have the opportunity to think that we were doing anything that would end up in one of Hazel’s books,” I summarized.
Gage held up his beer. “I’ll drink to that.”
“There’s just one problem.”
“What’s that?”
“My car keys are in my purse…in your parents’ kitchen.”
“Shit.”
“Okay. What if we bribe your niece to sneak my purse out to us?”
He shook his head. “That opens us up to future blackmail. Believe me. It wouldn’t be the first time.”
“That Isla is one smart cookie,” I said.
“Here’s another option. We wait until your clothes are dry.”
I winced. “That’s an…embarrassingly obvious solution.”
“It is,” he agreed.
“Then why did you let me craft an entire unnecessary, over-the-top plan?” I demanded.
“I kinda just wanted to see what went on in that brain of yours.” He looked at his watch. “We have about an hour. What do you want to do until your clothes are dry?”
I could think of a few things that didn’t involve clothes but did require sweatpants dick. That would be a fun way to end my sex drought but probably not the smartest move. Probably definitely. “You can give me the grand tour and tell me if you were literally raised in a barn,” I suggested.
“Fine. But first give me your wine.”
“I’m not done,” I complained as I handed the glass over.
“I know. But I saw the destruction your SpaghettiOs wrought on that table from the lodge. I’m taking no chances.” He opened the cabinet above the coffee maker and poured the contents of my glass into a tumbler. He secured the lid and handed it back. “Let’s go.”
I followed him out of the kitchen. “You’re adorably anal.”
Gage gave an entertaining and educational tour, and I made note to mention that fact to Pep and Frank, who could inconvenience him in the future by insisting he give the tours.
The upstairs had another three bedrooms, two full bathrooms, and a cozy study he used as a home office.
Downstairs, he showed me the small den I’d missed during my muddy wandering.
The doors at the back of the living room on the first floor opened onto a sizable deck with a grill and an accessibility ramp. The front door led to a covered porch.
“Our grandfather built the original structure when my dad was five years old,” Gage said, crooking his finger at me. I approached, and he pointed down at our feet. There on the edge was a childlike Frank etched into the concrete.
“Much as I want to make fun of you for living in a barn, it’s pretty cool that you wanted to preserve this part of your family history.”
“Preserve it and build on it,” Gage said, pointing to the extension of the porch where in the front corner I spotted Cam. Levi. Laura. Gage.
I didn’t know if it was the wine or the mud bath trauma, but something had my nose and eyes tickling. Sometimes the yearning for what could never be still snuck up on me.
“You’re very lucky,” I said, forcing a note of brightness into my tone.
“I know. What’s your family like? You don’t talk about them much.”
I toyed with the disco ball charm on my necklace. “We’re just not as close as you Bishops. You have something special here.”
“That’s why I want to share it with someone,” he said, his voice husky.
I looked up from the names immortalized in concrete and found he’d stepped closer.
For a second, I irrationally considered closing the distance and snuggling into his chest. Which was totally stupid.
I didn’t snuggle. I didn’t require emotional support from hot attorneys who adopted dogs and loved their families.
His eyes were fixed on me, that deep forest green holding me immobile as he took another half step forward into my space.
His jaw clenched once, and I watched him swallow.
We were standing too close for it to be innocent, and I fantasized about what would happen if those last few inches disappeared.
“Zo,” he said on a gravelly rasp.
“Yeah?” I squeaked. I cleared my throat. “I mean, yeah?” I said in a lower octave.
“You sure you’re not the one?” he asked.
“P-pretty sure. Almost positive.” I couldn’t be who he needed or give him what he wanted. And in the moment, part of me almost hated myself for it.
His lips looked like they’d be really good at kissing. Like really good. His fingers trailed little licks of fire down both sides of my waist. I was wondering if I should be shocked or thrilled that he made the first move when I realized my hands were fisted in his shirt.
I cleared my throat. “I bet my clothes are dry,” I announced at an unnecessary volume.
Gage’s jaw clenched once more before he removed his hands from my hips and took a step back.
He looked down at his watch. “Looks like it.”
“We should probably—”
“Avoid each other at all costs?” he filled in.
“I was going to say go but also definitely that thing that you said.”
“How hard could it be?” he muttered.
Me: Hey. It’s been a while. Let me know if you have time for a sister video chat.
Carla Moody: Pretty busy for the next few weeks. If you need something it’s probably faster to tell me over text.