Chapter 18 #2
Thoughts of last night surface, and I realize I must have fallen asleep before he came back on. I’m surprised he didn’t just hang up on me. Instead, he kept me on the line all night.
Even in his sleep, he’s beautiful. He has the phone propped up, and I have the perfect view of him as he lies there.
He has light scruff on his face this morning, and his full lips are parted slightly as I hear his soft breathing.
His dark hair is messy, giving him the sexy bed hair look, and my fingers beg to run through the soft waves.
His long, dark lashes flutter briefly before they open. He sees me watching him, and a slow, sexy smile appears.
“Well, this is a sight I could get used to waking up to every morning. How did you sleep, beautiful?” His deep, gravelly voice in the morning has me wishing I were there, so I could feel it vibrate against my skin.
“I actually slept like a baby,” I smile. “I must have fallen asleep on you last night. Why didn’t you hang up?”
“And miss this morning's view? Never.” He grins. “Besides, I was enjoying all the cute little sounds you make in your sleep. I even heard my name a few times. It sounded like you had another sex dream about me. A very good sex dream.” His eyes smile in amusement on his smug face.
“You did not hear your name,” I laugh. “If I did talk in my sleep, you probably misunderstood. It was probably Lyle that you heard. I met him the other day at the grocery store. He was super sweet and helped me pick out my produce.” I lift the covers over my mouth to hide my grin.
“You forget how small this town is. I grew up here,” he chuckles. “ Lyle , the produce guy, is nearing seventy. I didn’t peg you for having a thing for senior citizens, but if I have to fight Lyle for you, then so be it. All’s fair in love and war.”
“You will not hurt, Lyle,” I giggle. “He’s the sweetest man ever.”
“Then don’t have sex dreams about him, and I won’t have a reason to.”
“I didn’t have a sex dream about him!” I laugh.
“So admit it was me, and Lyle will happily get to enjoy another day of stacking fruit.”
“If I did have a sex dream last night, which I’m NOT saying I did,” I add, “You have a good probability of being in it.”
“I’ll take that half-assed confession, but only because we both know the truth.”
“Which is?” I ask, knowing I’m setting myself up, but can’t resist the temptation.
“That you are obsessed with me,” he grins at my eye roll.
“I’ll let you in on a little secret, though, so you don’t feel so alone.
I’m obsessed with you, too. And trust me, you are most definitely in all of my sex dreams I’ve been having,” he laughs.
“I almost want to go back to sleep so I can finish the one I was having before you woke me up with your obsessive staring.”
“I can’t with you,” I laugh and shake my head at his boyish grin.
“So, I was thinking,” he says, when my laughter dies down, “that I could maybe pick up some muffins at Lyla’s bakery and bring them over when I drop off the jeep in a few.
I thought Bee might enjoy them for breakfast, and then she can help me walk Gizmo for his morning stroll if that’s okay with you. ”
He looks so damn adorable when he asks that I have a hard time finding a reason why that wouldn’t be okay. He’s Charlie’s uncle, not some stranger I’m bringing into the house. We still have a lot to figure out as far as where our relationship is going, but we can keep that separate from Bee.
“She would love that,” I smile.
“Good.” He gives me a beautiful smile, and my stomach flutters like it’s holding a thousand butterflies that want to break free.
“I’ll let you go so you can get ready, unless you’re feeling selfish this morning and need some more help?
” His eyes turn mischievous as he slowly pulls back the cover.
I automatically become glued to the screen as I watch his gorgeous body come into view.
He looks even more breathtaking in the morning light, and I feel myself begin to respond to the vision that has me captivated as heat spreads throughout my body.
“Momma!” Bee comes bouncing into the room, and my phone flies out of my hand as I’m startled from my thoughts and brought back to reality.
“Bee, don’t!” I exclaim, reaching for the phone she just grabbed from the floor.
She hands it to me, and I breathe a sigh of relief when I see he hung up. Bee eyes me curiously, probably wondering why her mother is acting like a crazy person this morning.
“Sorry, Bee. You scared your momma good this morning,” I laugh, turning it into a funny situation. I pull her onto the bed with me and tickle her sides, knowing it will distract her. She’ll forget all about my odd behavior in seconds.
Her giggles float through the air, and I grin at her squirming body.
“How about we get you dressed? I have a surprise for you this morning.” She scrambles up on her knees and pushes her crazy bed hair out of her eyes.
“A surprise!” Her eyes light up, and I nod excitedly .
“Remember Charlie’s Uncle Miles from the birthday party?”
“He has Gizmo. The best dog in the whole world,” she explains to me.
“Yes, he’s the one who has Gizmo,” I laugh.
Best dog in the whole world? He gnawed on my toy like it was a prime rib.
“Miles called me this morning to ask if you would help him take Gizmo for his morning walk. He’ll be over soon.”
“Gizmo is coming to my house?” Her bright hazel eyes go wide with excitement. “This is the best day ever! I’ve got to go clean my room so I can show him all my toys,” she scrambles off the bed and races out of the room.
Letting out a breath, I lean against the headboard and pull up Miles on my phone.
Olivia
Sorry for the interruption.
I text and then smile when three dots appear immediately.
Miles
Nothing to be sorry about. I’ve never seen a phone fly out of someone’s hands so fast.
He inserts a laughing emoji, and a giggle escapes me.
Olivia
I was slightly engrossed in what I was watching. She scared the hell out of me.
Miles
Slightly? I’m pretty sure I saw some drool.
I can just picture his teasing face as he types.
Olivia
The only drool around here is coming from your dog. Who, according to Bee this morning, is the best dog in the whole wide world. She’s cleaning her room right now so she can show Gizmo all her toys.
Miles
Nice save on the drool part.
I grin at the phone and can almost hear his laugh. Dots appear again as he types.
Miles
The best dog in the whole wide world? That’s a pretty big honor and very cute. I’ll let him know as soon as the snoring sleeping beauty wakes up.
Just picturing the two unlikely pair sleeping together has me laughing softly.
Olivia
I should get ready and check on Bee. See you soon.
Miles
I’m looking forward to it.
Pulling back the covers, I quickly throw on some white cut-off shorts and a green tank top. I decide to go with a cute, messy bun today to keep the Florida heat off my neck as I walk to the bathroom to get ready.
A smile plays on my lips as I replay yesterday in my mind.
I wash my face and apply some light makeup as Miles invades my thoughts, which seems to be my new daily normal.
It’s getting harder and harder to keep my heart out of it.
Every time we talk, I feel a piece of me slowly begin to open up.
I don’t know if I have the strength to fight it anymore.
What scares me the most is that I’m not sure I want to.