Chapter 13
Tyler
“Why don’t you just stay here?”
I spun around, nearly losing my towel in the process, and stared at Harris with wide eyes.
He was not looking at me, keeping his eyes on the mirror as he shaved.
I gathered the towel more securely and took three steps to the right so I could try to catch his eye.
He did make eye contact, for just a second, then tilted his chin up to shave his neck.
“What now?”
A smirk graced his lips. “You heard me.”
“I did. Yes.” But I couldn’t believe it. Sure, I’d been here every night since Friday, which was four days now, but still. Asking me to stay with him was a big step. When I technically still had a bed at Arlo’s I was just spending the night. This would be something else.
“You mentioned you had to go get more of your stuff.” Another quick catch of my eye before he averted his gaze. “Why don’t you just get it all and just stay here?”
I had to concentrate on breathing. My therapist had taught me this box breathing thing that really helped when I was feeling overwhelmed. After a minute or two of that, Harris was rinsing the last of the shaving gel off his face and I was feeling a little more centered.
“If I did that, we’d have to have the conversation we both decided to put off the other night.”
Harris wiped his face dry and smoothed on his after-shave moisturizer before he turned around.
He was only wearing his boxers, and he looked sexy a sin when he leaned against the bathroom counter.
He crossed his arms over his muscular chest and my attention caught on the play of muscles.
Damn, but really, he was just beautiful.
No. No getting distracted by his delectable body. This was serious.
“So let’s have the conversation.”
All I could do was blink at him. “In the bathroom? While mostly naked?”
That smirk came back. “Would you prefer we have it clothed? We can do that.”
I had to laugh because this whole thing was ridiculous. Not the conversation, but the rest of it. I hung my head and just let the chuckles pour out for a moment, then took a deep breath. When I stepped closer, he dropped his arms and reached for me. I let him pull me in.
“Are you ready for the conversation?”
He had the decency to think about that for a few seconds. “Do I want to talk about the future? Not really. No. That’s too…much. But the here and now, yeah. I do.”
I wrapped my arms around his shoulders and leaned against him, sliding my fingers into his hair. It was still wet, so nowhere near as soft as it usually was, but I liked touching him. I swore he was part cat, the way he relaxed from head scratches.
“You want me here all the time?”
He swept his hands up and down my back, then settled them on my waist and squeezed. His gaze never left mine. “I like knowing you’re here. I like spending the evenings with you, talking about our day and I love getting into bed with you.” He gave me a leer.
I snorted. “Yet, you still won’t fuck me.”
Harris shook his head, but he was smiling. “We’re gonna get there, baby.”
My heart picked up. “You call me that a lot.”
Harris nodded slowly and slid one of his legs between mine.
The towel came loose but it was trapped between our bodies so it didn’t fall.
Not that either of us were hard. I’d blown him in the shower just now and he’d jerked me until I’d come down the drain.
It had been a really nice way to start the day.
“I do,” he agreed, and placed a soft kiss on my jaw. “Look. While you’re here, I want you to come home to me. I want to spend as much time with you as I can until you… Is that something you want?”
I really did. And my first instinct was to agree immediately.
But just as he had given things some thought, I did the same.
So I played with his hair and stared into his pretty eyes and thought.
I thought about how much I did want to be here with him, how much I wanted to enjoy whatever time we had together, and how much more it was going to hurt when I left if I did this.
But I was a Marine, for fuck’s sake. See the hill, take the hill.
“Okay.”
Harris waited a beat, then chuckled. “That’s it? Just okay?”
Oh so that’s how he wanted to play it? Two could play this game.
“Yes, Sir. I would love to stay with you.” I made my voice as seductive as possible, which must have been pretty good, because Harris let out a quiet moan. Then he pinched my side, making me yelp and laugh.
“You’re a brat.” But he kissed me hard, so I knew he wasn’t actually upset. When I tried to push closer and get the towel out of the way, he pushed me away and waggled his finger at me. “Nuh-uh. None of that now. I have work to do.”
Alas, that was true. He was already getting out of the door later than usual.
Thanks to the sexy shower. I picked up the towel and hung it up, then followed him into his bedroom.
He was getting dressed, donning all the layers to stay warm, and I watched his body disappear under clothes. Then a thought occurred to me.
“My parents.”
There was only the slightest hitch in Harris’s movements. “Yep.”
“Do you want to meet them?” I asked softly.
Harris was quiet for a few moments. “That seems awfully big.”
“Yeah, but—”
“I’ll meet them.” He sat on the bed to pull on socks. “I can’t promise I’ll make a good impression. But they’re only here for one day, right? Bring ‘em by for a sleigh ride. I’ll comp their tickets. I’m driving from three to six on Friday.”
Look at him, stepping out of his comfort zone for me. I already knew he liked me. Maybe even cared about me. But that, right there, solidified it. And honestly, it put some hope in my heart. That possibly, after the holiday season was over, he wouldn’t want to say goodbye.
I already knew I didn’t. But I was too scared to let that take root, let alone voice it.
“I’ll do that. They’ll love it.” I crossed the room quickly and stepped between his knees before he could stand, now that he was done with his socks.
Without hesitation, he rested his forehead against my abdomen.
“And I mean this sincerely, I’d love it if you joined us for dinner at the Emerald Lantern.
But there is absolutely no pressure. If that’s too much, then I’ll just meet you back here when we’re done. ”
He nodded, his wet hair making me shiver as it rubbed against my skin. When he lifted his head to look up at me, I bent down and kissed him. I’d meant for it to be a peck, but he took it deeper. Just for a minute. And I felt his gratitude in that kiss.
“Get dressed and come eat. You need food. And I’ll get you a key.”
Harris didn’t wait for a response, just nudged me out of the way and walked out of the room. I could tell he was a little overwhelmed, but truth was, so was I. I’d give us both a minute to get ourselves back to center.
But damn if that hope didn’t take root. I wasn’t going to let it get too big. There was too much we hadn’t talked about. And there was a non-zero chance that he only wanted me for a few weeks anyway. I didn’t think so, but I couldn’t discount it.
So for now, I would soak it all in. I would stay in his house and sleep in his bed. And when the future reared its ugly head, I’d face it head on.
Arlo was in his office when I made it to the Emerald Lantern later that morning.
I headed there first, wanting to talk to him before I packed my shit.
He’d been kind enough to give me room and board while I stayed, all because I was a friend of his nephew’s.
He was a good, kind man, and I owed it to him.
“Arlo, hey I—whoa, that’s not a happy face.”
Honestly his frown had been epic and I was sure the scowl alone would have set the computer on fire if it were capable. Arlo jerked his head up when he heard me but it took him a second to change his expression.
“He lives!” Arlo teased, mirth twinkling in his eyes. He gestured to the chair across from his desk. “You’ve been having a good time out at the Wayfair?”
I nodded and winked, which made Arlo chuckle. “Which I want to talk to you about. But first, tell me why you’re threatening the computer with death.”
Arlo studied me for a moment. “You going to stop pretending you’re staying here and go stay with Harris, eh?”
He was too insightful, and I’d blame it on his years behind the bar, but Barrett had told me he’d always been like that.
Not that Barrett had shared much about his childhood, but when we’d been stationed in the desert, with too much downtime, sometimes conversation ran deep.
He’d told me about his father’s death, how he’d been angry at the world, and how the uncle he’d never met swooped in a saved him.
More specifically, he’d made mention of how Arlo had known how to deal with Barrett even when Barrett didn’t know how he felt.
I pointed a finger at him. “I asked you first.”
“Just a staffing issue,” he said, like that answered the question.
Which is did, but not enough. I motioned for him to go on.
After a few seconds, he did. “Chloe’s sick, so she can’t come in.
Which is fine, except my back up server, Jake, can’t come in until six-thirty.
He’s got class until six and it’ll take him a half an hour to get here.
It might be best if I just open late today and tomorrow. ”
My mind was whirring. “Just today and tomorrow?”
He narrowed his gaze. “Yes. Barrett works Thursday, which means he and Candice can cover the floor and if Chloe’s still sick on Friday, Jake can work from four.”
The solution was simple. “I can do it.”
“Is that so?” There was a hint of suspicion in his tone. “You ever wait tables, son?”
I laughed and shook my head. “Nope. I went straight into the Corps as soon as I graduated high school. But I’m a Marine, sir. I take direction well. Improvise. Adapt. Overcome.”
“Ooh rah,” Arlo responded, laughter in his voice. “All right. Pay’s fifteen an hour and you get to keep your tips.”
“Oh you don’t have to—”