Chapter 35
Chapter Thirty-Five
Delaney
I’ve been nibbling at the inside of my lower lip for at least ten minutes as I stare at Harrison’s sleeping form. I got up and peed, but since then, I’m watching him like a creeper.
I promised Harrison I wouldn’t leave as I did after our first time together.
The vulnerability in his eyes last night when he asked me not to run out on him again keeps me glued to this chair.
I could use a cup of coffee, but something deep inside me says not to.
It’s not worth the risk of his waking and finding me gone—even if I’m just downstairs.
I want to keep this promise, especially since my recent track record for keeping promises has been poor.
Still, I’ve got a ton to do today. Figuring out a place to stay and fixing the car are my priorities.
I glance down at my phone—six a.m.—too early to get that in motion.
God, the cost is going to hurt my savings.
Maybe the tire has a nail hole, and someone can patch it.
If it’s not salvageable, I’ll ask if they have a used one.
“Are you all right over there?” Harrison’s rough morning voice startles me, and I chomp down hard on my bottom lip. I manage not to yelp, but I know I winced, and Harrison frowns.
He flies to an upright position at the side of the bed, leans forward, and places his hands on my knees. His touch settles me enough for me to notice, and I lift my eyes to meet his. I force a smile.
“Yeah, I bit my lip.” The coppery taste of blood fills my mouth.
Harrison lifts his hand to my face and brushes the rough pad of his thumb over the injured area. It gives me the shivers.
“You okay?” he asks. I nod in response.
“I’m fine but—”
“About everything? Not only your injury.” The intensity in the way he’s looking at me is too much.
My throat tightens, and I drop my gaze downward for a second, then look him in the eyes.
Am I? I think so…
“Yes, all is good.”
I scoot forward, and his hands slide off my knees. When he straightens, I see the chance to stand and take it.
“I need to get my day started. I’ve got to sort out the car and find somewhere to sleep. Or check if Brandon has settled enough to let me return to—”
“What?” Harrison leaps up. “What did you say? Because I’m certain I misheard.” Sarcasm drips from his last few words, and it pisses me off.
I narrow my gaze at him and fight the urge to allow my eyes to roam his body, even though I know he’s just wearing boxer briefs.
“You heard me. If I can’t find somewhere else to rent, then I need to see if Brandon will take me back.” I walk to his bedroom doorway and stop, then pivot to face him again.
Harrison is pulling on shorts, and the view and the way he focuses his gaze on me make me forget what I was going to say. God, he’s one impressive specimen of a man.
“Please wait a minute.” He pauses and grabs socks and a T-shirt from his chest of drawers before walking over to me. When he’s a few feet from me, his features soften. “Stay and have breakfast with me, and then I’ll help you sort everything.”
I’m about to open my mouth and tell him I can’t, but something stops me. Maybe it’s the hope in his eyes. Or I like being here with him and want a few more minutes of being this woman before I step back into my reality.
“I can stay for a cup of coffee, that’s all.” I fix my gaze on his, waiting for him to argue.
“It’s a start.” He winks at me, and the way his face lights up, the excited grin he wears—they cause my lower belly to flutter.
Harrison squeezes past me and steps through the doorway; his right hand momentarily rests on my hip as he passes.
Images of him brushing sensual kisses over that same spot last night flood my memory, and desire rises within me.
I’d love to convince him to go back to bed, but I can’t.
That kind of carefree day is not something I can afford.
So, I follow him as he makes his way downstairs to the kitchen.
“I have tea as well, if you’d rather have that. You’re a tea drinker, right?”
I’m surprised he noticed that.
“Either is fine. I think today, coffee sounds good, though.”
A few minutes later, we both have steaming mugs in our hands, and Harrison guides me out to an expansive deck that runs along the entire length of the back of the house.
I’m stunned by the spectacular view in front of me. The rising sun paints the sky, and it’s gorgeous—shades of vivid pink and lilac streak across the horizon.
“It’s stunning,” I whisper. I walk to the railing, rest my coffee cup on it, and stare out from the deck. “I think I’d sit here every morning if I lived here.”
Harrison speaks from behind me. “Yeah, it’s awe-inspiring.”
I turn and peer at him. He looks perfect, dressed in casual clothes, sitting in a high-backed, cushioned chair. There’s a second one next to it, so I walk over and sit. We sit and drink in silence for a few comfortable moments, watching the sun transform the sky.
When I take the last sip from my cup, I scoot to the edge of my seat. In my peripheral vision, Harrison’s movement draws my attention, and I glance over at him.
“I really have to leave. As it is, I may have to cancel on ladies’ night.” A ping of disappointment hits me. I wanted to be part of that. “Layla’s going to be upset, isn’t she?”
Harrison’s frown and narrowed eyes answer my question. My shoulders sag at the thought of letting that angel down. It feels horrible. That doesn’t change the fact that I have a ton to do today.
I rise and return to the kitchen. Even though I’ve seen it a few times, until this moment, I’ve failed to appreciate how amazing it is.
Of course, the cabinetry is lovely—a natural hardwood.
I’m sure they are custom-made. There’s a generous food prep area that anyone who loves cooking would envy.
However, it’s the marvelous large eat-on island in the center of the room that I can’t take my eyes off of.
A quick count of the upholstered stools surrounding it tells me that it can seat up to eight.
My chest tightens for a second as I allow myself to consider how much I’d love to have enough friends and family to share a meal with somewhere like this.
I force the thought away, irritated with myself for wishing for more when I had the benefit of being raised by an extraordinary mother, with a few bonus people in our lives.
I go to the sink and rinse out my cup, then turn my head to find Harrison leaning against the counter, watching me. I’m unable to read his expression, but, Jesus, is there ever a time this man doesn’t look sexy?
“Would you take a walk with me so we could talk about a few things?”
“I can’t. I have—”
“To your car. We’ll walk to your car.” He places his hand on my forearm. “It’s daylight. Let’s go check it out.”
I guess it can’t hurt. It’ll only take us a few minutes to walk there, and I’m not ready to say goodbye yet.
“Sure. Let me grab my basket, and we can head out.”
I attempt to move, but stop when Harrison’s hold on my forearm tightens, and a husky laugh erupts from his handsome face.
“Oh, Bets. What am I gonna do with you? We’ll leave your stuff here for now.”
I raise an eyebrow at him and tilt my head.
“Why? I’ll wait at my car for the roadside assistance guy.”
“How about we play that by ear? I’ll drive everything back to you if you want, but at this moment, I would love to take a walk with you before diving into the day.” He leans forward and places a kiss on my forehead. “Let’s go. We’ve got some things to talk about.”
Harrison grabs my hand, and I don’t resist when he laces our fingers together. I’m sure what he said last night about wanting more was just a heat-of-the-moment thing. Still, this feels nice, and his grip is strong, confident. I like it.
It can’t hurt to indulge for a bit, as long as no one sees us. Right?
A minute or two later, we’re outside walking on the path that runs through the developed part of the property. Harrison says if we went in the opposite direction from where we are now, it would lead to Hayden’s house.
Harrison clears his throat. I’m sure he’s about to bring up that we slept together again last night.
“Please don’t go back to Brandon’s.”
I stop, and he does likewise. Turning my body to him, I open my mouth to speak, but he beats me to it.
“You have options, Bets.”
I look at him for a second, and I wish he were right, but he’s not.
“I know you mean well and that you want me to be safe. I appreciate that—I do. But it’s a Saturday morning in a small town.
It’s not like there are endless rental opportunities.
And I have reasons I have to live in Aron Falls or Meadow Creek.
I have to look ASAP, and I’ll probably need to stay at the trailer until I find something that fits my needs. ”
He walks again, still holding my hand, and I assume he sees the logic in my explanation.
“You can stay with me.”
I was wrong.
I shake my head. “That’s very kind of you, but… I can’t.”
“Why not?” He truly doesn’t understand.
“Okay. Well, first, you’re one of my bosses. The last thing I need is for my colleagues at work to think I slept my way into my job.”
“It’s nobody’s business,” he says with a huff.
“Yeah, well, that doesn’t keep it from happening. People will talk.”
“I’ll fire anyone who speaks a bad word about you.” He’s so matter-of-fact about it that I break out in laughter.
“That’s not an option.”
I glance over at him in time to see him shrug.
“Agree to disagree.”
“Okay, well, even if that wasn’t an issue, I won’t take advantage of you like that. Last night was awful enough.”
We come to a stop again, and I immediately realize how that sounded.
I turn to him. “I didn’t mean about the… You know.” Because I’m in complete dork mode, something in me thought it was a good idea to take my index finger and gesture back and forth between our groins. And now he’s smirking.