Chapter 31
Summer woke well before her alarm clanged and lay in the dark, disoriented for a moment until her eyes fell on the window, where she could just make out the beautiful hibiscus plant in the dim moonlight. She had woken up in her own bed. At Benjamin’s house. Just as she had for over a week now.
She tried to figure out what had woken her, and then remembered. She’d been dreaming about lying in Benjamin’s bed, with his arms around her. She remembered feeling pure bliss, until his eyes suddenly opened and his face twisted as he said, “Oh, it’s you.” And then he pulled his arms away from her and sort of faded away and she’d woken up, wanting him to come back but knowing he wouldn’t.
Summer sighed and sat up. As long as she was awake, she might as well do something productive. She pulled out her phone and typed River Falls real estate agent into the search bar. She’d spent the past week and a half cleaning TJ’s house, selling off or donating the items they’d chosen not to move over here. Benjamin and his brothers had done some minor repairs so that it would be ready to sell. It had hurt to see the house nearly empty yesterday, but the sooner she sold it, the sooner she could stop worrying about all of TJ’s debts. And maybe have enough left over to help support Max.
A long list of results came up in response to her search, but Summer liked the friendly smile of the first woman. And her name was Jasmine—which happened to be one of Summer’s favorite princesses.
She clicked on the contact button, then filled out the short form and sent it off.
“Now what?” she asked herself. It was still too early to get Max up and ready for school.
Through the wall that separated her room from Benjamin’s she heard a soft snore that made her giggle. A longing that she couldn’t block rose in her chest as she wondered what it would be like to wake up in his arms. But then her dream came back to her.
Besides, she hadn’t missed how hesitant he had been when he’d asked whether she wanted to sleep in his room.
In fact, he hadn’t actually asked her to sleep in his bed at all. What he’d asked was if she wanted to sleep in hers. Any implication that the alternative was to sleep with him had come solely from her imagination.
Summer’s phone buzzed in her hand, and she glanced down, surprised to see a reply from the real estate agent already.
I’m so sorry for your loss. I’d be happy to take a look at your brother’s house and help you list it for sale. I have some time around 1 pm today, if that works for you. Jasmine
She heard an alarm from Benjamin’s room, followed by a light groan and then the sound of drawers opening. She knew he was getting up so early so he could run with his brothers, just as he had nearly every morning. She still couldn’t believe they were all running the race in TJ’s honor. But she supposed she shouldn’t be surprised by anything this perfect family did.
She should ask Benjamin if one o’clock would work for him. He had already bought a house, so he would know more about what to do than she did.
She wove her hair into a quick braid, swung her legs out of the bed, and padded to the door. In the dark hallway, she hesitated. Should she go out to the kitchen and wait for him there? Or knock on his door and ask if he had a second?
Before she could decide, the door opened, and he walked straight into her. She gasped, her arms flailing as she fought to regain her balance. They got caught in another pair of arms, and then she was upright and pressed against his bare chest. She could hear his heart thudding wildly under her ear.
“Are you okay?” His whisper brushed across the top of her hair, and she eased herself backwards, but that was a mistake because her eyes were adjusted enough to the dark to see the outline of the muscles carved into his skin.
“I’m fine.” She sounded breathless, and she forced her eyes off of him, gulping in as much air as she could to get her voice back under control.
“What are you doing up already?” he whispered. “Did my alarm wake you?”
She shook her head. “I couldn’t sleep, so I emailed a real estate agent. She can meet today at one. I was just coming to see if that worked for you. I know it’s your day off, so if there’s something else you were planning on doing, I can handle it myself, but I really have no idea about anything having to do with real estate and you just bought a house so—”
“Relax, Summer.” Benjamin’s muffled laugh made her look up. “I don’t need the hard sell. If you want me to be there, I’ll be there.”
She swallowed, knowing she needed to tear her eyes away from him but unable to. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” His words seemed to enfold her, and he took a step closer, gently brushing a strand of hair that had escaped her braid. “You’re so beautiful.”
Summer wanted to melt into his arms.
But she couldn’t let herself do that—couldn’t even let herself want it.
“I should let you get going.” She took a step backwards. “Your brothers will give you a hard time if you’re late.”
“Yeah.” Benjamin’s voice was dull, and she saw the flash of frustration in his eyes. He slipped past her toward the bathroom, and Summer let out a long breath as the door closed behind him.
Do not start wanting him to want you, she ordered herself.
But as if in defiance of the warning, she let herself glance toward the rumpled bed in his room. Then she returned to her own room so she wouldn’t run into him again before he left.