Chapter 15
When Amber wokeup the next morning, she didn’t know where she was. She opened her eyes in stages, cautiously checking to see if the stabbing pain from the last twenty-four hours would appear again, but all she felt was groggy and so hollow her stomach protested.
She kept her eyes closed trying to think of the last time she had actual food. Gradually, she became aware that she wasn’t on her bed, although a quick peek through her lashes confirmed she was in her bedroom.
No, instead of her comfortable bed, she was sprawled out on something hard and very hot to the touch. A hand was tangled in her hair, cupping her neck lightly, and long, hairy legs tangled between hers at the bottom of the bed. Her hand tickled where it lay under the bottom edge of a pair of shorts. Men’s running shorts.
She lifted her head in confusion and saw something she hadn’t seen in her bed in a very long time. A man. Her head was resting on Theo’s thickly muscled, hairy thigh. Even more confusing, there was a tiny black tattoo on his upper thigh. She blinked. A microphone?
She moved back to her pillow and studied the man beside her. Theo’s face was even more handsome and almost boyish at rest. His usually smooth-shaven cheeks were bristly, and his dark hair had escaped its style to curl softly over his forehead.
He breathed deeply and easily while she watched. His lips were parted slightly and...her breath caught as she registered this new detail: his chest was bare. She closed her eyes and breathed in his warm, masculine scent. She wanted to enjoy the moment a little longer. Who knew when it would happen again?
“Amber,” he rumbled, or at least that’s what it felt like so close to his chest. A hand came up and rested against her forehead, familiar and intimate. His body relaxed at what he felt. “No fever,” he murmured.
She lifted her head to find him watching her. “Hey,” she finally said, feeling uncharacteristically shy.
“Your fever broke.” His hand still rested on her face. She didn’t move away from the touch.
“Yeah. You stayed.” She frowned. “You shouldn’t have. You’re going to get sick.”
He closed his eyes and lowered his head back down to the pillow. “I never get sick.”
She closed her eyes again and drifted for a while until her body reminded her of a pressing need. “I have to use the bathroom,” she finally said, reluctantly dragging herself away from all that heat.
She gasped when she saw herself in the bathroom mirror. Her hair was an actual rat’s nest, and her face was swollen and puffy. She sent up a brief thanks that Theo had come after the worst of the puking had happened, but it was still bad. Very bad. Only a shower would fix this. She brushed her teeth twice while the water heated and then took the longest, hottest shower until she felt like a human again, all the while thinking that Theo Clairmont had slept in her bed.
And she had been sick. What a waste.
“Here’s a towel,” Theo said, and she jumped guiltily in the shower. He couldn’t see anything with her opaque shower curtain, but it was still disconcerting to stand so close while she was naked. “How do you feel?”
She considered it for a moment. “Like I could eat a horse, but if I don’t sit down soon, I might fall over.” It was the truth. The adrenaline of waking up on Theo had worn off, and she was starting to shake. She turned off the water.
The shower curtain rustled, and Theo’s arm appeared with a towel, which she took gratefully.
“What day is it?” She wrapped it around her and drew back the shower curtain to find him leaning against her vanity. His chest was indeed bare, and his hair looked like he’d run his fingers through it all night long. He looked rumpled and adorable as he held out his hand to help her step out of the tub.
“Tuesday. I can’t believe I fell asleep. I never do that.” Theo said, frowning.
She used a washcloth to wipe the steam from the mirror and rummaged around in the vanity for a comb. “You’ve said that before. Why don’t you sleep?”
He watched her comb her hair in silence for a while. It should have been uncomfortable sharing these intimate moments with someone she wasn’t in a relationship with, but it wasn’t. “It’s always been hard for me to shut my mind off,” he finally said. “Mind if I use your shower?”
“It’s all yours. There’s a fresh toothbrush in the drawer.” She dried off and put on a fresh set of pajamas, pulled her wet hair into a bun, and put on her glasses. Her eyes ached too much for contacts.
By the time Theo stepped out of the bathroom in a cloud of steam, she was back in bed. The shower had taken it out of her. Not so much that she couldn’t appreciate Theo’s naked chest. He put a pair of trousers back on, but his chest was still bare and distracting, even in her weak state. Down, girl.
He frowned when he saw her in bed again and came to sit at her hip. “How do you feel?” he asked, testing her forehead again. It was a casual, natural gesture that clued her in to how close they had been over the last twenty-four hours.
“Oh, no,” she groaned, remembering. “Allie and the kids, and my family. I hope they’re not sick too.”
“I talked to your mom and Allie. They’re doing about as well as you are.”
Amber’s eyes popped open. “You talked to my mom?”
Theo shrugged, his eyes dark and unreadable. “She called your phone several times, and I answered. She said the whole family had the bug. I told her I’d stay with you.”
Amber smiled crookedly. “You have no idea how much you’re going to regret that. My mom will tell my aunts, and they’ll be knocking on your door soon to meet you.”
“That demographic in particular likes me,” Theo said dryly. “Glasses, huh?” Theo added, nodding toward them.
A flicker of self-consciousness crossed her mind, but she was too tired for pretense. “Even Marilyn Monroe had to take her heels off sometimes,” she said quietly.
Theo studied her with an intensity that made her heart pick up. “I like this version of you,” he finally said, and warmth spread through her. It wasn’t often she didn’t have a single artifice to bolster her, but sitting on her messy bed with no makeup, no easy smile, and an unsexy pair of pajamas, these ones with puppies on them, was surprisingly comfortable. Maybe she was still feverish.
“I had groceries delivered,” he said. “You rest and I’ll bring you some food.”
Heavenly. She closed her eyes and listened to the unfamiliar sounds of pots and pans in the kitchen. It wasn’t that she didn’t enjoy cooking. Her family were all excellent cooks, and she knew many recipes by heart, but it wasn’t very fun to cook for one person. She’d rather spend her time sewing her designs. She closed her eyes and drifted to the sound of Theo making himself at home.
A while later,she woke up to Theo setting a plate on her lap and something green and mucky looking in a glass on her nightstand. She scooted over and patted the bed. “Come sit.” The only other surface in her bedroom was the floor.
Theo sat down with his own plate and leaned next to her against the head of the bed. They ate in companionable silence for a few minutes. Amber was ravenously hungry. Her stomach seemed to be back to normal even if her body wasn’t. She finished the last bite of buttered toast and sighed happily. “Thank you.”
“Here,” Theo said, handing her the green juice. “Drink this.”
“What? No. Gross. I thought that was for you.”
He sighed. “It’s just vegetables and fruit. I made it sweeter than usual. Just try it. You need the vitamins and minerals.”
She eyed the glass suspiciously, but the guy had spent the night taking care of her. It was the least she could do. She took a tiny sip. “Oh. It is sweet.”
Theo grinned. “I added carrots and apples.”
“But I don’t own a blender,” she said.
“I had Ford buy one and bring it over along with some other things.”
“Oh. Well,” she said. “That was actually really nice of both of you.”
“We’re nice guys.” Theo leaned back against the headboard and closed his eyes.
Amber settled back and did the same. “Did he bring you those running shorts?”
One eye popped open. “Yes.”
“They’re pretty short.”
The other eye opened, along with an eyebrow raised. “Just ask. I know you saw it. You hung onto my leg like a koala bear all night.”
She sat up, willing to let go of the koala bear comment for something better. “You have a tattoo?” She was dying to know about it. It was small enough and in a spot that he clearly didn’t want anyone to see it. Naturally, she wanted every detail. “Of a microphone?”
He sighed. “Yes, it was a brief moment of rebellion when I was in college.”
She gasped. “Tell me everything.”
“It was stupid,” he muttered. “During spring break, my buddies and I decided to hit this little beach bar. Things got...out of hand,” he finished dryly.
“This is going to be epic,” Amber said happily. “What happened?”
A sheepish grin spread over his face. “The details are fuzzy, but the gist of it is we made complete fools of ourselves singing karaoke on the beach.” A red tint appeared on his cheeks while she watched, fascinated at this other side of him. “I woke up with a permanent reminder inked on my leg of being young and stupid, and my dad had to fly down to bail me and my friends out for being drunk and disorderly.” He turned his head to look at her. “That’s how I ended up in Grant’s squad car that night. It was part of my punishment.”
Oh. Even the casual mention of that made her uncomfortable. Not so much for what happened, but for how Theo had seen her. It had been a blow to her pride she still felt to this day.
“Did it work?”
“It made me seriously think about if I wanted to follow in my dad’s footsteps. He was always respected in our community, and known for his integrity and leadership, and there I was, risking all of that over something stupid. So, yeah, it worked. It shifted my perspective about the job I had wanted since I was a kid. I didn’t see it as something I had to do anymore. It was something I wanted to do, to honor him. I try to do that every day now that he’s gone.”
“I think your parents would be so proud of you.”
He rolled his head and smiled at her. He looked so sincere and, yes, tired, lying there next to her in her bed. She could see it in the tiny lines next to his eyes and the pinch of his mouth, and she suddenly wanted to tuck him into her bed and make him rest with her. Who was taking care of him while he took care of an entire town? Theo was the kind of guy that loved his family, showed up every day to listen and work for the people, stayed with her while she was sick…who took care of him?
Her chest was doing that flutter thing that only happened when she was around him, a confusing mix of fear and exhilaration that made her feel dizzy. Time to change the subject.
“Tell me the truth. Did you snoop through my stuff?” Theo started to answer, but she held up her hand. “I’m not ashamed to admit I snooped in your house that first day.”
He opened his eyes and rolled his head toward her with that eyebrow of his quirked in amusement. “Find anything?”
“Just your subscription to Mommy Milkers Monthly.” She wrinkled her nose when he laughed. “Seriously. Aside from your adorable standing lunch date with your grandma, you do nothing besides work.” She turned to smile at him, expecting him to laugh, but he was looking at her without a smile.
“I found these,” he said, reaching down to the side of the bed. He pulled up the sack of bills, the cellophane loud in the silent bedroom.
Amber’s heart thudded to a stop. “Those are private.” Shame flooded her, seeing the tangible example of her many failures in Theo’s capable hands, and her anger kicked in full force. “You have no business looking through my private things,” she snapped.
Theo’s expression didn’t change. “Your neighbor came over to check on you too.”
“Sandy? I remember that.”
“No,” Theo said quietly. “Valentine Monroe. We had a long talk about how you’ve been helping her mom and sister get by for the last year. She asked me if I had any job openings.”
Amber’s eyes flashed. “Don’t you dare hire her. Val’s graduating soon. She needs to focus on her future, not financial worries.”
Theo just looked at her, and she suddenly felt very, very exposed. “Is that where all your money’s been going? Why did you let me think you were irresponsible?”
She sighed and closed her eyes again. “I’m tired.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because it’s none of your business. I’m taking care of it.”
“That’s why you needed an advance on your paycheck.” He wasn’t asking her, but she nodded anyway.
“And your car? It’s still not fixed? And the AC unit?” He nodded to the window. “Your empty fridge.”
She kept her eyes closed and just nodded. “Yes,” she said simply. “I’m catching up now, but yes.” Finally saying it out loud was a relief. Like it wasn’t some hush-hush thing she had worried about over the last year. She would always look after Val, Holly, and Sandy, but it felt good to acknowledge the weight of it with someone else. “She’s just a kid. I want her to go to college in the fall and make sure she does something with her life. I don’t want her to have to worry about money or have to work and leave Holly alone. Anything could happen to either of them. I’ve just been helping out when I can. You’re more than generous with my salary and things are a lot better now. Truthfully, I forgot I had stuffed those in the couch.”
Theo was looking at her thoughtfully. It made her nervous to think of all the layers he was so good at seeing through. “Why give up on your own dreams in the process?”
She sighed. “It’s a pattern for me. As soon as I get close to success, I sabotage myself. School, jobs, anything important to me, I find a way to derail it.”
“Why is that?” he prodded quietly.
“I don’t know. It’s certainly not genetic. My family is full of go-getters. I’m the only one who can’t keep my life on track.” She tried hard not to let the old hurt and frustration seep into her voice, but it came out anyway.
“So you spend your money and time making sure Val doesn’t make the same mistakes.” Theo murmured, studying her bare face. “What would you do differently if you had the chance?” he asked abruptly.
She didn’t even have to think about it. “I’d chase what I love and not worry so much about failing.”
“And what is it you love?”
He was oddly intent as he studied her face, which was the only reason she didn’t say something flippant. Admitting her biggest dream out loud to the world was something she hadn’t done before. The vulnerability of it made her slightly queasy. “I’d open a clothing boutique...and sell my designs there.” She was suddenly, unbearably, self-conscious with her dream hanging in the air.
Theo was silent. And then he nodded. “I have no doubt you’d be a success at anything you are fully committed to.”
The air seemed to have left the room. She was lightheaded for a minute, absorbing those words like a diver sucking in precious air, until she mentally shook herself back to reality. She reacted the way she always did, with a deflection. “Anyway, that was fun baring my soul, Mr. Golden Boy. It’s your turn. Time for truth or dare.” She raised her eyebrow at him in challenge.
Theo’s eyes narrowed. “I’m in your bed. I think it’s time you called me Theo.”
Amber winked. “Don’t count on it. What’s it going to be? Truth or dare?”
“Truth,” he said immediately.
“Why do you listen to Neal when you know I’m right about your campaign?”
Theo was quiet a moment. “It’s complicated,” he said finally. “When my dad died, Neal represented a bridge to my father’s legacy, and the expectations and relationships that came with him settled on me.” Theo shrugged. “Navigating that has been a challenge since my father died. Everything I do, I do because I love this town.”
“I get it, the link Neal represents to you, but can’t you see you won’t have a chance at another term if you won’t change your approach? You have this amazing vision and you work hard to make it happen every day, but you have to take a risk and trust me on this. Northfield loves you, but I think seeing you in a different light is key to your next four years.”
Theo rubbed his eyes tiredly. “Georgie would agree with you. My grandmother,” he explained at her questioning look. “We call her Georgie. She’s been on me for the last year to let Neal go and have more fun and take risks. I get so caught up in working that I let Neal steer this part of the ship. As you know,” he said, eyeing her, “I’m not great at the PR stuff.”
“Maybe it’s time to let Northfield see a new side of you.” Amber grinned. “I think I’d like Georgie. Lucky for you, I’ve been told I’m a fun time. We’re good for each other, huh?” She nudged her shoulder against his.
“We are.” He smiled, dimples and all, and her heart turned over with an audible creak. All the years of dust and rust from disuse seemed to shatter at that smile. It made her lightheaded, but not scared, which was a wonder in itself. “Your turn. Truth or dare,” he asked.
“Dare, of course, but can I take a rain check?” She snuggled down into her pillow, suddenly exhausted. Too much introspection did that to a person.
“Do you promise to do whatever I come up with?” Theo drew the quilt over her shoulders and tucked her in securely. His hand lingered on her hair, smoothing the strands away from her face.
She closed her eyes. “Please, boss. There’s nothing you could dare me to do that I’m scared of.”
She drifted off to the sound of Theo’s quiet laughter.