Page 64 of In Spades

He asked a lot about the Taylor Creek Inn. Most of the questions would have seemed condescending from anyone else. But coming from him, he just seemed genuinely curious.

When Will checked out of his room, he sang my praises to Rich the Dick. In turn, I got a small bonus. It was nice to feel appreciated rather than invisible. Most guests rarely acknowledged housekeeping other than to complain. It was usually thankless work.

Will didn’t argue when I helped him clear the dishes. But once the table was clear and he had the dishwasher popped open to load, he poured a glass of wine and set it on the countertop beside the sink.

Ignoring the wine, I bent down to help him load the plates into the dishwasher.

“No, ma’am.” Will caught me around the waist. With little effort, he picked me up and deposited me on the countertop. “I’ve got it.” He picked up my glass of wine and slid it into my hand before pecking my cheek. “Just relax. This is a date, remember?” Will smirked. “I can’t have you doing the dishes on a date.”

Blushing, I relented and sipped on the cabernet as he rinsed dishes and loaded them up.

He was silent, but it didn’t bother me. Maybe it was the two weeks I spent cleaning his room as an excuse just to see him, but I felt more comfortable with him than I ever had with anyone else.

My wine glass was the last thing to go into the dishwasher. I put it in the top rack and waited as he dropped the detergent pod in and started the cycle.

As soon as the machine kicked on, Will stood in front of me and bracketed my hips with his hands. With me sitting on the counter, we could actually see eye-to-eye. His warm hazel eyes invited me in, tempting me to get lost in them. Flecks of gold swirled his irises like a kaleidoscope.

I wrapped my arms around his neck, drawing him in. There were so many things I wanted to tell him, but I didn’t know where to begin.

“Wanna take a walk?” he asked.

I looked down at the flowy sleep shorts that barely covered my ass. “Like this?”

“Don’t worry. No one will see us,” Will said, a playful grin on his lips. Without hesitation, he slid his hands under my ass and hauled me off the countertop. He gave my cheeks a gentle squeeze that sent lightning down my spine.

I giggled as he took me by the hand and led me outside through a pair of glass doors situated between the kitchen and great room.

“You okay going barefoot?” he asked, glancing at my feet as we strolled across the deck and down the steps to the grass.

I laughed. “Yeah. I’m good.”

Glassy water reflected pink and orange hues as the sun descended over the Neuse River. A row of old oak trees stood tall along the edges of the grass, giving the property a sense of privacy from the passing sailboats as they sluiced through the water.

We walked hand-in-hand across the dewy grass to a hammock that was stretched between two trees. Autumn was right around the corner. While the days were still blistering hot, the nights were cool.

I shivered as we neared the edge of the water.

Will let go of my hand and sat down on the hammock, steadying it before swinging his legs across to stretch out. He beckoned me with open arms. “C’mere, sweetheart.”

I didn’t hesitate to climb into the hammock with him. I didn’t hesitate when I snuggled into his side. And I didn’t hesitate when I laid my head on his chest as if we had done this a thousand times before.

It felt natural.

A light breeze rustled the trees, and water lapped against the shore. Crickets and frogs performed a gentle symphony.

Will’s arm snaked around my body, pulling me closer as the hammock gently rocked back and forth.

“This is nice,” I whispered.

Will hummed in agreement. His soothing fingers trailed up my arm, then my shoulder, until they found my hair. He gently dug them into my scalp.

An involuntary moan escaped me. “Oh my God, that feels amazing.”

We laid together as the sun dipped below the horizon. Perfectly timed string lights turned on and made the trees glow like magic. He cocooned me in his arms, and we fell into a comfortable silence.

I could’ve fallen asleep out there, lulled into a trance by mashed potatoes and salty sea air. But I knew I had a few things to ‘fess up to.

“You’re thinking again,” Will said, mumbling against my hair.

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