Page 62 of In Spades

“Is this where the tour starts?” I asked, laughing nervously. Most people start in the kitchen or something.

He chuckled. “Something like that.” He reached into a dark room and flipped on the light. “What do you think?”

I stepped slightly behind him, my breath catching as I realized he had taken me straight to his bedroom.

Presumptuous much? “Oh.”

I stood slightly behind him, pursing my lips between my teeth. I couldn’t do this.

My eyes clamped shut as hot tears of humiliation welled up. Silently, I summoned the courage to ask him to take me back to Mel’s so I could get my car and go home.

Will turned and faced me. “Breathe, Sunshine,” he said, hands gently squeezing my arms.

“I can’t do this,” I whispered. I tried to back away, but he held me firm. “Will, please.”

“It’s a guest room, not my bedroom.”

“Then what?—”

“A while back, I asked you a question,” he said, gently squeezing my biceps. “Do you remember when I asked you if you could have anything in the world right now, what would it be?”

I nodded.

“Do you remember your answer?”

“Yeah,” I said, noticing that the bed was turned down. A bottle of wine and a glass sat on the nightstand. “A nap.”

Will handed me the overnight bag and nudged me through the threshold. “The door locks from the inside.” He jerked his thumb over his shoulder. “I’m gonna head downstairs and make dinner. In about an hour, we’ll eat. Figured it’ll give you a little time to nap and relax. Have some wine if you want.”

I clutched the bag to my chest, lip quivering. This had to be one of the most thoughtful things anyone had ever done for me, and I had just assumed the worst of him.

“There’s a bathroom in there, too,” Will said, pointing around the corner.

On an impulse, I eased up on my tiptoes and kissed his cheek. “Thank you.”

A half-smile twitched at the corner of his mouth as he caught me by the waist. He pulled me into his arms, and my skin buzzed electric.

I felt more alive at that moment than I had in a long time. Teetering on the steel toes of his boots, I still had to crane my neck up to get close to his eye line.

“For what?” he asked in a whisper, resting his forehead on mine. His large hands covered my waist to keep me balanced. The strong line of his nose bumped against mine.

Our lips were a breath apart.

I tipped my head up, brushing his lips with mine as if to say, kiss me.

He didn’t make a move.

I slid my hands from his shoulders until they lay squarely on his chest. “Thank you for listening.”

I could feel the steady thrum of his heartbeat through the thin dress shirt. He smelled woodsy and spicy, like all the best parts of Christmas. It made me think he was the kind of guy who would pick out a live tree and chop it down himself.

Was this what Erica meant when she called Steve a lumbersnack? Will didn’t have a beard, but I felt those muscles that hid under his hoodies and pullovers. My mind wandered back to the day when he slept in and I got to see him in all his half-naked glory.

His lips brushed against mine again, and I sucked in a breath, but the kiss never came. Instead, he pressed his lips to my forehead. It wasn’t the steamy, passionate moment I was prepared for. Deep inside, though, I knew it was something more.

I felt safe. Comforted. Cared for. And if I was being honest with myself, that’s what I really needed.

“Get some sleep,” he murmured as he pressed his palm to the small of my back, urging me into the guest room.

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