Page 65 of Best Laid Plans

"Okay."

"You ready for bed?"

I thought about it for a long moment, showing him I was vulnerable—because he already knew. "I don't want to be alone."

He pursed his lips. "I want to show you something. Bring your tea."

He took me to the wraparound porch made with rich, aged wood, which blended seamlessly with the natural environment I could see in the moonlight and the lanterns that hung from the beams outside, casting warm light in the dark.

"Come." He held out a hand, and I slid mine into his. He led me to a daybed, carefully positioned to offer the best view of the star-studded sky.

I knew my furniture. The daybed was crafted from reclaimed wood, its frame sturdy and timeless. It was piled high with plush cushions and soft blankets in earthy tones and subtle patterns, creating a cozy nest for relaxation and stargazing.

I set the cup of tea on the small rustic table next to the daybed, where two solar-powered motion-detecting lanterns blinked on.

I sat on the daybed, impressed. Rocking chairs were scattered around the porch, each paired with a small side table. Potted plants and hanging baskets filled with colorful flowers added a touch of life and vibrancy to the porch, while the scent of pine and fresh mountain air filled my lungs.

He sat up, leaning against the headboard. He drew me to him, pulling me close. It was a warm spring night, and I frowned. "I'm going to get bitten by mosquitoes."

"Nope." He waved toward a lantern. "Those keeps bugs away."

"Cool."

I leaned against his shoulder.

Sleeping with the enemy, Nova?

I couldn't deny myself the comfort he offered on a day when I most needed it. He stroked my shoulder as he held me.

"I missed you," he said gently. "I missed you every day."

I swallowed, not ready to confess that I felt the same way. I had been wearing my armor for the past months since we met again, and even though he'd stripped it off tonight, I knew I'd have to wear it again, and soon. With morning would come regrets. I was certain. But right now, I'd lean into him and get strong again.

"I didn't know what Pete did. Bailey did, though. Neither of them told me."

Suddenly needing space, I pulled away with the excuse of reaching for my teacup. He let me.

"I ended my engagement with Bailey today. I didn't fuck her in my office—but I know she made it look that way because you were sitting outside."

I silently drank tea, letting him get off his chest what he needed to.

"I loved you. I couldn't stand it that you betrayed me. For years, I've hated you for that, and now I find out I'm the one who betrayed you. I left you with Pete to be brutalized."

He was going in circles, and I still wasn't sure what he wanted to say to me.

"I missed you. I ached for you. And then I saw you again. I couldn't not see you again, and again and again. That's why I wanted you on the project. I told myself it was to expose you…but it was because I wanted you with me."

He looked sad as he spoke, like he hated himself for wanting me.

"You want me? What does that mean?" I whispered.

"It means…I…." He took my teacup away from me and put it on the table by the bed. He put his hands on my cheeks, and kissed my lips, just a brush of mouth against mouth.

Did he want to have sex with me? The thought excited me. For seven years, I'd tried too many times to become intimate with a man, and it had always been messy and unsatisfying. I had managed to have sex a few times, but it had been a while. It was too much trouble, and I couldn't get out of my head and get into the act.

You're not going to have sex with Anson Larue, you stupid slut. He's going to crush your heart and stomp all over it. Show some sense.

"Tonight is an anomaly," I said coolly. "I'm feeling vulnerable, weak—"

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