Page 15 of Where You Are

“Right.” She quirks both an eyebrow and a corner of her mouth at me. “Do you always watch people when they sleep?”

“People? No. You… I could get used to it.” I give her hand an affectionate squeeze as she peers over my shoulder at the alarm clock behind me.

“Sarah’s probably already up and throwing some kind of breakfast together…” she hints, raising her eyebrows to see what my plans are.

“Sounds good but I should get going,” I regretfully tell her.

“Oh,” she says, casting her eyes downward, immediately showing me where her mind is going and I have to put a stop to it.

“Whoa. No…” I take my hand out of hers and slide it up the side of her arm where I lightly start tickling her skin with my fingertips. Her face relaxes as I go on. “It’s funny; I waited eleven years to get the time with you that I did yesterday. I finally got to get to know you a little bit, and now I don’t want to stay away from you. I guess now I’m a little worried of losing ground. Like I don’t want to indulge too much, too quickly, you know?”

She giggles. “You make me sound like a donut.” I chuckle with her before responding.

“I’m sure you taste better than one of those,” I say. Risky, I know. I can tell by how her eyes widen and she mouths the word,whoaso I follow it up with, “Probably way better for my health too,” which elicits a genuine, throaty laugh as she tilts her head back with her eyes closed. I bring my hand to her waist and pull her just a little closer, the pillow is still between us, before getting serious again.

“Can I see you again?” Her eyes search mine, for what I don’t know, before she answers.

“Okay,” she says on an exhale like she had to muster up that answer.

“You sure about that?” I ask, squinting and trying to read her face. “You don’t sound it.”

“I do want to see you Matt,” she says with eyebrows raised, trying to reassure me. “It’s just… I’m looking to meet someone… to spend my life with. And I’m wondering if spending time with you would even…” she brings her shoulders up as she looks around the room, trying to find the right words.

“Do you think I don’t want long term?”

“I don’t know,” she admits, bringing her eyes back to mine. “Do you? And even if you do, you’re gone a lot and your Jack’s best friend.”

I let out a sigh when I see where she’s taking this and I return my fingers to her arm, hoping to calm her, comfort her, give her reassurance.

“I get it. You think it’s complicated, right?” She nods. “Can I try to un-complicate it for you?”

“Sure,” she says with a sarcastic eye roll.

“You’re a person, and I’m a person,” I explain, and point a hand to my chest. “This person, really likes this person, and wants to spend more time with her.” I bring my fingers to rest lightly on her chest. “Do you think you can block all the rest out for now?” I quietly plead.

She takes a moment to think before finally taking another breath and answering.

“I can try.”

I reluctantly decide that I should take that little piece of good news and run with it before anything changes.

MELANIE

I feel giddy but anxious as I reflect on what this man just talked me in to, so sweetly I might add. I walk him to the front door of the pool house as he pulls his shirt on and buttons it up. When we step outside, the sun is already warm, the grass is still damp with morning dew, and the birds are chirping; everything to signify a promising morning.

I stand in the doorway as he turns around and looks me up and down like he’s taking in the eighth world wonder. Those blue eyes of his look crystal as they finally find mine.

“Thank you,” he says, sounding sincere.

“For what?”

“For finally slowing down long enough for me to get a good look at you. Outside and in.” I’m given only two seconds to process his sentiment before he reaches for my chin and steps into me. His lips land on mine in a kiss that’s full and soft. I’m only vaguely aware of the warm sunlight on the side of my face as his lips stroke against mine in a slow rhythm, but without fully opening.

When his lips slowly pull away, his eyes continue to linger on mine a moment. That kiss was the once-in-a-lifetime kind and I’m craving more. I’m already wondering how it would feel if we took it deeper, and how his tongue would feel gliding against mine. I feel a throbbing between my legs at the thought, but not as strongly as the swell in my chest it also gives me.

“I’ll be back to see you soon,” he tells me. I still haven’t gotten set up with a cell phone yet, so it’s pretty much the only option. “Don’t go disappearing on me again little Houdini.” One more touch of his lips to mine, and then he turns and walks across the backyard, disappearing around the side of the main house.

Chapter Nine

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