Page 37 of Gentle Fox

She was shaking her head so violently I had to laugh. I did manage to finally grab her hands and force them to her sides so she had to give me her full attention.

“This is certainly a first for me. I’ve never had anyone complain about me being nice to them.”

I gave her a half smile when she groaned at me.

“One of these times being impulsive is going to bite me in the ass.”

Probably, but so far it was in my favor, so I wasn’t in a hurry to get her to stop. I also wasn’t going to tell her just how much I liked her impulsivity.

“Maybe.” I shrugged. “But how about you tell me why being so nice to you is such a problem.”

Annalee threw her hands in the air. “It’s not a problem. I just don’t know what to do about it. I brought problems to your door. I can’t decide if I even want to stay in town. Last night I kissed you and then you stormed off, but by the time I came upstairs, you didn’t treat me any differently. You could’ve made me feel uncomfortable, but no, that’s not you. Now this.” She motioned to the lane we were still standing in. “You offered to teach me and I freaked out on you. How the hell are you not running for the hills yet?”

What I got out of all that was no one in her life ever stuck around. It was sad to think she didn’t have a single person who showed her what it meant to be cared about.

I took her hand in mine, partially because I wanted the connection with her and partially because I needed her to stop flailing them around like a madwoman. She wasn’t one even if she looked like it at the moment.

“To run would mean I was scared or freaked out. I’m neither. I’m just a man who fell for a voice over the phone.”

So much for keeping things close to the vest. At this rate I was going to be confessing my love.

Wait, love?! When the hell did that happen?

“As for acting normal after the kiss. I was anything but. Thankfully I’ve had years of hiding my feelings. The Marinesmade sure I knew how to keep my emotions in check but there was nothingnormalabout how I felt when you crawled into bed with me. I wanted nothing more than to sink myself deep inside you.”

I didn’t bother to mention the fact that I had to rub one off in the shower before she came up. I couldn’t remember the last time I was forced to do that. Nor do I remember ever coming so quickly. All it took was thinking about our kiss and I was a goner.

Annalee stepped closer. “But you won’t be doing that.”

It wasn’t a question but I shook my head anyway. “Not while you’re still questioning if you want to stay or not. I’ve had years of meaningless sex. I don’t want that with you.”

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Annalee

The more days I spent in Willow Creek, the more confused I became about what I wanted. The small mother-in-law suite I was supposed to rent still wasn't ready. It was no one's fault. The single father of three was too busy taking care of his other responsibilities to make it a priority. And I understood that. It wasn't like I didn't have a place to stay.

Three days ago, Owen had furniture delivered for the spare bedroom in anticipation of his sister’s arrival. In the meantime, I was using the room. Owen tried to convince me I didn't need to; he even used the argument that as soon as Gracie arrived, I would be back in his bed anyway. The argument was valid but it didn't change the fact that I couldn't continue to sleep in his bed when there was a perfectly good guest bedroom. No matter how much I liked waking up in Owen's arms every morning.

We’d even given up on trying to put space between us when we got into bed each night. There was no point when our bodies found each other anyway. Nothing ever happened though, despite Owen's erection pushing into me. We found apeace together, a comfort level that took people years to find. If nothing sexual ever came out of this, at least I would have his friendship.

But now that I was sleeping alone, I found it hard to fall asleep and even harder to sleep through the night. It was crazy to think how quickly I got used to sharing my space with someone when I never have in the past.

I tossed and turned and contemplated getting out of bed. The sun was barely peeking through the bedroom window and I had nowhere I needed to be. It was a Saturday morning. I should've been sleeping in. I should've been enjoying the fact that I had no plans for the day. But the thought of filling my time made my stomach twist up in knots. I was torn between wanting to spend more time with Owen and wanting to put as much distance as possible. I didn't know what my future held even if I was leaning more and more towards staying.

Throwing the blankets off me, I figured my little pity party was over. I was never one to lie around in bed and dwell on things and I wasn't about to start now. I barely had one foot on the floor when the obnoxious sound of someone ringing the doorbell over and over again filled the house.

"What the fuck?!" Owen's howl nearly matched the decibels of the doorbell, as did his stomping feet. I quickly threw on a sweatshirt to cover up my tank top and rushed out of the bedroom. If for no other reason than to rescue whoever had the nerve to make so much racket at this time in the morning.

"Someone better be fucking de . . ." The rest of the sentence was cut off as Owen ripped the door open and a blur of black hair flew at him with a squeal.

"It's not nice to wish someone dead, big brother." The petite woman, who I now assumed was Gracie, chuckled.

"Gracie, what the hell are you doing ringing my doorbell like an axe murderer at six in the morning on a Saturday?"

Gracie let go of her brother and stepped back.

I should’ve silently slipped out of the room and given the two of them time together alone, but I was too intrigued by the woman in front of me to get my feet moving. Gracie was nothing like I pictured her to be.

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