Page 47 of Lime Tree Hill

“Sure. I’d better go say my goodbyes anyway. Then I’m off to bed. I have a headache ready to pounce.” CeCe squeezed Tayla’s hand, and as she rose from the bed, Tayla wished she would stay so she didn’t have to deal with Mitch on her own.

“Thanks, CeCe,” Tayla said.

He waited for his sister to leave the room then sat beside her, so close his leg touched hers. “You okay?”

Not trusting herself to speak in case the tears returned, Tayla nodded.

“I’m sorry you had to see that side of Prue. She was way out of line.”

She glanced toward the door. “I should help CeCe clean up before we go to bed.”

Mitch smoothed his hand over her hair and tucked it behind her ear. She closed her eyes for a second against the intimacy of his touch. “Stay there. I’ll give her a hand. See you in a bit.”

21

TWISTS AND TURNS

Curled up under the duvet,Tayla struggled to fall asleep as she rehashed her encounter with Prue. And as the house creaked its secrets into the stillness, a part of her wished Mitch would join her.

They’d been physically close before—during their practice kiss and at the wedding ceremony. So why did sharing his bed worry her? Her nerves strung tight, she was just about to check the time on her phone when the door opened and closed with a whispered click.

Listening as he unbuckled his belt and unzipped his fly, she stilled. He slipped into bed behind her and lay on his side, so close his breath lightly caressed her skin.

She wanted to turn around and ask how he was, to reach out and trace her fingers over his chest and down the contours of his abs, until his skin warmed her touch…

“You still awake?” he murmured.

“Only just. I’m overtired.” She glanced over her shoulder. “I’m sorry I ruined your night.”

“You didn’t ruin my night. But it’s late, and I’m a little drunk, so I’d rather leave the debrief for now.”

Hugging the edge of the bed, Tayla pulled the duvet tighter. He might not want a debrief, but she couldn’t stop thinking about his world and how little she knew of it.

He moved closer, and as she shifted, searching for comfort, Mitch nuzzled into her hair and whispered, “Goodnight.” Then he rolled over and fell asleep.

With Mitch burning like a furnace beside her, his body too close for comfort, Tayla slept poorly, then woke with a fright, uncertain for a moment of her surroundings. She looked around the room for any sign of him. But there were no jeans on the chair, no watch or phone next to the bed, no warmth on the sheet beside her.

She flung back the covers and placed her feet on the floor, loving the texture of wool underfoot. When she drew back the curtains, muted sunlight washed the room with warmth and uncertainty. With its white on white palette, iron bed, and lamps that hung from the ceiling over each nightstand, the room held no mementos of his childhood. For some reason, Tayla found that sad. Sitting on the edge of the bed, she wondered what kind of boy he’d been. Ambitious, sweet, kind?

With no signs of life in the house, Tayla donned her running shoes and went for a jog along the coastal road, timing herself for thirty minutes before heading back to the orchard under the threat of rain. The solitude allowed her time to think. Although, to be fair, she’d had plenty of time for wayward thoughts lately. Too much time.

Although there was no point in giving weight to Prue’s insistence that Mitch was still in love with her, their conversation had helped Tayla separate fact from fantasy. Mitch wasn’t hers and never would be. She was merely a visitor to his world.

When she walked into the kitchen, hot and sweaty after herrun, CeCe sat at the table, her head bowed over a cup of black coffee.

“Good morning,” Tayla said. “How’s the head?”

“I need a new one. This one’s in pain.” CeCe sipped her coffee. “How come you’re up and about so bright and early?”

Tayla checked her Garmin. “It’s after eleven. I needed to blow out the cobwebs.”

“Where’s Mitch?”

“I have no idea. He was gone when I woke up.”

CeCe studied Tayla over the rim of her cup. “Have you called him? What if he’s lying under a bush somewhere?”

“He’s a big boy. I’m sure he’s fine.” Tayla grabbed an apple from the fruit bowl. Did Mitch’s family know about the conditions of Normans will? She turned to face her sister-in-law. “I just don’t want to be that wife. The needy nag who has to keep tabs on her husband.”And one who lies to people.

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