Page 50 of Second Chance for Mr. Alden

“You still watch it?” Alden asked, a note of surprise in his voice.

I shrugged. He didn’t need to know that the show reminded me of him and the summer we spent watching it together. “Yeah. You know me. I love to watch a guy with a lot of muscles do crazy shit.”

“Yeah.” A smile played at his lips.

We watched one show after the other. I probably looked like a wreck. My muscles ached each time I shifted to find a more comfortable spot on the couch and my eyes were sore and tired. I rubbed at them hoping to find some relief. My body wanted to sleep, but my brain wouldn’t turn off.

“You should try to get some rest,” Alden suggested gently.

“I’m not sure that’s going to happen.” I shifted in my seat and wrapped a nearby blanket around me, relieved it wasn’t old and scratchy like the couch.

“You still have trouble sleeping in new places?”

My breath stalled in my throat. How did he even remember that? It’d been so long since that first night I’d stayed at his place. Memories tightened my throat, making it hard for me to respond, so I just nodded.

“Come here,” he said.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” I whispered, my voice barely audible.

“Jess, if I know you, you’ll be asleep in five minutes.” He stretched out, his long frame and bulky body barely fitting on the medium sized sofa.

Five minutes, my ass. I’d be lucky if I wasn’t up all night, but I wasn’t going to look this gift horse in the mouth. Even though this was going to be torture, I was willing to take it. I missed lying next to him.

I slid up the couch next to him, resting my right hip between his left side and the back of the couch, and nestled my other leg in between his. My center throbbed with sudden awareness, but I held back, laying my head under his chin.

When he wrapped his arms around me, I felt like I was home. I wanted to weep and sigh with relief all at the same time. How did he not feel what I did when we were together?

Alden released a deep breath and ran his fingertips up and down my spine, all without saying a word. Although, what could he have said even if he’d guessed my thoughts? It wasn’t his fault he’d never fallen in love with me.

His touch eased the tension in my body, and the sleep I’d been fighting slowly crept in. He’d been right. He usually was. Not that I’d tell him that.

His fingers brushed against my cheek. “You were so brave tonight,” he whispered as I fell asleep, never more content than in his arms.

Chapter Eleven

Alden

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