Page 40 of Finding Home

Enveloped by the warmth of his presence, she tiptoed to the bathroom. There she pulled her hair into a messy bun, washed away her dried tears, and brushed her teeth before heading back to the living room.

“Good morning,” Clayton said, his voice a little hoarse and stifled beneath the pillow.

“Why do you have a pillow on your face?”

“To shield my eyes.” He cleared his throat. “I wasn’t sure if you’d see my text and come down not dressed. I didn’t want you to think I was trying to sneak a peek.”

“You may remove your shield. I am fully clothed.” A silent laugh curled her lips.

Removing the pillow, he lifted his head to look at her.

“You didn’t need to stay. That can’t have been comfortable.”

“I know, but I wanted to.” He stretched.

The white button-up shirt from the wedding was thrown over the desk chair, leaving him wearing just his trousers and undershirt like a hero from an old movie. A cell phone and keys lay on the end table beside the couch, his dress shoes tucked under it to keep anyone from tripping. His thoughtfulness jellied her knees.

“What about Fitz? Was he home by himself?” A twinge of concern in her voice.

“With my parents.” He swung his body into a seated position facing her. “Whenever I’m gone for long periods of time, he goes to visit them. My mother spoils him and loves to remind me it’s because he’s the only grandbaby she has.”

“Thank you for staying and everything else,” Elle said, fidgeting with her hands.

“How did you sleep?”

She fixed her gaze on the space beside Clayton occupied only by that pillow. She wanted to kick that pillow off the sofa and take its place next to him.

“Better than I have in years,” she said. Would she have slept even better next to him in the bed? She brushed the errant thought away, focusing on her feet. “Did you put my slippers by the bed?”

“Yes.”

“And closed the loft blinds?”

“Yes.”

“Wow, maybe I should show you my ugly granny panties more often. Such service.” The snarky comment was a veiled attempt to hide the overexposed feeling wrapping around her.

“There’s nothing ugly about you. Ugly things happened to you, but everything about you is beautiful. Here.” He motionedto his face. “And especially here.” He placed his hand on his heart.

“Where it counts.” She ducked her head, the rawness of last night making her feel overexposed.

“You have the most generous heart despite people repeatedly trying to break it. What I see is a thoughtful woman… smart as hell, funny, adorably goofy at times, beautiful, and so strong. I’ve always seen you,” he said, his eyes not looking at her butintoher as he spoke.

Her heart thumped as their stares melded as one.I’ve always seen you.

Like fog clearing, realization slammed into her. He’d watched her reading during his high school football practices and had been so curious to know what had such an impact on her facial expressions, he’d started reading the same books.

You are everything.His words in the truck. His toast at the wedding about how when he found his everything, he’d hold on to it.

Really didn’t notice you ‘til then. After that all I could do was notice you.His words as they sat pressed up against the couch on that rainy day.

Her eyes widened. “Why did you come look for me?”

“To buy you the free drink, when I?—"

“No, not last night. The night of the Winter Ball when you saved me from falling off the bleachers.” Her pulse quickened with certainty.

“I had finally gotten the nerve to ask you to dance.”

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