Page 70 of Saved By the Boss

She takes my hand, her touch light but steady, and I help her to her feet. She leads me to the bedroom, still rumpled from our earlier activities. For a moment, I hesitate, unsure if I should stay. But then she looks at me, her gaze warm and unguarded, and I know I’m not going anywhere.

We climb into bed together, the blankets soft and warm around us. She snuggles close, her head resting against my chest, and I wrap an arm around her, holding her gently. Our touches are chaste, not lending themselves to more than innocent cuddling.

As her breathing slows and she drifts off to sleep, I find myself staring at the ceiling, my mind racing. It’s been years since I’ve felt this way, since I’ve let myself get close to anyone. And yet, here I am, holding her like she’s the one thing keeping me grounded.

For the first time since Cassidy, I feel okay. Like maybe, just maybe, I can let myself have this.

15

Jade

The sound of heavy machinery wakes me. It’s loud, mechanical, and completely out of place in the quiet stillness I’ve gotten used to over the last forty-eight hours. For a moment, I lie there in confusion, my mind groggy as I try to make sense of what I’m hearing. The bed next to me is cold, the sheets tangled and empty, and that’s when it clicks. Declan.

I sit up quickly, pulling the blankets around me as I glance toward the door. He’s not here. I can hear faint voices outside, muffled by the walls, and the low rumble of what sounds like an engine. My pulse picks up, but not from worry. It’s something else; a nervous anticipation I can’t quite explain.

I throw on some sweats and shuffle into the living room, rubbing the sleep from my eyes. Declan is standing by the window, the shutters now unlatched, his broad shoulders tense as he watches whatever’s happening outside. He’s already dressed, though he’s still favoring his injured ankle, leaning slightly on the arm of the couch for support.

“What’s going on?” I ask, my voice rough from sleep.

He glances over his shoulder, a faint smile tugging at his lips when he sees me.

“Morning,” he calls to me.

“Morning,” I say, stepping closer. “What’s all the noise?”

“Tree crew,” he says simply, nodding toward the window. “I called them this morning when I realized I had service.”

I move to the window beside him, peering out into the bright, snow-covered morning. Sure enough, there’s a crew of men in orange vests outside, chainsaws in hand, cutting apart the massive tree that fell on his truck Another man is hooking Declan’s truck up to some kind of hitch, while another uses a plow to start clearing the driveway.

“You called them?” I ask, still trying to process it all.

He nods, straightening slightly. “I turned my phone back on when I woke up,” he explains nonchalantly. “The service was spotty, but it held long enough to make the call. I figured someone ought to come dig us out now that the storm is over.”

“You’ve been busy,” I murmur, glancing back at the scene outside, a strange mix of relief and disappointment settling in my chest. “I didn’t think anyone would be able to get out here so soon.”

“We were lucky,” he says, his tone casual, but I can see the tension in his jaw, the way his eyes flick toward his truck. “When I told them about the tree, they bumped us up the priority list. They’re just clearing the driveway now. It shouldn’t take too much longer.”

“Does that mean you’re leaving?” I ask before I can stop myself. The words hang between us, heavier than I meant them to be.

Declan turns to look at me, his green eyes steady. “Yeah,” he answers carefully, a little guarded. “They’re giving me a ride back to my cabin once they’re done here. I need to check on it, make sure it’s still standing after all this.” He pauses, his gaze dropping briefly to his ankle. “And I should probably get this looked at. A doctor would probably be a good idea, don’t you think?”

I nod, my chest tightening. It’s the right thing to do, of course. He can’t stay here forever, and neither can I. But the thought of him leaving, of this strange little bubble we’ve been in for the past two days bursting, makes my stomach twist.

“Right,” I say, forcing a smile. “That makes perfect sense.”

He watches me for a moment, his expression unreadable, then steps closer, his hand brushing against my arm. “Hey,” he says softly, his voice low and steady. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” I say quickly, but the look in his eyes tells me he doesn’t buy it. “It’s just a lot of information to process so early in the morning.”

He nods in understanding, pulling me into a quick embrace.

I take a deep breath, the words spilling out before I can stop them. “I just… I need to know if this, if you, are real. Before you drive off into the sunset, or whatever, I’d just like to know,” I say quickly, not even taking a breath. “If you’re going to call me, or if this is just one of those things that doesn’t survive the real world. No pressure, or anything, it would just be nice to know before you leave.”

His hands come up to my shoulders, grounding me, and he leans in slightly, his gaze locking onto mine. “Jade,” he says, his voice firm but gentle. “I’ll call you. I promise.”

I want to believe his words, but the doubt lingers, clawing at the edges of my mind. I want to trust him, but trust isn’t something that comes easily for me anymore. Until I actually hear from him, there will just be a knot in my stomach, wondering if this was just an extended one-night stand.

As if he can read my mind, he leans down, brushing a kiss against my forehead, then pulls back with a small, almost sad smile. “I’ll call you,” he says again, his hands squeezing my shoulders lightly before he lets go. “I promise.”

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