Page 63 of All We Need

Worst of all, my stomach constricts as my dinner threatens to make an appearance.

I bypass the small door leading to the bathroom and make a beeline to the back of the house.Whenthe cold air slaps me in the face,Ifinally take a breath, and reality comes crashing down.

Linking my fingers together behind my head,Iopen up my chest and slow my heart rate.Thestars twinkle high above, winking and sparkling against the midnight black.Itlooks different here.Clearer.Brighter.LikeI’mlooking at a newly discovered night sky.

As my mind clears, frustration at my stupidity creeps in.Therewas a plan.OneIdidn’t follow.

“I’ve always loved the skies here.TheMilkyWayis so bright during the summer.”

My heart stutters as a deep voice ripples through the air.Idon’t turn at the crunching of shoes over the snow.

“WhenIwas little, my dad told me it was a runway in the sky where dreams went to land while we were sleeping.Thebrighter the band of the light, the happier the dreams.”

It’s only when the heat fromBooth’sbody warms my right side thatIrealize how coldIam.

He speaks carefully, likeI’ma skittish animal about to break loose. “Idoubt you’ll answer, but what happened in there?”

I should tell him it’s none of his business.Todemand he go back inside.Askwhy he even cares.

But really.Deepdown.Idon’t want to do any of that.He’sright thatIwon’t answer his question, though. “Ilike that.”

I risk a glimpse at him.Hishead is tipped back, the muscles in his neck stretching as his eyes glitter under the tapestry of stars.

“When did you lose him?”Iask.

His breath plumes in front of him with his heavy sigh. “It’llbe seven years inMay.Soundsinsane to say that out loud.Stillfeels like yesterday.”

“EveryoneI’vespoken to speaks highly of him.Hislegacy is stamped everywhere you look when you step into the restaurant.”Boothtwists toward me. “IwishI’dmet him.”

His brows jump. “Don’ttake this the wrong way, but if he were still here today, you wouldn’t be in town.That’snot to say he wouldn’t enjoy meeting the woman who turns my brain into soup and boils my blood at the same time.”

Huffing,Itug at the sleeves of my dress. “That’sthe most descriptive compliment slash insultI’veever received.Unlessturning your brain into minestrone is also an insult?”

“I’ll let you be the judge of that.”Hewinks.

Damn him and his winks.

“Did you want to come back inside?We’reexchanging gifts.”Helaughs when my eyes go wide. “Youweren’t required to bring anything.It’smostly forLottie.Ican drive you home if you want to leave.”

Ten minutes earlier, leaving sounded like the best solution.SinceBoothstepped outside, staying doesn’t seem so bad now; plus,Iremember what elseIbrought.

“Oh,Ihave a present forLottie.”Spinningon my heel,Itake a step toward the house, only to be jolted back with a firm grip on my hand.Myhead snaps down to whereBooth’sfingerslock around mine, then up. “IknowIhaven’t met her properly, butIdidn’t want to come empty handed.Isit weird?”

A short burst of laughter bubbles from him, eyes gleaming in a mix of surprise and amazement. “You’rethe most complex womanI’veever met.Doyou come with instructions?Ifyou do, they’re probably written in a foreign language becauseI’vebeen trying to work you out for weeks with no luck.”

I move to free myself, but he tugs me forward, the tips of our shoes touching. “Idon’t want you toworkme out,”Isay flatly.

“Yeah, that much is clear, all right.”Hescans my face. “Youfire me.Rehireme.Driveme insane.Thendrive me more insane with that unforgettable performance in the cabin.Youact sweet one second, then ghost me the next.Youtell me we’re better off hating each other, yet you turn up onChristmasDaywith a present for my niece and baked goods for my mom.Ican’t work out ifIwant to solve the beautiful riddle that you are, or continue wandering around aimlessly with no answers, so long as it meansIcan spend time with you.So, yeah, you’re complex.Turnsout my feelings toward you are too.Wantto know why?”

The shiver that runs through me vibrates up his arms.Finally, he drops my hand, only to grip me by my shoulders.Histouch is firm.Istop breathing.Thelack of oxygen is the only explanation for whyIstep forward.Myheavy breasts brush against his chest, andIstifle a gasp whenIfeel the hard length of him press against my hip. “IfIsay no, you’re going to tell me, anyway.”

Nodding, that smirk stretches wide across his face. “See, you’re catching on.”Hebends, nose brushing the edge of my jaw. “Myfeelings for you are complex because when you scowl at me, it gets my blood pumping.Makesme want to bend you over the nearest flat surface soIcan hear those sweet littlemoans of yours again.Thesame noisesIjerked off to this morning.”

My body ignites into an inferno at his filthy words.

“But?”Itilt my head a fraction, baring my throat to him, and closing my eyes as his hot breath tickles the sensitive skin below my ear.

“No buts.”Gently—so fucking gently—his lips coast along the column of my neck. “Ilight up like a bonfire when you look at me like you want to kiss me.”

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