Page 52 of Losing Sleep
“Not gonna work.” I moved closer until our knees almost touched, staring him down.
“How do you know there’s nothing behind you?” he asked, pushing to stand and mimic my pose.
“Educated guess.”
Grey standing had robbed me of any height advantage, so I leaned forward, hoping that getting into his personal space would convince him to answer.
Instead, Grey leaned in closer, and my eyes snagged on his lips. I’d never kissed a man with a beard, and I’d always wondered how it would feel. Would it be scratchy and off-putting? Soft and tantalizing?
Grey must have noticed my eyes dropping to his lips because he grew still, watching me. Heat filled his gaze, making me want to lean in, remove the last few inches between us.
What was I thinking? As I’d told Tory, I wasn’t looking to date, and I was not the kind of person who kissed guys casually. My mom’s dating life before Dave had taught me that lesson many times over.
I swallowed, stepping back and putting needed space between us.
“My last name is Byrd.” My voice came out breathless, and I turned to hide the flush in my cheeks.
I pulled open a drawer in the dresser and rummaged inside, not processing what I was looking at but needing to keep my hands busy. “I need to change, so if you wouldn’t mind…” I gestured towards the door, keeping my back to him.
Grey touched my shoulder, and I turned to look at him. A small smile teased his lips as he extended a hand. “Hi, Audrey Byrd. I’m Greyson Stuart.”
I hesitated before accepting his handshake, letting my hand linger in his. “Nice to meet you.”
The electricity crackled between us as Grey held my hand, his rough calluses pressing into my smooth palm. How a handshake could hold so much emotion, I had no idea. I’d shared a bed with the man! Yet, the simple contact sent my pulse dancing.
His gaze dipped down to my mouth. I bit my bottom lip and watched as desire flashed in his golden-brown eyes. Giving my hand a gentle tug, he pulled me closer. My hand came to rest against his chest, his heart pounding a hurried beat beneath my fingers.
He leaned down, and I tilted my head up, my lips parting slightly as I anticipated the contact. Our breaths mingled. All it would take was one simple motion and—
The slamming of the front door reverberated through the cabin followed by Tory’s call. “Where is everybody?”
I jumped back from Grey with a gasp, hands dropping down to my sides as my back bumped into the dresser.
“I…we…” I stammered, not sure how to react to what had almost happened. A part of me was mortified, but an even bigger part was disappointed not to know what Grey’s lips felt like pressed to mine.
Grey ran a hand down his face, shaking his head before backing out of the room, mumbling something about helping with dinner. He slipped out of my room and closed the door behind him. Needing to clear my head, I turned back to the dresser. But I couldn’t concentrate on the task at hand. Instead, I kept thinking of Grey’s lips, just inches from mine, and how badly I wished I’d taken that final step to press my lips to his.
Chapter Twenty-Five
The next day wedrove back into Yellowstone. Tory wanted to hike more, and I couldn’t sit around the cabin another minute. We’d spent yesterday evening watching movies, and I’d had to actively avoid sitting next to Grey for fear of picking up where we’d left off in my bedroom. I wasn’t sure I’d be able to keep my hands to myself if I sat next to him. Instead, I waited until everyone else was settled on the couches before claiming my spot next to Alex, a nice neutral third party in whom I had no interest and whom I didn’t have a history of falling asleep with. Kylie was more than happy to take my place, attempting to turn her close seat next to Grey into a snuggle session that he quickly shutdown, shoving several pillows between them.
I’d spent the duration of the superhero movie pretending not to look at Grey, watching his every move, though I was sure to look away quickly every time he caught me staring. I couldn’trepeat a single detail about the movie, but I noticed every time Grey shifted in his seat or looked my way.
I’d claimed a headache and gone to bed early, but that hadn’t turned off my churning thoughts. Instead, I’d found myself staring at the ceiling. Normally, I would have used yoga to calm my mind, but after my struggle earlier in the day, I’d known better than to attempt a yoga flow in such close quarters. Not to mention it would have likely led to more thoughts about a bearded-man who smelled like comfort and the kiss we’d almost shared. Instead, I’d tried turning on a meditation app, but the soothing voice of the narrator had done little to quiet my thoughts.
For once, I hadn’t been the first one awake, and yet I was still tired, as evidenced by the bags under my eyes, which I hadn’t bothered to conceal. No amount of makeup could hide my exhaustion.
Adding to my mood was an odd phone conversation I’d overheard Grey having with his brother as I’d grabbed my drawstring bag for the hike.
I’d been in my room, making sure I had everything I needed, when Grey’s quiet words outside my cracked door had caught my attention.
“I told you, Mason, now’s not a good time.” He’d paused, presumably waiting for Mason’s response. “I need to look into the offer further. I’m not moving to Oregon on a whim.”
My gut clenched at his words. Grey, moving? He hadn’t mentioned it as a possibility when explaining his family situation, but maybe something had changed. Though surely he would have told me if it had.
A shuffling sound indicated he had begun to pace. I knew I was intruding, but there was no way to make my presence known without interrupting the conversation and making it clear I’d overheard him. So instead of leaving my room, I settled on thebed, scrolling through vacation photos on my phone while I waited for Grey to finish his phone call.
“It’s a great offer, but I can’t do that to Mom.” Pause. “Do you really think she’d want to relocate? Leave Dad’s grave and all the places connected to his memory?” Pause. “A fresh start could be good for her.” Pause. “Yes, having you there to help with the meltdowns would be nice, but what happens when you get overwhelmed again?” Pause. “I’m not having this conversation right now. I’ll think about it, but that’s all I can promise.”
