I took a deep breath and stepped outside.
Chapter Six
Welcome to the Muffin Club
Lake stood beneath the nearest tree, his silver hair in stark contrast to the surrounding darkness.
“Hey, you,” I said as I approached him.
He stepped out from the tree and into the pale light. “Good evening.” His voice was just as soft as the moonbeams kissing his fair skin. “I hope I’m not disturbing you.”
“Not at all. I like when you visit.” I wanted to venture closer but willed my feet to keep still. I got the impression he wanted the space between us.
“You do?”
“Yep.”
He averted his gaze, and I thought I caught a hint of a smile before it faded.
“Oh! Thanks for the basket of fruit,” I said as I remembered. “I made cobbler with the peaches and plan to use the apples for a breakfast strudel tomorrow. The ones I haven’t devoured yet anyway. I got the munchies last night and kinda ate one… or three.”
“I can bring you more.”
“Maybe you can come inwiththe basket next time,” I responded. “Not just leave it outside the door.”
“It’s easier if I keep my distance,” he said, averting his eyes again. “Less complicated.”
“It doesn’t have to be complicated.” I inched closer.
A sad smile touched his lips. “Doesn’t it?”
“What do you mean?”
Lake took a small step forward. The gap between us was still too much, but it was progress. “Everything became so clear the night I held you during the storm.”
My heart did little somersaults at the memory. “I liked when you sang to me.”
“It’s a song my father would sing when I couldn’t sleep. Before he…” Lake shook his head, leaving the sentence unfinished. “I only hope it brought you comfort.”
“It did.” My throat was suddenly dry. “You said something became clear that night. What?”
“It awoke something in me,” he whispered. “Something devastating. The more I’m around you, Evan, the harder it is to stay away. The more we speak, the deeper I feel. You’re the first person who’s ever made my pulse quicken like this. And I don’t know what to do with these feelings. That’s why it’s complicated. Because Ican’tfeel this way. Not for you.” His gaze moved to the cottage before returning to me, sadder now. “You’re already spoken for.”
“So it’s not one-sided?” I asked, hopeful. “You like me too?”
“Too?”
Releasing a nervous laugh, I scratched the back of my head. “Yeah… I’ve kinda had a thing for you ever since you kissed me. I guess it’s been complicated for me too.”
“I often think about that kiss.” Lake moved his gaze to the sky, the silvery moonlight highlighting the sharp angles of his face. There was softness there too. “The feel of your lips, your warmth, your taste, it’s all seared into my memory.”
Twinges of heat attacked my chest. “Mine too.”
Another sad smile. “For the past two days, I’ve wanted to see you but forced myself to stay away. I thought distance would clear my head and rid me of these feelings.”
“And did it?” I asked, drawing closer to him. We stood only inches apart now. “Make them go away?”
Lake swallowed hard, his purple eyes flickering to my lips. “No.”
