Page 103 of A Not So Merry Rescue
The word “kiss” out of his mouth has me pushing up to tiptoes and bringing my lips to his. He reaches under my thighs, lifting me into the air.
Our tongues duel, a last dance, a last goodbye. Neither of us rush it nor hurry. As much as I want to take it further, hell, have it last forever, I don’t. Beckett doesn’t push it either, but too soon, he’s lowering me back down to the ground, my lips swollen, my eyes wet.
“This is it.”
“Yeah.” He pushes a hand through his hair. “The only thing I regret is not having enough time, Willa.”
“Same. This week was exactly the opposite of what I thought it would be, but exactly what I needed. Imagine that.”
He trails his finger up the side of my chin. “I’m gonna miss you.”
“Me too. So much.” I want to tell him so much more, but I leave it all unsaid. “Back to reality.” I want to tell him not to forget me, but that’s selfish. Of course, he needs to forget me to move on, to find someone to spend his life with. Just as I need to do the same.
“There’s a disposable cooler in your car with snacks and a few meals, a little parting gift from me and the town of Winterberry. So you don’t forget us.” His expression is vulnerable, like he’s embarrassed about the gift when it’s the sweetest ever.
“Like I ever could,” I deadpan. “Nothing about this week is easily forgettable, especially you, Beckett.”
“There you are.” Autumn’s voice crests the corner before shedoes. “Car looks good. Guess you were able to hammer out the dents after all, huh? Didn’t even need the new part?”
Her comments don’t sink in right away, but by the way Beckett’s eyes close and he mutters something under his breath, I’m missing something. I rewind what she said, especially the part about “new.”
Something clicks.
“You didn’t need to wait for a part?” I accuse, my voice shaking. “I could have left before now? Like days ago?”
Beckett says nothing, but his expression gives away his answer. Guilt and shame encroach his handsome face, his eyes darting to the ground, not meeting mine.
The news hits me like a load of bricks.
On the one hand, I’m grateful for the time with him, for the breakthrough I had, for the closure I needed.
On the other, he lied to me.
That hurts. It hurts more than leaving did a few minutes ago.
I try again, hoping for his words this time, his explanation of why he did it. “Beckett?”
He blows out a breath, his vision going everywhere but on me. “In my defense, I didn’t know if I could get it done at first.”
“But when you realized?” I prod when he doesn’t continue.
“I didn’t want you to leave.” His answer is so nonchalant, so matter-of-fact, so honest. There’s not a trace of deceit in it. “Scratch that. Icouldn’tlet you leave. Not then. Not without more.” He finally meets my gaze, his full of remorse and sadness.
As much as I would have liked him to have been completely truthful, would it have mattered? Would I have left earlier? Depending on when, I can’t say I would have.
“Why didn’t you tell me? I would have understood.”
He laughs humorlessly. “Tell you I was falling for you after knowing you for a few days? Scare you off? Make you think I was crazier than the serial killer you pegged me as from the start? That wouldn’t have gone over well.”
Everything after “falling for you” lands on deaf ears. “Because it’s crazy, absurd, insane. And yet, I get it. Because I was feeling the same.”
His eyebrow raises. “Was feeling?”
“Am,” I amend. “Am falling for you. Fell for you.” I throw my hands in the air. “I don’t even know at this point. But I don’t like how you lied,” I rush out, needing him to know how I feel.
He steps closer, eliminating the distance between us. “I swear my intentions were only because I wanted to see what this was between us. They weren’t to keep you here against your will.”
“Weren’t they though? I was prepared to leave, but you took the option away from me.”
