Page 9 of Out in the Country

There’s only one bed.

“Umm, Ev?”

“What?” he asks, oblivious to my internal freakout as he hangs our suits in the closet.

“Where’s the other bed?” He looks over as if he’s just seeing the discrepancy for the first time. Like I hadn’t stressed to the girl on the phone when I made the reservation the vital need for two beds.

He shrugs and sets our dress shoes in the bottom of the closet before closing the mirrored door.

“Guy at the desk said that there was a mix-up and that they’re totally booked. The couch pulls out, or I guess we could just share the bed. It’s a king so it’s not like it’s a big deal.”

Normally, he’d be right. We’ve shared a bed numerous times over the years, and it’s never been a problem. He stays on his side and I stay on mine, so why does it feel like such a big deal?

“You’re doing it again.”

“What?”

“Hayden, seriously. Are you okay? You seem…”—he pauses and his gaze does a not-so-innocent perusal of my body—“distracted.”

Sure, let’s go with distracted—and apparently imagining things because there’s no way he’s checking me out.

“I don’t know. Harper wanted to grab a drink once we got settled, but maybe I need a coffee first.”

“Whatever you want.” He takes a step closer, and the faintest hint of motor oil mixed with pine invades my senses, and it feels like we’re talking about so much more than just beverage selection.

Forcing myself to take a deep breath, I push down all the uncertainty and smile. “I think I’m going to just change real quick, and then we can get going.”

“Sounds good.”

Rummaging through my bag, I grab what I need and then walk as casually as I can into the bathroom, shut the door, and let out the breath I’ve been holding since we left Clementine Creek.

4

EVERETT

“What do you think about this tie?” Hayden holds up a tie that looks identical to the last one he held up. He looks hopeful, holding the piece of eggplant silk in a paisley pattern.

“That’s the one,” I say with a smile.

“You have no idea why they’re different, do you?”

“Not a chance.”

He rolls his eyes good-naturedly but ties it around his neck with a smirk before looking at mine.

“Let me fix yours.”

“It’s fine.”

“No, it’s not. I taught you better than this.”

I sigh like I’m truly put out, but in reality, I did it on purpose. His hands on me, as innocent as they are, feel divine. It also doesn’t escape my notice that Hayden’s shirt and tie complement my own.

His hands deftly tie the perfect Windsor knot before tucking it back inside my vest with care. My body’s on fire with the contact, but after last night I’m trying not to spook him before the ceremony.

After a fairly normal evening with Harper and Brian, we toured the grounds and then went back to the venue for the rehearsal dinner at the request of the bride. I didn’t try to fluster Hayden any more than my general presence seemed to do. He was jumpy, and as much as I want this to be a chance for us, I also respect Harper enough not to mess with her big day.

That meant sleeping on the far side of the king bed and resisting pulling him into my arms when he rolled toward me in the middle of the night. It was torture, but I managed and had the blue balls to prove it.

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