Page 13 of One Last Touch

His eyes dipped down and I followed his gaze, blushing as I remembered changing into the lacey vest top before bed. My fleece pyjama top had been soaked in sweat by the time I’d got back to my room so I’d reached for the only PJs I had left that were clean. The strap had slid down my shoulder and I quickly scooped it back up as I pulled the duvet higher. There wasn’t anything wrong with what I was wearing, but the neckline was low and it was more skin than I would normally have on display, especially in front of a guy I’d only really just met who acted like I was the bane of his existence.

Sage cleared his throat but his eyes were warm when he raised them again to meet mine.

“Angie sleep walks.”

“I—What?”

“Angelica. Ms Weathers.” He smirked with a wry glance. “Sometimes she sleepwalks, especially when she’s upset. She’s a very vivid dreamer, you know. Clocked me a couple of times once before when I bumped into her on the stairs, told me the next day she’d been in a boxing match in her dream.”

I didn’t know what to say. I wanted to laugh, or cry, or maybe hit him, I wasn’t sure. This sounded like bullshit. I eyed him suspiciously as I decided to play along. “So why did we hide in the closet?”

He shrugged like it was no big deal. “I didn’t fancy being hit again and figured you wouldn’t much enjoy it either.”

“You are so full of shit.” I pushed back the duvet and swung my legs out of bed, quickly pulling on my socks as I reached for the jumper I’d thrown on the chair in the corner yesterday evening.

“Where are you going?”

“To talk to Angelica.”

“You don’t believe me.”

“Sage, you could tell me the sky was blue and I’d be inclined to double check.”

“Well, right now it’s actually grey.”

I scowled at him, running my fingers through my hair. “Get out.”

“I could just wait here for you while you run and check?”

“Get. Out.”

His smile was infuriatingly cocky and only made my frustration grow, something he could clearly tell from the way his grin widened.

He walked past me slowly and I bit my lip as the breeze he left behind carried his scent to me. Most guys drowned themselves in aftershave, not Sage. He smelled like the outdoors, like pine and air and the smokiness of the fire in the kitchen.

“Next time, knock,” I muttered slightly breathlessly as I followed him out and down the stairs to where Ms Weathers was bustling around. Though, I couldn’t work out what she was doing for the life of me, just moving to and fro almost like she was dancing. She stopped once she saw us in the doorway, smiling cheerfully, and I relaxed instantly. She just had that way about her, made you feel like no matter what happened, she would take care of you.

“Morning.” I walked over to the kettle and refilled it before flicking it on and heading to the fridge to find something for brunch.

“Morning love, did you sleep well? I hope the storm didn’t keep you up too much.”

I grabbed the milk for my tea and hunted down a clean mug once the kettle finished rattling. “I slept fine, thanks. How about you?”

I watched her carefully out of the corner of my eye and saw the almost imperceptible look she sent to Sage and his slight nod in return. “Oh, I woke up in the middle of the kitchen this morning so I think I must have been wandering again last night.”

I wasn’t sure whether to be amused or insulted that they thought I was so stupid. “Oh really? I suppose that explains the footsteps I heard last night then.”

“Yes, dear,” she said softly.

The steam obscured my view as I looked at Sage over the top of my mug as I took a burning-hot sip. Breakfast would have to wait. I needed to get into that suite now and check for any way someone could have left the room without me seeing them.

“There go those wheels again.” Sage sighed as I brushed past him with my tea in hand and a glare before I stopped in the doorway.

“Oh, that reminds me. When the police came after… after they found her, did they search the whole property?”

“Oh, yes, dear. Why?”

“Just curious.” I smiled and Ms Weathers smiled back, though her hands twisted together in front of her.

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