“That was Aidan,” I tell Rachel, smiling at Aidan’s parting words. “He managed to get home without falling down drunk somewhere.”
“He’s lucky to have you,” she tells me. There’s a tender expression on her face.
I smile. “And I’m lucky to have you here.” I take the empty glass from her and set it on the nightstand. “Nice t-shirt, by the way. Looks very sexy on you.” I trail my fingers down her arm and she sucks in a breath. “Can you guess what will look even better?”
“What?” she asks.
“The owner.”
She bursts into peals of laughter, and it’s the most beautiful sound.
Stay with me and I’ll make you laugh every day.
“I’m going to take a shower,” I tell her. “Don’t fall asleep.”
“I won’t.”
When I return, she’s under the covers but still awake. There’s a small frown on her face, and I wonder what she’s thinking now. At the sight of me, the frown disappears.
Her eyes skim my chest appreciatively. “Your workouts must be intense.”
I follow her gaze to my pecs. Neither my looks nor my body make the list of things I’m very proud of, but if she appreciates them, I don’t mind at all. “I lift a few weights and do some martial arts training when I have the time.”
“Yeah, me too.” She’s laughing again. “Totally when I have the time. Brett tried to get me and Laurie interested in working out when he started the gym.” She shudders. “I’m just destined to be fat and unhealthy.”
Laurie and Brett. “How are they?”
Rachel sighs. “It’s very complicated right now.”
When isn’t it? “Emotions always get complicated. Some people make it work, but sometimes it just ends badly.” What was the phrase she used? Irreversibly complicated—but we can be more than that. We can make this work.
I join her under the covers and take her in my arms. I can’t bear for her to walk away again, and I want her to know that.
“You know I’ll give you anything you want?” I whisper. “You know that, right?”
Her voice is tinged with sadness. “You don’t have everything.”
I don’t, but I can try. “Don’t walk away again.” I’m begging. “Don’t.”
It takes so long for her to reply, it feels like forever.
“I won’t,” she whispers. “I won’t.”
I sleep through the night and wake up with Rachel cradled in my arms. She’s sleeping like a baby, cute as a button in my overlarge t-shirt.
I watch her for a long time. Then, since I don’t have the heart to wake her, I leave her in bed and get ready for work.
She’s still asleep when I return from the closet, fastening my cufflinks. As I watch, she opens her eyes and stretches like a cat before giving me a happy grin. “Good morning.”
I’m already smiling, just from watching her. “I was trying to decide if I had the heart to wake you. You looked like you were having a good time.”
“I was.” She stretches again then grabs her phone and glances at the screen. “Christ! I’m going to be late! I have to get home to change.”
I already took care of that. “Don’t worry. Joe already got your clothes. Laurie was very helpful.”
She stops and gives me a warm look. “Really? What are you, some sort of super-boyfriend?”
I hold her gaze. “I’d settle for boyfriend.”