Page 35 of The Christmas Accomplice

Chapter 9

Welton had avoided talking to Dean the night before by escaping to the large master bathroom and locking the door. When Dean had let himself into the cabin, he’d tried to talk through the door, but Welton turned on the water in the large tub and claimed he couldn’t hear him. Since he’d filled the tub, he soaked for a long time, the hot water slowly drawing the tension out of him. When the water cooled, he dried off, brushed his teeth and pulled on a T-shirt and boxers. A careful look over the half wall of the loft allowed him to see Dean sprawled out on the couch in front of the fire, snoring quietly. Perfect.

He slept, but in short intervals as thoughts of Reece invaded his dreams. When Welton finally went downstairs in the morning, Dean was awake and sitting in a corner of the couch, hands cradling a cup of coffee and a grin on his smug face.

“I knew it,” Dean said.

“Good morning to you, too.”

“Fine. Good morning. And I knew you were seeing someone.”

“We’re not seeing each other. He works here at the resort and we enjoy each other’s company.”

“Do you see him when you enjoy his company?”

Welton sat on the opposite couch and glared across the coffee table. “Of course I see him when we spend time together.” Then he understood and made a face. “That’s immature.”

“Yeah, but it still got you.” Dean sipped his coffee with an expectant expression.

“What?”

“Aren’t you going to thank me?”

“For what?”

“For not ruining things for you last night.”

“Do you want me to thank you for coming out here when you shouldn’t have and ruining my whole trip?”

Welton heard the meanness in his tone and, for a brief moment, a dark and petty part of him enjoyed the hurt look on Dean’s face. But then he sighed and scrubbed his face with his hands. “I’m sorry. That came out wrong.”

“I don’t know. Maybe it came out just the way you intended.” Dean sipped his coffee and looked toward the fire.

“Is there more coffee?”

Dean nodded but didn’t look at him.

Welton got up and poured himself a cup. He stood in a corner of the kitchen for a moment, out of Dean’s sight as he mentally berated himself for what he said, and then prepared himself for what had to come next. He’d never been good at arguing with Dean before, always somewhat afraid of losing him. Well, now that losing Dean was no longer something to worry about, Welton needed to learn to be open and honest with him. And hopefully not in a mean way.

He fortified himself with a deep breath and returned to his spot on the couch. They drank their coffee in silence a moment, Dean looking at the fire and Welton looking at his profile. Finally, Dean faced him.

“I’m not trying to start a fight or anything with you here. I hope you can believe that. I’m happy you may have found someone, in case you haven’t noticed.”

A cautious sense of relief bubbled up within Welton. “You are?”

“Yes. Of course I am. I want you to find someone who appreciates everything about you, not just bits and pieces.” Dean leaned forward to set his coffee cup down, then rested his forearms on his knees as he looked at Welton. “I know I wasn’t exactly easy to live with.” Welton raised his eyebrows, but before he could say anything, Dean lifted a hand. “Let me continue before you give me sass. We really weren’t a good match from the beginning, and both of us did things while we were together that we shouldn’t have. Is that fair?

“Yes, all right.”

“But I also think we like each other overall, and we want each other to be happy. Would you agree?”

“Yes.”

“Good. Now, I’m not trying to cut you down or embarrass you or anything. All right? All I was saying was I knew something was different about you, and I had a feeling it was a new guy.”

“I don’t know if I’d say he was my new guy,” Welton said.

“Well, tell me about him.”