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She has no idea how right she is. How much I really do need this man. And that thought is amazing to me. Really, it’s just shocking. Because a week and a half ago, I showed up unbidden on his doorstep. A week and a half ago, he'd been angry to see me there. A week and a half ago, if there hadn't been a dangerous blizzard blowing, he would have sent me on my way.
And a week and a half ago, I would have run from him. I never would have stayed had there been a way for me to leave. But as fate would have it, the blizzard trapped us together for just enough time to give our lonely hearts a taste of companionship. To give our aching souls a promise of more.
“I know I want him,” I admit. “I know that I want him like I've never wanted any other man. And I know if he tells me he wants me too, I won't go home. I'll stay here with him for as long as he wants me. As crazy as that is, it's how I feel.”
Allie takes a swig of her coffee. “Honey, that man is never going to let you go.”
ChapterTwenty-Eight
Nick
Snow crunches under the weight of Allie’s tires as she pulls up to the house. I twist in my office chair, glancing out the window and seeing Sadie laughing with Allie. I've always liked Allie. I've always liked her for Trevor. They had their rough patches, dating in high school, falling away, exploring other people, and finally, after years of jealousy, frustration, and fights that made little to no sense to me at all, they finally found their way back to each other.
Trevor hadn't been the same man without Allie. So I'm happy he has her. And now I'm happy my girl has her.My girl...
The passenger door opens, and Sadie kicks out a foot, but her body is still twisted and she's still talking to Allie. Whatever they're talking about has her full attention. I can't take my eyes off her as her hands come up to cover a laugh, big, shocked eyes focused on Allie. Knowing Allie, she said something crazy—and knowing Sadie, she’s blushing.
Sadie left early this morning, and she's been gone all day. I didn't realize how lonely my house felt without the presence of a woman. My house comes alive with her in it, and when she's gone it doesn't feel right. Even the cat meowed his agony at the door, doing this for a solid thirty minutes before I came out of my office, gave him a scratch behind his ears and invited him inside with me. He curled himself up on the chair in the corner next to the bookshelf, and that's where he stayed for hours waiting for her. Just like I waited for her.
She makes a crazy hand gesture at Allie, and I wonder what they're talking about as Allie laughs, throwing her head back against the seat. Sadie does something else before she leaps out of the car, calling out something to Allie as Allie hangs over the console to yell back. Sadie responds, and the girls laugh again before she pulls open the back door, tugs a lot of bags into her arms, and closes the door.
She starts for my house, and I watch, my heart warming in my chest with the anticipation of seeing her. I have to stop myself from meeting her at the door like a puppy.
What the fuck has gotten into me?The woman—Sadie—sunshine and seduction. That's what's gotten into me.
Geez.
I hear the front door open and close, the sound of bags hitting the floor as she kicks off her boots and strips from her jacket. I itch to greet her. But I feel so fucking pathetic that I sit in place. I left my office door open, so I figure she'll pop in and say hi. She always says hi, always stops to chat with me while I work whenever I leave the door open for her. So I expect it now. I can't wait for it.
I want to see her in my space. I want to pull her against my chest and inhale her scent.
I want to taste her mouth. I want to claim it, and devour it, and sink deep inside it.
But she doesn't stop at my office. She's a brunette blur in a soft green sweater and black leggings as she races past. Now, I know she saw my door was open. And I know that her not popping in is weird.The fuck?
I push away from my desk as the door to the spare room opens and she darts inside. I can hear that she's running, her feet hitting the floor in quick pitter patters.
Why is she running?
What is she running from?
Is she running from me?
I move across the distance of my office quickly, but Claus beats me to the door. He's just as excited to see her as I am, and probably just as confused as to why she's running away from us. I move down the hall quickly, seeing her drop her bags onto the bed—but I'm confident she's kicked something under the bed as well as I lean my shoulder into the doorframe. I study her as she spins, her cheeks red and her eyes bright, to face me.
Breathlessly, she greets, “Hey.”
“Hey,” I return as Claus weaves between her feet before he jumps onto the bed.
“How was your day?” she asks innocently. She's hiding something. I know she is.
I want to know what.
“Good. Yours?”
“It was great. You know you have the best stuffed French toast here, right?”
“I can't say that I've ever had it.” My eyes drag the length of her as she stands on guard in front of the loot she’s placed on the bed. Or maybe it’s not the loot on the bed, but whatever she’s kicked under it she really doesn’t want me to see. It’s cute as hell that she thinks I’m buying whatever it is she thinks she’s selling right now.
