“Yes, please.” Fatigue weighed on her shoulders and her eyes were dark.
“Go sit on the couch. I’ll bring it over.”
She stared at him a long moment. “You’re too sweet.”
Her words made his chest sing, and he smiled as he made them both a mug and then carried them over to where she sat curled up on the couch.
“I don’t think anyone has ever brought me a cup of tea,” she said as she took the mug.
He frowned. “Never?”
She shook her head. “Kurt never did and before him, I lived with my parents. They weren’t cup of tea people.”
Even he could remember times when his mother or Amy had made them all drinks. “Well I hope it’s up to scratch.”
She smiled. “It will be, because it’s nice not having to make it myself.”
How rough had her childhood been that she hadn’t had something as simple as a cup of tea brought to her?
“Thank you for staying,” Gretchen said. “If it was just me involved, I’d be fine, but I’m scared he’ll do something to Jordan.”
Arthur shook his head and placed his mug on the coffee table. “You need protection too,” he said. “You deserve it.”
He caught her gaze and something passed between them. A definite ‘more’. He should have asked her out that afternoon before any of this happened, instead of chickening out. Now he was here, but in the role of protector, he couldn’t. It wouldn’t be right.
Gretchen shifted, moving a little closer, and her hand cupped his face. “Arthur, I don’t know what to do about you. You say the sweetest, kindest things and it wraps my heart in knots.”
His heart thumped and he couldn’t stop himself from holding her hand in place with his own. “I feel the same about you.”
She smiled. “Well then, I guess there’s only one thing left to do.” She leaned closer and her lips brushed his. Sweet, just like she was.
He closed his eyes, savouring her touch, her taste, but when she pulled away, all he could think was more. He pulled her back, deepening the kiss and she opened for him with a small moan. Their tongues danced, and he slid his arms around her waist, needing her body close to his. How long since he’d felt this kind of passion?
Gretchen pulled up the bottom of his T-shirt, sliding her soft, warm hands along his skin and he groaned. All he wanted was to drag their clothes off and bury himself deep within her.
A sound, a kind of thud, dragged him back to his senses, and he pulled away, placing his finger over her lips when she went to speak. He scanned the room, checking for movement from Jordan’s room, glancing at the windows to make sure the curtains were all shut, and finally the doors. Nothing. Still his instincts wouldn’t let him rest until he’d checked things more thoroughly. “I heard something,” he murmured, and then because he couldn’t help himself, he brushed another kiss over her lips before he stood. “Stay here while I check.”
She nodded, concern on her face.
He went to Jordan’s room first, but the boy was already fast asleep. Then he moved from room to room, closing curtains if they were open and checking the latches were all secure. It was a new house, double brick, and the master bedroom even had a walk-in robe. The locks were new and as he mapped the floor plan in his head, he made contingencies for ways out and where they could hole up if they needed to.
He checked the back door, opening it to peer out at the night, the outside light illuminating the yard. A border of hedges and trees around the outside, a small garden shed in the corner and a small patch of lawn. The fence was intact and none of the neighbours could see into the yard. Empty. He threw the deadlock and then went to the front door. A large pot plant was on its side. Too big to have been blown over by anything but a very strong gust of wind, and there wasn’t any wind tonight. He scanned the neighbourhood, feeling like a target in the light’s glare, and then bent and picked up the pot. He moved back inside and locked the door.
Gretchen hovered in the living room. “Anything?”
“The pot plant blew over.”
She frowned. “There’s no wind.”
“It might have been teenagers having fun.” It was an effort to make her feel better, but she clearly didn’t believe him.
“I’m glad you’re staying.” She came over and kissed him again, this time short and sweet. “As much as I enjoyed what we were up to, I’m exhausted.”
“Go to bed. I’ve got this.”
She kissed him again. “I know. It’s the only reason I’ll get any sleep tonight.”
And with those simple words, Arthur fell completely in love with her.
