I remove my hand and take a few steps back, folding my arms against my chest, as if I were cold and not actually burning up.
“I’m sorry. It’s probably fifty degrees and you’re still wearing…that.” The tension in his voice is resounding. Like he struggled to get that single word out.
I don’t know what that was about and I don’t want to find out. I’m getting carried away with words.
“I should get going.” He walks me to my door.
Looking at my door then at him, I make the decision before I think it through. “Do you want to spend the night?”
Shock mars his face. “You want me to stay?”
“I have a few spare bedrooms and it’s late and you were drinking.” I unlock and open my door.
He goes quiet, eyes darting to the inside of my dark house then back to me. “Are you sure? I really don’t mind running back to my house. It’s not that far.”
“Do you really want to do that?”
“I will if I have to, but I’ll do whatever you want me to do.”
“I just want you to be safe.”
A smile so fucking warm and sweet blooms on his face, inciting the flame to grow. “Then I’ll stay.”
I motion for him to go in, but he refuses until I go in first.
“Your room is this way.” I lead him up the stairs then down the hall where my room is also located. “I don’t have a change of clothes, but there’s a robe in the bathroom and a toothbrush underneath the sink and a few other toiletries. You can use whatever you want. Mom…always stocked up for guests. You’re also welcome to shower if you’d like.” I show him around the bed and bathroom and almost bump into him when I turn around, but he manages to grab me before that happens.
“I got you.” He smiles down at me before he releases me.
I take a few steps back. “My room is actually across the hall. If you want anything from the kitchen, you’re more than welcome to grab it, but I should warn you, I don’t have much.”
He stares at me strangely. “Didn’t you just buy a bunch of groceries?” He raises his hands in surrender. “I promise I’m not judging.”
“I actually bought already made meals. I don’t know how to cook, and sometimes finding the time or energy is…well…it’s just faster, and my life is busy so I buy them.”
Daniel nods understandingly and doesn’t ask about my lack of cooking skills. Thankfully, he doesn’t read between the lines of me not finding the energy. Because the reality is that some days I feel so overwhelmed with the emptiness I feel inside, I don’t have it in me to do anything.
“No worries.” He smiles like he always does. “I’m not hungry anyway. It’s probably three or four in the morning?”
“Something like that.” I blow out a breath and take a few more steps back. “Well, I’m going to get ready for bed. Good night.”
I walk away as I hear him say, “Good night, Jos.”
I’m not sure if it was the shower, the fact that someone since Mom passed away is sleeping here, or that it’s Daniel just a few feet away from me, but I can’t sleep. And because I’m tired of tossing and turning, I put on a one-piece, grab a towel, and head out of my room.
But I don’t make it very far because when I swing my door open, so does Daniel.
I gasp and he curses under his breath.
“Sorry, did I wake you?” he asks.
“No, I can’t sleep. Are you…” I trail off, squinting since it’s so dark and drag my gaze down to his bare feet. He doesn’t have his shoes on, so I guess he’s not leaving. “Can’t sleep?” I ask instead.
“No and I got thirsty.” It may be dark, but I swear it felt like he raked his gaze over me. “Is that a towel?”
“Yeah, I’m going for a swim. Figured since I can’t sleep, I might as well do something than just lie around. Do you want to come?” I shift from one foot to the other, feeling like I’m on edge.
It’s not a bad thing, but inviting him to do something I usually do alone is not something I do. Especially when it happens to be him of all people. My body and mind react differently to him, and I’m not sure if I like it or not.
