“Your room is nice,” I said. “You’re a collector?”
“What? Oh, yes, I guess I am. Mostly I just like things around that make me happy.”
“Makes sense. I feel the same about people who make me happy.”
He flashed a sudden grin. “Anyone in particular?”
“Hmm…I’ll have to think about it.” Stepping into the kitchen, I wondered why I was being so indirect. Not a problem I had in any other aspect of my life. I found a glass in the cupboard next to the sink and filled it with cold water from the tap.
“Got what you need?” he called.
“Yes.” I returned to the living room where Nico was snuggled on the sofa, his cartoony blanket pulled up to his chin. My fingers flexed with the desire to tuck him in. “You look comfortable.” Maybe he’d like one of his stuffies? “Can I bring you anything from your room?”
“No, I think I’ve got it all.”
It was on the tip of my tongue to say, “Not even your teddy or bunny?” but I cowardly bit it back. Fear of rejection had haunted me since we were together before, and even though there was more than one little at the club who had hinted that they would be interested in having more than a one-night playdate, I hadn’t been interested.
The scenes filled a need, more or less, but no one had ever found the place in my heart held by Nico who I’d been too cowardly to open up to.
Would that continue now?
Chapter Six
Nico
Paxton acted like he was putting me out by sleeping in my bed, but the truth was, I’d purposefully bought the comfiest couch I could possibly find for the purpose of sleeping on it from time to time in my cabin. I lived in the middle of nowhere with a constant fire blazing. The only thing, in my mind, that could make it better, was cozying up on a couch and reading. With him. That last part wasn’t crucial, but in my fantasies, it made this place complete.
I woke up, as I usually did, right with the sun. Too many years of a blaring alarm made my natural clock go off at the same time now as it did then. The fire had died down a bit during the night, so the first thing I did was build it back up. When Paxton woke, I wanted him to be warm and toasty in my home.
Still in my pajamas, I got on my phone and looked at the forecast, grateful to have two bars, unlike last night. Not only had the storm not waned during the night, but it was set to get worse over the next few days. I made a mental list of things I needed to do.
A few minutes later, I put on a pot of coffee and started up the stove. On mornings like this, I craved a big bowl of hot oatmeal. Paxton loved it as well. I put venison sausages on to fry and poached a few eggs as well. It was a lot, but I wanted to impress Paxton. Yes, I was a little, but I was as capable of taking care of him as I wanted him to take care of me.
I was sipping coffee by the window, outside of which snow fell in blankets of white when I heard noises from my bedroom. Paxton was up. My tummy flipped a bit at the thought. He was here. In my house.
This time, I wouldn’t let him leave without telling him exactly how I felt, even if the outcome was rejection. The unknown was harder to deal with than heartbreak. Maybe. Water ran in the bathroom sink, and a few seconds later, he stepped into the living room. “Good morning,” he said in his rough voice. I knew that morning voice well.
“Good morning. How did you sleep?” I asked.
He scrubbed his hands down his face and stretched. “Like the dead. I haven’t slept that well in years. Did you spike that hot chocolate?”
I chuckled and shook my head. That was corporate life for you. If you got a good night’s sleep, it must’ve been because you had a little somethin’ somethin’ to put you out. “No. Of course not. That’s life in the middle of nowhere. People sleep like that every night.”
“Damn, I guess so. And you made coffee?” He smiled and, if I died in that instant, it would be the best way to go. “I’m beginning to think this is all some dream. You and coffee and the best sleep and that fire. Why is your fireplace so mesmerizing?”
I shrugged. “You know how people buy those red-light therapy products? Eye masks and blankets and big lights? I saw somewhere that fire was the original red light. Between the fresh air and working with my hands and that fireplace, something healed inside me.”
“Seems like it. You look better than ever to me.”
“Thank you, D…Paxton. I made some breakfast if you’re hungry. It’s really coming down now.”
He nodded and made his way to the coffeepot, finding the cups easily and making himself at home. I couldn’t have been happier about that. “Did you see what the weather report says?”
“Connectivity can be iffy up here, but I got enough to see that we are expecting several more days like this.”
We settled together at the table for breakfast, and I took joy in how he ate like a starving man and complimented my cooking.
We cleaned up side by side, and he asked if there was anything he could do. “No. You’re my guest.”
