“Is she okay?”
“Yes, she’s okay. But you need to go. Like now,” she insists. “And Jude, take care of her.”
We hang up, and I’m confused by what she’s hinting at, but for some reason, Kendall gave me Faith’s address and a piece of insider info. I take a few moments in front of the mirror, adjusting my shirt and slapping on cologne to ensure I look and smell my best. With my heart pounding, I plan to surpriseher by showing up at her house unannounced. This isn’t how I imagined things unfolding, but when opportunity knocks, you answer.
Take care of her.
The words echo in my mind, driving a knife into my heart. Anxiety propels me forward, fueling my determination to see her. I snatch my keys from the kitchen counter and bolt out the door, the screen door slamming behind me.
The cold air hits me, biting into my skin. I realize too late that I’ve left my coat hanging on the hook by the door, but there’s no time to turn back. I fumble with the keys, my fingers already cold and making me clumsy, but I finally get the engine to roar to life.
I speed down the street, my breath visible in the chilly air before the heat kicks on. I quickly reach her house and pull into the driveway, my heart pounding as I turn off the ignition. As I grip the steering wheel, I force myself to breathe deeply, letting the air steady my racing thoughts. A quick glance in the rear-view mirror reveals my tousled hair, which I attempt to smooth down with jittery fingers. Once I feel composed, I step out of the car, ready to see her.
I trek to the front porch and up the stairs. Once I reach the front door, I take another breath to slow my heart rate. There’s a lot on the line here as I raise my fist and knock on the door.
The wait feels like an eternity, but finally, I hear footsteps approaching the door. She slowly opens it and peeks out. Her mouth drops open ,and her eyes grow wide. Yep, I definitely surprised her.
“Hey.”
“Um... hi, what are you doing here? Like, at my house?” she asks, her voice a little unsteady.
For a moment, my gaze shifts from her face to the luggage by the door. Is she leaving or has she not unpacked?
“Yes, I’m here. Can I come in?” I ask, shivering from the cold air.
“Sure, come on in.”
It takes everything in me to resist wrapping my arms around her and kissing her like a man starved. She’s the one for me. I decide to not overwhelm her. And I walk inside.
As the door closes behind me, I sense her eyes on my back. I move farther inside and turn to face her. Pointing at the luggage, I ask, “Heading somewhere?”
“Well, that’s a story. Want something to drink?” As she heads to the kitchen, I trail her and take a seat on the island.
She opens the fridge and offers, “Water, juice, soda, beer, wine.” She glances back at me, “Any of those sound good?”
“A beer.”
She hands me the beer and bottle opener from the island drawer. As if she knew I was coming, Sam Adams Winter Lager—my favorite beer—is stocked.
“Thank you. It’s my favorite.” I raise an eyebrow at her as I open it and take a swig.
She grabs a wine bottle out of the fridge, goes to the cabinet, and takes down one of the biggest wine glasses I’ve ever seen. The wine spills into the glass as she fills it halfway. In one gulp, she demolishes half of what she poured. Okay, so we are going there tonight.
“Are you going somewhere?” I casually mention it again.
She laughs at the question. “I was heading to the airport.”
She doesn’t provide any further information, and I can’t take this island between us any longer. I slide off the stool and walk around to her. If I get too close, I’ll take her in my arms and ravage her, and that’s not why I’m here. My heart is bursting out of my chest the closer I get to her. “And where were you going?” I drawl.
She moves a little closer to me. “If you must know, I was actually getting on a plane to Vail, Colorado.”
That throws me off, and I stare at her as I try to process it. She was planning to fly across the country to see me? This is unbelievable. Did I hear her correctly? Holy shit. I reach over and brush her hair behind her ear. Taking another step closer to her, I’m inches away, and the electricity between us is crackling in the air.
“Faith, were you coming to see me?” I glide my hands up and down her arms. Seeing goosebumps spread on her skin confirms I’m not the only one feeling it.
Stopping at her wrist where the bracelet wraps around it, I touch it with my fingers. She’s still wearing it. My heart skips a beat as I thread my hand through her hair and cup the back of her head. Tipping her head up and staring deep into her soul, I lean down and rest my forehead against hers.
She lets out a breath, and I feel it skate over my face. “Yes, I wanted to see you. I was desperate to talk with you.”
