“I miss you too. How’s everything else?”
“Fine.”
“Is Dalton treating you okay?”
“Yeah, he’s been really nice.” My stomach dips when I think of him walking out a few minutes ago. I wanted him to stay with me, to tell me he wouldn’t leave me even after we returned to Haversham. But he didn’t. He walked out.
I take a breath, trying to hide it all from my voice, but I don’t think I’m doing a great job. I need to get off here before Nathan is able to tell something is really wrong.
“I should go,” I say. “We’re about to gather for breakfast. Take care of yourself, okay? I’ll be back in just a couple of days.”
“Okay. I’ll text you later.” He ends the call, and I blow out a shaky breath. I don’t know why I’m so upset. It’s not like I thought Dalton was going to stay with me or anything. We bothagreed that this would be for a week. He’s paying me for this; there’s no reason for him to want me around when this is over.
A knock sounds on the door, and then it opens, and Dalton leans inside. “Can we talk?”
I’m really not ready to see him right now, but I put a smile on my face and give him a nod. “Sure.”
He steps inside the room and closes the door behind him. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. What do you need to talk about?”
Dalton moves closer to me, reaching for one of my hands. “It’s okay to be upset about what happened, Sam.”
“I said I’m fine. I don’t want to talk about it.” I want to pull my hand from his, but it feels so good to be connected to him. Comforting.
His thumb rubs the back of my hand, gentle and calming. “I didn’t like seeing Arnie touching you.”
My cheeks warm, and I glance down at our joined hands. “I’m sorry. Sometimes they think I’ll keep working even when I’m off the clock.”
“Look at me, Sam.”
I don’t want to, but the command is clear in his voice, so I drag my gaze back to his.
“It wasn’t just because it was wrong of him to try and make you. I didn’t like it because I don’t want anyone else touching you or even looking at you. I want to be the only one who gets to do that.”
I’m surprised by the intensity in his voice, the sincerity. There’ve been a couple guys at Vinnie’s who got jealous when they saw me dancing for someone else, but they didn’t act like this. Dalton sounds protective when he talks, like he would keep defending me from guys like Arnie if I needed him to.
“I know this was supposed to be a week, and nothing was real, but it’s been real for me, Sam. It’s been real for me since theminute you took my hand when you met my dad. I should’ve told you before now.” He hesitates before admitting softly, “I couldn’t tell you before now. After Colt died . . . I didn’t feel like I had a right to be happy, to be with someone who really wanted me. I still don’t feel that way.”
My heart lodges in my throat, and my fingers curl around his. I hate that he had to endure that, that he’s felt so alone all this time.
“But I want to, Sam. I need you to know that I meant what I said, that I’ll always believe you. I’ll always protect you. If you let me, I’ll give you the world.” His voice sounds different in this moment, lacking some of its usual confidence and steadiness. I think he believes I’m going to turn him down.
“I don’t want or need the world,” I tell him. “You’re all that I want. Just you beside me.”
Disbelief flickers in his eyes, though he hides it quickly. “You mean that?”
“Yeah. I do.” I lean up on tiptoe and press my mouth to his. His lips part immediately, and he slides his tongue alongside mine, moaning softly.
The truth is, I don’t care that Dalton has money. All I care about is that he’ll be there for me, that he’ll let me be there for him. For so long, I pushed any thoughts of a boyfriend away because I needed to focus on taking care of Nathan. Being with Dalton these last few days has reminded me how much I wanted to be with someone. A guy who would shield me from the world when I needed him to.
I pull away from him so I can meet his gaze. “Thank you for saving me.”
He gives me a gentle smile, reaches up to cup the side of my face. “I’ll always come for you, Sam.”
He kisses me again, and I let myself get lost in the feel and taste of him. The feeling or protectiveness that washes over me whenever I’m with him.
I stopped wishing for impossible things along time ago because I stopped believing in any of it, but this Christmas proved me wrong. Dalton is the most perfect gift I could ever ask for, and I can’t wait to see where the next year takes us.
