“I have club shit to do in the morning,” he says. “So, I might not be here when you wake up. But I want you to sleep in as long as your body allows. The garage is closed tomorrow since the paint crew is coming in. Make yourself at home. Eat my food. Shower. Watch TV. Just don’t overdo it. I’ll have someone come over and check on you.”
“Wait…is this your house?” I ask. “I thought I was going to stay in an empty one.”
“I’d much rather you stayed here,” he smiles down at me. “We can talk about it more when I get home tomorrow. Now, close your eyes and go back to sleep. You’re still exhausted. I’ll stay right here until you fall asleep.”
Despite myself, I laugh. “Skip… you don’t have to stay.”
“Baby,” he says, eyebrows lifting like I’ve personally offended him, “I’m not going anywhere.”
There it is again.
Baby.
Every time he says it, something inside me lights up like a switch being flipped.
In my half-asleep haze, the words slip out before I can catch them.
“You sound like my dream man.”
The second it’s out, I freeze.
Skip’s head tilts. “Your what?”
Shoot
“I-I mean…never mind. I’m tired. Delirious. Ignore me.”
Skip leans in just enough that I feel his breath on my cheek.
“No,” he says, voice low and maddeningly patient. “Tell me.”
Heat rushes through my whole body. “It was just a dream. Just… someone holding me. Laughing with me. Loving me…He was perfect.”
He doesn’t tease.
Doesn’t smirk.
Instead, his expression shifts…softening in a way that makes my stomach turn to absolute liquid.
“Dream about me again,” his voice whispers against my skin. “I don’t mind.”
“What makes you think my dream man was you?” I ask.
“I mean, of course it was me,” he smirks. “You did say he was perfect, after all…right?”
“You’re certifiably insane,” I laugh, closing my eyes.
“Go to sleep, baby.”
My body is all too willing to obey his command. I fall asleep…and I dream.
Chapter Eight
Skip
Pulling up to the Moretti estate, I kill my bike and hop off to join the others.
“Think he’s compensating for something?” I ask, staring up at the massive stone mansion.
