Something that has nothing to do with business partnerships or SafeStay or professional distance.
"Luke?"Her voice is soft."Do you want to come in?For coffee?Or..."She pauses."Not coffee?"
I look at her—hair mussed from the chair, whiskey-bright eyes, lipstick long gone—and know I should say no.Should maintain boundaries.
Should remember that I'm still broken from the last time I let someone in.
"Not coffee," I say instead.
Her smile is slow and sure."Good."
Clayton appears to lower the steps, professional enough not to comment on our linked hands or the way Sage is looking at me like I'm something worth wanting.
"Have a good evening, Mr.Sterling.Ms.Winters."
"Clayton," I nod.
We step onto the platform, the brisk fall air sharp after the warmth of the train.
The inn glows like a promise, and Sage tugs me forward.
"Come on," she says."Before I lose my nerve."
"Sage—"
"No."She stops, turns, puts her free hand on my chest."No more talking.No more sad stories.No more exes or cousins or embezzlement or flexible twenty-two-year-olds.Just us.Can we have that?Just for tonight?"
I cover her hand with mine, feeling my heart beat against our joined palms."Yes."
"Good."She stretches up, kisses me quick and fierce."Then let's go."
She leads me toward the inn, and I follow, leaving the train and its memories behind.
Tomorrow I'll remember why this is complicated.
Tomorrow I'll think about boundaries and professionalism and the walls I've built to keep myself safe.
But tonight?
Tonight I'm just a man following a magnificent woman into the warmth and light, hoping that I don’t fuck it up like usual.
The inn door closes behind us, shutting out the quickly cooling night, and Sage turns to me with a smile that promises everything.
"Welcome back," she says.
And for the first time in seven years, I actually feel that way.
Welcome.
Home.
Found, in some strange way.
15
ALL ABOARD THE PAIN TRAIN
SAGE
