"Honestly?" He shrugs and I can see fresh tears threatening. "I thought you were ditching class because of what happened between us Monday."
"Oh, no." I step closer and wrap my arms around him tightly. I'm a bit sweaty from being in the sun, but it isn't gross enough to be hesitant right now. "I would never lie to you about something like that. We had some people drop by to survey and do a property line appraisal."
He pulls back and looks at me. Monday, I could see the signs of his age in his expression, the wrinkles around his eyes when he smiled, the easy way he flirted. Right now, looking at him withmy arms still hugging his body, he looks more youthful. I lift a hand to swipe my thumb under each of his eyes, brushing away fresh tears.
I don't know what has happened in his past to cause such a reaction to a simple message. I'm not sure what went through his mind, why he assumed I was lying. I squash any qualms and lean forward to kiss his lips gently. I can taste his tears, but it doesn't stop me.
"Let's get inside, okay? We can talk there." He nods and lets me lead him into the house. We both kick off our shoes right inside the door and I direct him to sit on the couch while I fix both of us a glass of sweet tea and myself a sandwich. I ask if he wants one, but he declines with a silent shake of his head.
I don't push him for answers or to talk. Instead, I eat my sandwich slowly on the opposite side of the couch as him. He sips on the sweet tea. The first time he tried the tea I made, he said it was way too much sugar. Then he asked for a second cup and gave me a threatening glare before I could even say anything.
"I'm sorry for showing up like this," he says quietly after ten minutes. "I feel kind of dumb now."
"Don't say that," I demand. I finish my sandwich and reach across the space to lay a hand on his knee. "I don't know what your experience is to think that I would lie to you, but I promise that I'll never do that. Even if we didn't have… something going on." I really don't know what to label us right now. "I would not make up some excuse on why I needed to miss class."
"I've been lied to before, strung along for longer than I want to admit."
I've gathered from previous talks that he's been used in the past, whether for status from his family or money, it doesn't matter. People that use other people are not the kind of people I want to be around. I reach out a hand and rest it on his knee.
"You never have to worry about that with me, okay?"
Chapter Fifteen
Ihearmyalarmcome to life and I open my eyes. There's a weight against my back and it takes me a few seconds longer to remember what happened last night. A smile creeps across my face and I turn my alarm off before turning around to greet Bennett for the day. I have to get up and help with the animals, but I don't want to just slip out of the bed. I lean forward and kiss the tip of his nose. He makes a grunting noise and tilts his head back, away from me. He's still fast asleep.
I give him a minute before I try to wake him up again. This time, I run a finger down the side of his face. His eyes flutter open slowly and the sight takes my breath away for a moment. Then he groans and buries his face back into the pillow. "It's too early."
"You're the one that agreed to go watch the sunrise," I remind him. We talked for nearly three hours yesterday, mostly about past relationships and the lessons we've learned from them or the memories that still linger in Bennett's case. We ended up going back into the city to his place so he could grab someclothes and ingredients to make us dinner tonight. He insisted, saying that it was the least he could do. I really don't mind cooking for someone else, but he wouldn't have it.
"But that was before I realized how sleepy and warm I'd be at five-thirty in the morning." Bennett's voice is muffled, still in the pillow. I sneak my hand below the blanket and rub up and down his side. I can feel the dips between his ribs and the smooth skin that's exposed just above his hip. I wouldn't mind staying in this bed either, but I don't know if we're both ready for where my mind is taking me.
"It's actually five," I say. He lets out another groan, but rolls onto his back. "We have to get up and get to the spot before five-thirty or we'll miss the first rays. Come on. I promise, you can come back and sleep after."
"Fine," he says. I help him sit up and he leans his head on my shoulder immediately.
"You're worse than a kid," I say with a laugh. "Come on. We're going to miss it."
I finally get him standing on his feet. He's wearing a pair of blue pajama pants and a tank top. It shows off his biceps, which are surprisingly defined given that he's a professor. His body definitely doesn't scream nerd. I direct him to grab the pillows while I fold up the blanket and bring it out to the truck with me. The porch light illuminates enough for me to drop the tailgate and fold back the cover on the bed. I put it down last night because I knew we'd be using it and didn't want it to be wet with dew.
Bennett comes sauntering out slowly, one hand rubbing at his eyes. He looks equal parts hot and adorable.
I take the pillows from him and the help him into the passenger side. He gives me a sleepy smile and leans down to kiss my lips quickly before I close the door. I don't know howlong it'll take him to actually wake up, but I hope it's in time to see the sun coming up.
The ride across the farm is bumpy and I try to take them slow, but a few dips are unavoidable. I turn down an unmarked path we use often. It leads up a hill and there's a clearing that my dad made decades ago that leads to the perfect spot to watch the sunrise. For the longest time, there was a double swing up here and we could almost always find both Mom and Dad sitting and talking. I'm sure Charlie used this area to impress past girlfriends as well. I… Well, I tried once and that didn't end well. It was the story I told Clark the other day. I haven't even thought about bringing anyone else up here until now.
"You're quiet," Bennett's voice says, pulling me out of my thoughts. I glance over at him and smile. He seems more awake now.
"I was just thinking that you're the first person I've brought up here," I say honestly. "My parents cleared this area and my brother definitely brought girls here, but I've never used it to my advantage."
"To your advantage, huh? Is this some magical place that's going to make me fall in love with you?"
"Oh, I don't need anything but myself to help with that," I say with a joking tone. "But no, it really is magical here. I'll sometimes ride Zula up here to get away or just relax. It's set perfectly that you don't see anything but nature. No cities, street poles, roads. Just land."
I park the truck just right and we get out to unfold the blanket. I help Bennett up into the bed and climb in myself. It isn't the most comfortable with just the one blanket, but that doesn't stop either of us from cuddling together. I spent all night wrapped up in Bennett's arms, so this time I offer him to rest his head on my shoulder.
"We have about ten more minutes before the clouds will start to change colors and then the sun will be up about fifteen minutes after that."
"Mmm, whatever should we do to pass the time, Mister Hargraves?" Bennett tilts his head back and I look down at him. This close, we can see each other clearly.
