I understand we are in front of people, and this is part of the charade.
But is it totally? Completely? Should it be this effortless?
Despite re-inflating the air mattress,it deflates by the middle of the night. I’m hoping last night’s invitation extended by Paisley still holds true, because I don’t feel like having back pain tomorrow.
Paisley rouses when I slip between the covers, making cute little sleepy noises. “Klein,” she softly groans my name, backing up into my body. I freeze in place, waiting for her to fully wake up and elbow me in the stomach. She snuggles deeper, adjusting her head on the pillow. “I think while we’re here for the week, we should give in and have fun together. Really enjoy this place.” She yawns. “We should have sex. A lot of sex.”
She falls fast asleep after that.
Not me. I stare at the ceiling, wide awake for the next hour.
CHAPTER 27
Paisley
I startby flexing my foot.
When I don’t hit a warm, solid mass, I creep out a few inches further.
Nothing.
Leg extends. Still nothing.
Opening my eyes confirms what I already knew. Klein isn’t in my bed.
An odd emotion fills me. Not sadness but more… bereft. Did I want to wake up next to him? What does that mean?
The bedroom door creeps open. Klein walks in slowly, a smile spreading across his face when he sees I’m awake.
I push myself to sitting, attempting to work my fingers through my bed head. “Morning.”
“Good morning,” he answers, gently closing the door with his foot. He wears a bright smile and holds two mugs.
He brings me the coffee, my arms already outstretched.
“I hope this is okay,” he says, handing over a cup decorated with brightly painted seashells. “This is how you prepared your coffee yesterday.”
He remembered how I prepared my coffee yesterday? He was paying attention? I blink hard and sip, pushing away the pinches of pleasure assailing my heart.
There’s a lot happening here I’m not used to. Waking up around somebody? That hasn’t happened in years. Having someone pay attention to me so closely they remember the way I made my coffee? Possibly never.
Klein settles onto his side of the bed, facing me. Rumpled hair and sleepy face only makes him more handsome. He’s been wearing a plain white T-shirt to sleep in. Is he doing that for my benefit? How do I tell him it would benefit me more if he lost the shirt? What if I?—
Oh my gosh.
A mouthful of hot coffee threatens to fly onto the white bedspread.
The panic must be evident in my eyes, because Klein says, “It’s all good, Paisley.”
I gather my thoughts as I swallow. “That’s what we always say, isn’t it? We use that word, over and over.Good.”
Klein nods. “We do seem to use that word often.”
“About what I said in the middle of the night,” I hesitate, and Klein says firmly, “Paisley, don’t worry. I won’t hold you to it.”
I lift my coffee cup to my lips, just to have something in front of me, a makeshift shield. I can’t believe I’m about to do this. “What do you think about holding me to it?”
Klein opens his mouth. Closes it. Considerssomething, then opens his mouth again. “Do you think you’re in a vulnerable place right now?”
