“Don’t…” she laughs softly, trying to hold it in.
“What?”
“What exactly have you been eating all these years?” Her eyes drop to my chest, then lower—blushing as she realizes I’m still in my boxers.
I follow her gaze and smirk. “I don’t think what I eat has anything to do with my dick.”
I’m an asshole, I know, but the way her cheeks flush deep crimson and her hands fidget with the hem of her dress makes me want to lean in and press a kiss to her neck. Just a small taste to see if she tastes like home.
She clears her throat, trying to regain control. “Do… Do you happen to know where the bed sheets are?”
“No idea,” I reply, stretching out a hand toward her. “But I’m sure we’ll figure out where Alice stashed them.”
She places her hand in mine, and I swear I feel the tremble in her fingers before she even makes that adorable little gasp when I pull her closer. God, that sound.
“Let’s go find them.”
We check every damn room in this place, and I’m about to give up when she calls out, victorious. “Found them!”
She holds up a set of royal blue sheets like she’s just won a prize. I dig through another closet and pull out a pair of pajama bottoms I recognize all too well.
“They’re Mom’s,” I say, offering them carefully. “Not exactly sexy, but better than knowing you’re naked. It tends to freeze up here.”
“I miss Melbourne’s heat already,” she teases, her laugh like a balm to my frayed nerves. “Could you help me with the blanket?”
“You won’t freeze tonight,” I say, voice softening. “I’ll make sure to stack more firewood for tomorrow.”
She’s quiet for a beat, then asks, “How long are we staying here?”
Her voice cracks, the anxiety bleeding through.
“For as long as you want,” I say without missing a beat. The truth settles in my bones—I’m not ready to go back either. Not until we figure out how to face the fallout waiting for us.
“For real?”
“Take it as a vacation, Izzy. No phones, no cameras, no bullshit. Just peace.”
A slow smile blooms across her face. “I like the sound of that.” Then, her tone shifts. “We need to address the elephant in the room.”
I nod. Of course. I knew the peace wouldn’t last. “Will do tomorrow.”
She picks up a ridiculously fluffy pair of pajamas and hands them to me. “Found these for you.”
Dad’s. Great.
“Thanks,” I mutter, eyeing them like they might explode. “Have a good night, Izzy.”
But she holds my arm, lingers, studying me with those wide, searching eyes like she’s trying to decipher a language she used to speak fluently but forgot along the way.
“Will you stay with me?” she asks quietly.
Everything inside me stills.
“Just… stay,” she repeats, even softer.
I do. Without hesitation. Even if I know sleep will be a myth tonight. Even if it’s pure torture to lie next to her and not touch her the way I want to.
I pull the blanket back and lie down, forcing myself to stay cool. Izzy ducks into the bathroom and returns in the light blue pajamas I found earlier. She looks like a dream—soft and delicate in a way that threatens to unravel me.
