“C-can we be like this for a while?”
“Of course.”
“And then can I be the big spoon?” he asked, still quiet.
“Whatever you want, Lake.”Always.But I didn’t say that bit, because it was too soon, and I might not have him for much longer if he decided to leave.
“Okay.”
I put my arm around him and pulled him impossibly closer. Then I leaned to kiss his hair because I could. “Good night.”
“Good night.”
* * * *
I woke up to my usual doggy alarm; Bucky making softboofsounds from his dog bed. It was his way of gently making sure I wouldn’t forget it was breakfast time.
When I opened my eyes, I saw I had become the big spoon at some point. Lake had curled into a ball, and I had wrapped myself around his form.
I couldn’t help it, I had to touch his face. He had long lashes and he was so gorgeous to me now. He’d been handsome when I first laid my eyes on him when he came out of the car in the yard, but now that I’d gotten to know him, it was as if someone had polished him, and I could see every detail in sharp relief.
Even with the fear of the impending deadline looming in the back of my mind, I knew Lake and I could have something special. Not only was I attracted to him—which wasn’t necessarily the norm for me when it came to attractive people in general—but I felt a connection to him I hadn’t really felt before. Maybe it was the fact that there was something similar to Ruth about him. His character was like hers, yet while she and I had only ever been platonic, I could see myself feeling more for her nephew.
As I ran my fingers along his eyebrow and down his temple, grazing his sharp jawline, I smiled. I liked touching him and being close to him, too. I sent a thought to Ruth.I think this is what you were talking about. This is what I never felt before.
“What are you doing?” Lake asked sleepily.
“Mapping your face.”
He turned onto his back and squinted at me in the dim morning light. “Why?”
“Because you’re the most beautiful person I’ve ever seen,” I said, too honestly.
He looked taken aback for a moment, then very slowly, he smiled widely. “Don’t take this the wrong way,” he started, and my chest felt tight until he added, “but I’ve heard that before. Many times. But this was the first time I ever believed the words.” He raised his hand to my cheek.
For some reason, I let him lead. He pulled me down and raised his face enough to press our lips together. I could feel his lips move as he smiled.
“Boof!”
Lake pulled his head back and laughed. “Someone wants attention.”
“He wants breakfast.” I rolled my eyes, then pecked Lake’s lips again.
All I wanted was to stay in bed with him and make out, but if I didn’t go downstairs to start the morning, the Golden Girls would come knocking and nobody could deal with five pit bulls staring mournfully at them.
“Go,” Lake said when Buckyboofed again. “I need to figure out what’s going on in the house. I promised Ben I’d start working with him today, so I’ll be doing that unless you need me for something.” Then, grinning wickedly, he whispered, “Please come find me in the afternoon. I don’t want to spend all day on the book stuff. I need horse time.”
“Will do,” I promised. “I’ll have my hands full with the normal stuff and Seb coming over. Poppy will come later to see what we can do for the mare, so I’ll come get you then.”
I kissed him again, our lips still closed, which was probably for the best. I felt a surge of happiness in my chest when I pressed my forehead against his.
“Go, before I try to keep you here.”
Chuckling, I awkwardly climbed out of bed. Seeing him in my bed, sleep-mussed and gorgeous, made my stomach flip. My emotions tried to overwhelm me, so I turned and went to the stairs. I needed to drink a cup of coffee, make my smoothie, and head out to feed the critters.
“I’ll get my coffee in the house,” Lake said a while later after he’d come downstairs and gone to the bathroom. He’d found me leaning to the cabinet in my little kitchen as I drank my caffeine to get myself going.
“Yes, because the fancy maker is there,” I grumbled as if I was bothered by it.
