She leaves me there in reflection that indeed for the first time in a long time, I’m having fun and smiling, and it isn’t forced.
* * *
The rest of the day,Spencer played with Hadley. He took her to the playground in town, while I stayed at the house because I needed to work on a paper for my nutritional course. I’m so close to being finished, and then I can start applying for jobs because a successful blog may be wishful thinking, but at the very least, it takes time to grow.
A knock on my door disrupts my focus on the screen. Looking up, I find Spencer casually leaning against the doorframe, t-shirt hugging his muscles, and my eyes enjoy the view.
“Checking to see if I threw out my vibrator?” I wisecrack.
He slowly steps into my room. “I already destroyed that a few days ago since you won't be needing it.”
I tilt my head to the side before I lean on the side table and pull open the drawer. I bite my inner cheek because the devil actually did it, and I didn’t notice because he has been fulfilling my needs in that department, from that night in the pool to last night.
“You owe me a new one when I return to the city.” I set my laptop to the side and scooch forward and off the bed to meet him in the middle of the room.
“About that.” He swipes a hand across his jaw, struggling to bring his thoughts together.
Immediately, my fear surfaces. “Oh God. The video, it’s leaked?! Shit, I need to text my mother.” I begin to pace the room. “My uncle may kill you. Let’s say goodbye to my future job prospects too. Then there is my spiteful ex who will not let me forget this, I’m sure,” I ramble, but a strong arm stops me.
“April.” Spencer’s voice is calm, and he cradles my head between the palms of his hands, the print of his thumb dragging along my bottom lip. “It’s fine. We’re fine. No longer an issue.”
“Oh.”
“Lawyer did wonders, and the file is deleted, all traces gone.”
Well, that’s… great. It should be fantastic. But why do I feel deflated? Oh, right, because that means…
“I guess I’m no longer a prisoner here.” I sound disappointed.
His jaw flexes side to side. “True.”
Neither one of us seem to know what to say. I glance over my shoulder. “I guess I’ll pack up and head back—”
“Stay,” he blurts out.
“Stay?”
Tone down the hope, April. Geez.
Spencer shrugs a shoulder as he runs the back of his knuckles along my cheek. “Yeah, I mean, you need my kitchen, right?”
His kitchen?
“It is a great kitchen.”
The subtle hint of a grin tells me that it’s code language for finding a reason that isn’t obvious he wants me to stay.
Stepping closer to him, I roll my lips in, confident with my theory. “I do have a lot I still need to do, recipes, of course.”
He stands taller and inches closer. “Settled then.”
“Uh-huh.”
Our mouths of their own accord move to trace one another’s lips, but neither one of us dares to commit. A simple brush of our lips is enough for this moment, the hint that something bigger is underlying. Neither one of us could be that blind to ignore it.
“A few extra days wouldn’t hurt. I mean, I’m sure you can tolerate me for that long,” I whisper.
A soft rumble leaves his mouth. “Something like that.” He bops his finger on the tip of my nose before giving me a subtle smirk as he turns to leave.
