“Totally a warm spring. Plus, a storm front is coming through later to bring a change of temps. We’re all good.”
“Oh, really.” I give him a pointed look.
Just then there is a knock on the door. Wow, it seems hockey and contemplation of my love life took longer than I thought. Stone quickly hops off the bed and heads straight to the door. He doesn’t let room service come in to set the stuff down since I’m literally draped in a sheet.
For that, I have to laugh when he walks in with a tray after he closes the door with his foot. “What?” He looks like I’m crazy. “I’m a little protective, with no plans for anyone to ever see you with anything less than actual clothes.”
Now I just burst out laughing. “I have no plans to live my life covered from head to toe. Besides, I’m proud that I have a body to show off.”
Stone straightens his posture. “Fine. I’ll have to deal.”
“Why thank you, master.”
His brow rises, and I see sin in his eyes. “Master, huh?”
I roll my eyes. “Later.”
“You’re right. First, we need to talk about how you’re using the weather as a ruse to avoid hard talk.”
A deep breath hits me in a flash.
Stone gets to work on the bottle of wine as he patiently waits for me.
Having this talk while I’m in bed naked under a sheet is not wise. Taking a moment, I leave with the sheet wrapped around me to grab a robe from the bathroom. The moment I tie a knot around my waist, a strong feeling hits my stomach.
The few paces that my feet take is like a trek through the desert; difficult.
“Come on, Stone, long-term we both know this isn’t sustainable. We’re two mature adults talking about what the future could bring, to see if we can go anywhere. Distance and…”
He turns around to lean against the desk, only to cross his ankles and arms. Stone is like a rock; he has no plans to move. Instead, he will stay firm with perseverance.
“Can we ban the word distance, because that’s not the only issue,” he states.
Then panic hits me in the chest, as if I’m about to suffocate. Throwing my hands up in the air, an overwhelming fear is about to spew out of my mouth. It’s impossible to hide from him. “I’m a disaster waiting to happen. I’ll only disappoint you when a panic attack that I shouldn’t be having hits me, when a memory that has faded from my mind somehow returns. Hell, I can’t even walk at night unless I’m with someone. That’s what you will have to deal with. You could have any woman you want. They fall at your feet. Yet, someone you want, the one who might still...” I don’t know how to define it.
In record time, Stone propels from the desk and charges at me to grab my upper arms; he’s firm with a storm in his eyes. “That’s the biggest bunch of bullshit. You’re not a fucking mess, and even if you were, I’d still be standing right here. I’m very well aware that it's difficult to shake away the shitty things in life, but that’s not a reason to run away.”
“But…” I quiver.
“No buts, Harlow. I’m here, and I’m not afraid. You’ve got to accept that. I’m not the one running away. It’s you. Even when I tell you that there is nothing to escape from.”
“I don’t want to disappoint you.”
Stone chuckles in astonishment. “Again, you’re adding thoughts that are not true to your pot of crazy that I’ll happily prove wrong… I mean, I’m hoping we could add something sweet and spicy to your caldron.” He shrugs. “But that’s up for discussion.”
A weak softness spreads on my face, relaxing my cheeks, and a chip of calm falls inside of me.
“Stone—”
He brings a finger to my lips to hush me. “We all deal with things in our own way. But this isn’t even a factor on my list.”
I give him a gentle nod, but I’m not 100% sure I believe that my mind has caught up.
“Can we maybe save the rest of this conversation for tomorrow? My brain is spinning, and I could use a little wine before we head to bed.”
“Of course.”
Stone’s jaw ticks, and I’m certain he hates how this night is going as much as I do.
