My chest rises with each intake of air. I imagine his lips on me, his arms lifting me effortlessly like he did in the picture, only this time in my mind, he’s carrying me to bed. Locked in this trance with him, I can’t seem to move or speak. And I know it’s wrong to want him, but I can’t help it.
“Come up.” His eyes flick from mine to my lips, then back again.
“What?” My brain fights through the haze to make sense of his words.
“Come upstairs,” he says it in a deep gruff tone that makes my walls clench.
Anyone else speaking those words could be an invitation to go to bed. I imagine it is, and we’re already there. Then I remember my sister. My stomach twists into knots. I was a bridesmaid at their wedding. If I ever got married, I’d always imagined having my sister as maid of honour. I doubt she’d even come if I were to marry Shane.
I shake the thoughts from my head. He only asked me to come up to his kitchen, and I’ve taken it as a marriage proposal.
“Have you eaten?”
“No.”
“I’ll cook us something.” He points up the stairs.
I spin around and hold on to the wooden bannister as I climb the polished oak staircase. Shane’s two steps behind me as I reach the top and walk into his open plan living space.
I’d forgotten how beautiful the view was from his floor to ceiling windows overlooking the hills and lake below as it swallows up the sun. “It’s stunning up here.”
“Yes, it is.” He smiles as he gazes at me standing in front of his window. “How about I cook your favourite creamy pasta?” he says, pulling a beer from the fridge and offering me one.
I shake my head. “I’m driving.”
“I have three bedrooms. You can stay the night.” He offers me the beer again.
“I’m not a teenager anymore.” If I stayed the night, the only bedroom I’d be sleeping in is his. I search his face, wondering if that’s what he wants. The longer I’m alone with him, the less I can fight off my feelings.
“I can see that. I just want you to know that you can stay here whenever you want. Whenever you’re feeling lonely or whatever.”
“How do you know I get lonely?” My heart thuds in my chest as I recall everything I said on the live to my masked man.
“Because you live alone like I do. I know what it’s like.” He points to the large windows. “That sunset isn’t half as beautiful when you’re alone and don’t have anyone to share it with.”
I bite into my bottom lip. “Don’t you ever invite anyone over?”
“The lads come over, but you’re better to look at than Kane or Dom, that’s for sure.”
“Oh yeah, I remember. You think I’m gorgeous.” I look away, hiding my smile.
He lets out a small chuckle. “I also think you have too much sass.”
“Did you just say I have too much ass?” My hands pull at my tunic, making sure it covers my arse in these leggings.
Shane laughs with a mouthful of beer. “Sass, trouble. I said sass, but now you mention it…” He points the bottle at me with his eyes flicking to my hips.
I swat at his chest, but he grips my wrist.
“You’ll never hear me complaining about the size of your ass, trouble.”
“You just like to tease me about my skin and braces.”
“How long are you gonna hold that against me?” He opens a cupboard and lifts out a carbonara sauce and a bag of pasta.
“You don’t have to cook for me. I only came because I’d been to the care home and?—”
“I want to cook for you.” He scratches the back of his neck as he clears his throat. “I mean, I’m cooking my meal, anyway. Besides, it’s hardly cooking. I’m just throwing a jar of sauce onto pasta.”
