“We’re going to send her some apology flowers today.”
Her eyebrows go up.
“I’m serious. I think you really scared her and that’s not cool. I might live up here all alone, but even I know when I’m in a fucked up place I have to remember that there are people who care about me.”
She glares at me for a second. She’s not in the mood for a lecture, but I don’t give a shit. “And the last thing I need is the Feds coming back around looking for you ’cause your friend has legitimate reason to think you went missing.”
That softens her expression, but her body is still tense. “You’re right.”
“Come here.” I push back from the table and make room for her between my legs. I pull her close. I wrap my arms around her. I look up into her beautiful hazel eyes. “I understand how you feel, but you come first. Never put yourself in even questionable danger. Not for anyone.”
Her gaze roams all over my face, but she won’t look me in the eye. I notice the way her throat is moving. She’s holding back tears. “Yeah I kinda fucked this up. I’ll send her something nice and make sure I thoroughly apologize the second I get home. Is everything cool with your neighbor-aunt?”
“Yeah. She’s just… concerned. Nothing to worry about though.” I reach up and run my thumb over her cheek and cup her face. She leans into my hand.
“She was interesting. I thought New Yorkers had a bad rep for being ultra direct.”
“It’s not you at all. She’s pissed at me.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes. She and Jad have looked out for me since I was a kid and she’s had a hawk’s eye on me since my grandfather died. She’s also a really nosy old lady who knows you can set your watch by my comings and goings. Hearing that I have a visitor and didn't tell her about it is making her a little uneasy.”
“Oh. Anyone else in town I should be worried about, thinking I’m disrupting your perfect mountain routine?”
“I don’t think so.” I know I fucked up the moment I hesitate. Dropping my hands down to her ass doesn't seem like enough to distract her from the question.
“I don’t believe you, but I’ll have to take your word for it. So what do we do now? I'm yours but clearly you have stuff to do,” she nods toward my laptop.
“How are you feeling? Are you tired?” I give her ass another squeeze. She moves even closer and leans her stomach against my chest. It’s only been hours, but I can feel how comfortable she already is with me.
She finally looks me in the eye. “I’m exhausted. Did the riverboat-sized bags under my eyes give me away?”
“No, I was thinking about the cross-country travel and sleeping in different bed part, but now that you mention it, you do look pretty terrible.”
“Oh you’ve got jokes, do you?”
I smile at her a little. “Why don’t you lay down for a while and then I’ll wake you when I’m finished uploading this stuff.”
She looks at the images on my computer screen. “Yeah, okay. That’s a good idea.”
“What’s wrong?”
“Honesty is a lot harder than most people think.”
“And lying or not telling me something for an unknown reason doesn’t work well either.”
“I’m...thinking about the time we have together.”
“Yeah.”
“It is limited.” She pauses and I think she might bite clear through that sexy bottom lip of hers. I stand and smooth her hair back away from her face. I kiss her.
“Tell me.”
“I can’t, seriously. I’m not trying to keep anything back or anything, it’s just… this kind of frankness is weird for me. Isn’t it weird for you?”
“No.”
