And just like that, the air is heavy again, and Gideon’s eyes drop to my lips.
I want to climb into this man’s lap so bad, it almost hurts.
“We can shoot,” he finally says, interrupting my thoughts. “But we don’t have to get up that early. Let’s meet in the kitchen at eight.”
I nod and stand, then start to pick up our mess from dinner.
“Leave it. I’ll get it.”
“I don’t mind—”
“Good night, Lena.”
With a sigh, I take my own plate to the kitchen, then offer him a wave as I walk through to the stairs and up to my room.
Chapter Eight
Lena
The nightmare tears me out of sleep, my heart racing, sweat pouring down my back, tears streaming down my face, and memories that I wish with all my heart I could forget so vivid, I feel sick to my stomach.
So much blood.
Gideon hurt.
My screams.
Sitting up, I bend my knees, rest my elbows on them, and then bury my face in my hands and give in to the tears.
You’re the little girl who hurt my guy.
“You have to get a grip, Lena.” I sniffle and wipe the tears away, then check the time.
Five.
I guess I’m not sleeping in this morning after all.
After washing my face and pulling my hair up into a high ponytail, I pull on some jeans and a T-shirt.
These jeans are too tight. My ass has grown since high school.
Please let my clothes get here today.
Not wanting to wake Gideon, I pad quietly out of my room and down the stairs to the kitchen, where there’s a light on above the stove.While the coffee brews, I take a deep breath and glance outside. The sky is lightening, and I can see the outline of the mountains.
I want to sit outside with my coffee, but it’s chilly in the morning, so I check the coat closet by the front door and find a green army hoodie and slip it over my head.
God, it smells like him.
And it’s huge on me.
But it’s warm, and it almost feels like he’s hugging me, and damn it, even if I won’t admit it to anyone else, it’s the comfort I need this morning after that fucked-up nightmare and the altercation with his family yesterday.
I’m only in socks this morning, but my heels are still sore as I walk out the back door and sit on the steps, ready for Mother Nature’s show to begin.
I love that I have this front-row seat for this view. And I can picture this lake frozen in the winter, with snow falling and sticking to the trees, and I bet that’s just as beautiful.
Sipping the coffee, I take a deep breath and then let it out, watching the steam from my breath fill the air. It’s so peaceful here. Soquiet.
