“I’m going to bed.” Alexandra leans over to give me a hug and kiss on the cheek. How many teens are still close like that with their parents? I know for a fact I wasn’t. Miles wasn’t either.
“Goodnight, kiddo. I’ll see you in the morning.” I continue working on my crochet project. I’m not even sure what it’s going to be, but it’s doing its job of keeping my mind occupied.
The fire crackles beside me and this is the most peaceful I’ve felt in a long time. I wonder how hard it would be to add a fireplace to my house. If it’s too much work, maybe I’ll get one of those fake ones. I don’t know, but I’m loving the ambiance.
The door to the guest bedroom clicks shut. It sounds loud in the stillness of the house. I never realized how much noise everything makes until now. I can hear Peter moving around in the restroom. He’s doing his best to be as quiet as possible so he doesn’t disturb us. Which is ridiculous since it’s his house, but it’s appreciated.
I should probably go to bed soon. Hopefully the roads are clear tomorrow and we can go home. Not that staying here has been horrible, but I like being surrounded by my own things. The perk of sleeping in Peter’s room is there’s also a fireplace.
There’s only a couple of stitches left in the current row to make. It feels like a good stopping point. I finish the row and gather my supplies to take with me. If I can’t fall asleep, I’ll be able to work on it until I do.
My sock covered feet don’t make a sound as I make my way to Peter’s room. The glow of my phone lighting the way. I don’t hear Peter in the restroom anymore, but the door is closed and the small light glows underneath. It should be safe to go in the room now.
Except I’m not, and I come to a screeching halt in the doorway. Peter is standing across the room…shirtless.
He has a shirt in his hand like he’s about to put it on. All I can do is stare. He’s definitely not the lean boy I remember. The muscle definition in his arms, and back, is new. It must be from whatever he does at the winery. If I had to guess, he lifts a lot of things.
The glow of the fire makes him look otherworldly. Or, I’m giving into every fantasy I had of him when I was the girl following him around. Right now, I can’t really tell. This probably wasn’t the best time to walk in. He joked about me wearing a bell, maybe he should as well.
At least I would have known he was out of the restroom. Seeing him like that isn’t something I’m not sure I can recover from. When did I turn into someone who longs for someone like that? The last time was when I started dating my ex-husband. Which is why watching Peter is not a good thing.
I take a step backward. Waiting in the living room until he comes out sounds like a much better idea. The crochet hook slips out of the yarn. I feel the cold metal against my arm before it falls to floor. Tinking sounds before it rolls a few inches and stops.
Maybe I’ll get lucky and he didn’t hear it. I want to pick up the hook, but I’m scared of what I might see when I stand. Instead, I stare at the metal stick like it’ll magically levitate into my hands.
I feel his eyes on me before I direct my attention to him. Peter’s focus is on me. The intensity as if he can see right through me, to my very core. “Are you okay?”
“Huh?” I know his lips are moving, but I can’t piece together the words he’s saying.
“Callie, are you okay?” He reaches out to grab my hand and I flinch at the gesture. Not because of anything he did, of course. But I know if we connect I won’t want to let go. All the years of pining for him rush to the surface, and it’s taking everything in me to push it down.
“Yeah.” I shake my head to clear my thoughts. “I, uh, didn’t expect you to be in here. You scared me.” God, I hope he can’t tell how much his mere presence affects me.
“Doesn’t feel so great, does it?” He smirks and that brings me back to reality. Being mocked isn’t exactly my favorite thing in the world. Even worse is when it comes from him.
“Would you put a shirt on?” I nod toward his naked chest. Hopefully the disinterested sound in my voice will come off as bravado. It’s only then I remember Lexi is down the hall, and I lower my voice, “please.”
Instead of doing what I asked, he leans against the wall. “You didn't seem to mind when we were younger. Hell, I spent half the summer without a shirt.”
His deep voice is somehow quiet in the room. Just act like his very being doesn’t affect me, easy. Except it’s not.
“Yeah, well, things change. Will you put your shirt on?”
He untangles the shirt in his hands and slides it over his head. “Better?”
I don’t respond. Bending down I pick up my crochet hook and gather the yarn closer to my body. He doesn’t move either. Both of us are standing our ground, unwilling to give an inch.
I refuse to relent to him. Even if it is his house.
He stares at me, waiting to see what I'm going to do. When I don’t move a muscle, he sighs and runs his hand through his hair. “Well, I guess you're ready for bed?”
“Yes.” I pull myself up taller. There now I’m letting him know he intimidates me in the best way possible. “I am ready for bed. If you don't mind.”
He rolls his eyes and pushes away from the wall before walking toward me. “Well, then, I guess I'll see you in the morning.”
“I guess so.”
Without another word he brushes past me and makes his way to the living room. I swear I hear a faint “Good night, Callie.”
