Page 38 of Bailey

Another round of surprise doused him, because whatever Reeves had been expecting to happen inside her office, this wasn’t anywhere near it. He certainly wouldn’t complain, and he kissed her back, and then ducked his head.

“I’m sorry,” he said again.

“No,” Bailey said. “You wanted to tell me, and I think that counts for something. I also know how hard it is to start really hard conversations when you’re not sure how the person you’re confessing to will take the news.”

He nodded and swallowed the lump in his throat. She nodded like this situation was handled, and she slid from his lap as easily as she’d arrived there. She turned her back on him and opened the paper bag noisily, getting out the two Chinese meals he had brought.

“This looks like beef,” she said as she turned back to him and perched on the edge of her desk, only a foot in front of him. “It must be yours.”

He nodded, his voice stuck somewhere down in his stomach. She went around the desk before she pulled out her shrimp, and then she turned over the bag to get to the utensils and napkins. He leaned forward and picked up a packaged knife and fork, his eyes catching hers. They held there for a moment, and then Reeves did something unexpected. He smiled.

Bailey returned it, and while it wasn’t her usual full-wattage grin, it was enough to assure him that she wasn’t going to end everything between them in the next five minutes. He honestly wouldn’t blame her if she did, and he sent up a silent prayer of thanksgiving that the worst of his secrets had finally come out.

Later that evening, Reeves had just punched down the pizza dough for the final time and set it to rest when his phone started chiming.

Bailey: I’m three minutes into one of your winter camping videos and I have questions.

Also Bailey: Question one: why do you look so calm while explaining how not to freeze to death?

Question two: why did you say “minor weather event” when there was clearly a blizzard trying to erase your existence?

Question three: do you own a normal coat, or only coats rated for surviving the next ice age?

Reeves grinned at his phone, though his stomach vibrated in a strange way just knowing she’d queued up his videos.

Bailey: Also, your comment section is full of women calling you “Mountain Man Hottie,” and I need you to know I’m handling this with maturity and grace.

Bailey: By maturity and grace, I mean I’ve read seventeen comments and judged every one, typed out responses, and then deleted them without posting. You’re welcome.

Reeves chuckled, and warmth replaced the unrest inside him. She was jealous of the women commenting on his videos, some of which were five years old, and he could admit he liked that.

Bailey: One woman said, “I’d get lost in the woods with him anytime,” and I just want to say, “Ma’am, please form an orderly line behind the veterinarian.”

He fell onto the barstool, his thumbs hovering over his screen as he tried to find a way to respond to her stream-of-conscious thoughts while scrolling through his channel. A minute went by, and then two, and he got up to continue prepping the pizza toppings. After all, Bailey should be here within the next hour, and he wanted everything to be ready.

He’d sliced the red peppers and mushrooms and popped the top on the three jars of sauce he’d purchased—pesto, Alfredo, and marinara—before his phone started bleeping again.

Bailey: I’ve now watched you build a shelter out of branches, snow, and what I assume was pure stubbornness.

I’m revising my emergency preparedness plan. It now says only one thing: “Call Reeves.”

I’m not saying I’m impressed.

Fine. I’m impressed—but only because you also reminded everyone to pack extra socks. A man who respects dry feet is hard to find.

Reeves tipped his head back and filled his house with laughter.

Bailey: How do you come up with the titles for these videos? “Three Nights Alone Below Zero”?? How is this considered recreational?

“That was a tough one,” Reeves said, and his nose told him he needed to get back to the stove, where he’d crumbled up some sausage and set it to brown. He moved to do that, though his phone continued to sing at him.

He took care of the sausage and laid out the pepperoni and fresh bacon bits before he returned to his device.

This video title says, “Winter Survival Basics,” but I’m pretty sure my basic winter survival is putting on fuzzy socks and complaining.

I can’t even imagine what you thought of me acting like a Nervous Nellie during a little rain. Rain, Reeves! You’re setting up camp in a cave you happened to find! Your bed is made of rocks!

I like those T-shirts. Do you have extras, or will I have to buy my own and allow for 10 – 14 days for shipping? I live next door… Reeves shook his head, finally latching onto something to respond to. I can give you a T-shirt, Bay.