by Haley Travis
“That’s amazing. Thanks.” I set down the phone and took a swig of coffee as I turned to Leif. “Wow. I have the day off.”
“Wonderful,” Leif said as he set a small glass full of a reddish purple smoothie in front of me. “That’s blueberry, strawberry, and raspberry, with a splash of soy milk.”
“Thanks.”
“Why do you have the day off? Not that I’m not deliriously happy about it, of course.”
“There’s a problem with the alarms. They keep going off for no reason, and the security company can’t figure it out.”
After a sip of the positively delicious smoothie, the back of my mouth was chilled from the contrast after the coffee. But the cold continued straight down my spine.
“Oh my God. You don’t think that Craig did something to my office, do you?”
Leif shot me a look I couldn’t understand. Annoyance? Disbelief? “Do you really think he’s smart enough to do something like that? I seriously doubt it.”
“You don’t think so?”
Leif took the giant cast iron pan off the heat, then came over to take my hand. “I really don’t. That sort of thing takes a lot of experience, which I don’t think he has. Plus, if he were to break into your work, that’s trespassing. Although I have to admit I wouldn’t mind him being thrown in jail, it’s probably not on his list of things to do.”
Nodding, I flashed him a smile. Leif looked softer, somehow, in a t-shirt that fit a bit looser than the one he had on yesterday. The dark blue made him look less tough, and more…strangely gorgeous. His well worn jeans molded to every sculpted inch of him perfectly, and I found myself having to tear my eyes away.
“So, what time do you have to be at work?” I asked. “You could just drop me at home, and I can spend the day studying.”
He winked. “Maybe I could ask my boss if I could have the day off too.”
I laughed as he kissed my hand. “That would be great, but I wouldn’t want to get you into trouble.
Leif went over to face the stove. “Hey boss, can I have the day off?”
He turned to face the refrigerator with his arms crossed. “Do you really think you deserve the day off, you lazy punk?”
Turning back to the stove, he whined, “But there’s a pretty girl here. I wanna spend the day in the pool, and order pizza. I promise I can catch up on my work on Monday.”
Leif spun again, his hands on his hips with an angry glare on his face. “This is the last time I’m giving you any leeway, Martin.”
Turning, he grinned. “Thanks, boss.” He stepped back to kiss the top of my head. “See? All taken care of.”
Every rough edge, every tough guy vibe, was completely erased when he acted so goofy and silly. Laughing so hard I began to shake, he slipped an arm around me.
“Don’t start choking now,” he said. “You still have to attempt to eat my version of scrambled eggs.”
“What’s different with your version?” I asked, trying to pull myself together.
“Tiny bit of onion, little hint of orange peppers, herbs, black pepper, a dash of cream, and three different kinds of cheese sprinkled in.”
“So it’s like a deconstructed quiche?”
His beautiful blue eyes lit up. “Exactly. That sounds way fancier. You’re a genius. ”
Jumping up to help him with the plates, we transferred everything to the beautiful oak kitchen table. I really liked that he was already comfortable enough with me to be ridiculous. Open enough to show his sensitive side, and to cook for me.
I was incredibly grateful to whatever stupid glitch in the security system at work had given me a whole day to hang out with the man who was steadily tugging on my heart strings.
Something deep inside me had already cracked open, and real feelings were taking hold.
Even if his size still made me nervous, and I didn’t know him nearly well enough yet, everything else about him was absolutely perfect.
Chapter 8
_____
Leif
After breakfast, Hayden and I decided to be responsible adults for just two hours. She studied and continued writing a paper, and I worked in my home office. I insisted that she take her laptop outside, and sit under an awning beside the pool.
Then we decided that we would have pizza delivered while we watched movies that evening, so I drove us to a nearby bistro for ridiculously fancy sandwiches for lunch.
She didn’t say a word about me taking a different car, but it was clear that there was no way for Craig to see us, if he happened to be looking around.
Even though I could tell by the tracker on my phone that he was at a coffee shop near Hayden’s office.
By the time we got back to my house, it was four o’clock, and we’d already spent hours discussing our favorite books, the histories of our favorite bands, and how we were both deeply terrible people for not going to the theatre more often. We made a very solemn pinky swear to remedy the last point as soon as we walked in my front door.
“Next on the summer fun agenda,” I announced, “swimming. By which I mean standing around in the pool and splashing a bit.”
Hayden frowned slightly. “I didn’t think to pack a bathing suit.”
“Wear anything. A bra and underwear covers more than the average bikini,” I shrugged nonchalantly. “I could lend you a tank top and some running shorts, but they’d be huge on you. You’d swim in th em.”
My palm smacked my forehead as I realized the bad pun that had just flown out of my mouth, while Hayden laughed brightly.
“I’ve got my sleep shorts. If I could borrow a tank top, that would be good enough, I guess.”
We went upstairs, and she followed me to my bedroom, then into my massive closet. “Wow,” she breathed.
“I know,” I said, rolling my eyes. “The closet came with the house. I’m not even into fashion. I don’t know anybody who needs to hang their clothing with special lighting, as if it’s some kind of fine art.”
I found a dark gray tank in a drawer, and handed her a pair of black running shorts as well. “Yours might be better, but whatever you’re comfortable with.” I jerked my thumb to the wall behind me. “Hell, you could wear my tuxedo in the pool if you want, as long as you’d let me take photos.”
She laughed again, then stopped, her head tilting to the side as she looked at me strangely. “You’re weirdly charming, do you know that?”
Stepping closer, I placed a finger under her chin. “It’s never happened before. It must be the proximity to such a stunning young lady.”
Her nose crinkled as she giggled, then she darted back to the guest room.
I threw on a pair of baggy board shorts, then walked by her door, calling out, “Take your time, but I’m already in the pool.”
Bringing a couple of sparkling raspberry-and-soda-water drinks in neon green plastic glasses out to the shallow end, I slipped into the water, glad for last year’s heater upgrade. In the summer, the water was always just a pinch cooler than the temperature, making it refreshing without being chilly.
It was impossible not to stare when Hayden came out through the sliding kitchen doors. Her hair was piled up on top of her head in a messy bun, and even though her swimming outfit was baggy, I couldn’t miss the seductive, curvy figure underneath. Even her pink tipped toes were exquisite.
Walking carefully down the steps, the water of the shallow end barely covered her nipples, making it tricky not to stare at the tight peaks through the thin fabric.
“Well, I’ve gotten you to a beach, and a pool,” I said, steepling my fingers like a cartoon villain. “My mission of forcing summer upon you is working, muah ha haaaa.”
“I really appreciate it,” she grinned, stretching out her arms to float them across the surface of the water. “Wow, this is the perfect temperature.”
Walking toward her, I reached for the drinks over her shoulder. “And these are the perfect summer mocktails,” I started to say, then I realized the slight widening of her pupils.
The stiffening of her shoulders.
For a split second I thought something was wrong, then realized it was me. I had inadvertently cornered her, caging her in against the tile wall.
Immediately I jumped to the side, then held out my hand on the surface of the water. She took it, but her eyes were still tense.
“Hayden,” I said as softly as possible, “I’m sorry, but can I ask...at some point in your past, did a big guy invade your personal space?”
Her eyes snapped shut as she nodded. “There were two of them.”
“You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to,” I said, stroking her palm with my thumb. “But it might help.”
“It was all so fast,” she said, with her eyes still closed. “I went to see a band with my friend, and was alone for two minutes, standing with my back against the wall. Then those guys…” She shuddered, but I squeezed her hand to help her continue.
“They were so huge it was like they were everywhere,” she whispered in a tiny, halting voice. “I knew in that second that they could have done anything to me. Just picked me up and walked out. There would have been nothing I could do.”
“Then what happened?”
“My friend came back and yelled at them, but I was already shaking.”
“You can’t stand the thought of not being in control,” I said gently. “I completely understand that. Which is why it’s bothering you even more to have someone following you all the time.”
Her eyes opened, as a single tear fell down her cheek.
“I would never want to frighten you, gorgeous,” I said slowly. “I want to keep you safe, and never make you feel cornered. Trapped.”
“I don’t think you could,” she said hesitantly.
“But it’s natural to still have the fear,” I explained. “When a very primal fear is triggered, the same stimulus can create echoes for years.”
Hayden blinked hard as she looked up at me. “So I guess you being a big guy is the same stimulus?”
I nodded. “But maybe we can break the cycle. I hope so.”
“How do we do that?”
Taking her hands, I put them on my shoulders. “Push m e hard, and yell for me to get back.”
She smirked, eyes twinkling. “I’m not going to yell at you.”
“Ow. Please.” I clutched my side dramatically. “That spot that hurts whenever you’re upset…it’s flaring up a bit.”
Hayden’s beautiful laugh sounded like she was starting to relax again. “You’re ridiculous.”
“Yes. I am. But do as I say anyway. Please.”
Standing perfectly still in front of her, I waited. Hayden took a breath, then shoved the front of my shoulders, not even hard enough to make me wobble. “Get back."
“Again. Ten times louder.”
I was impressed that she actually took a step closer, and used her body weight a bit this time as she pushed me. “Get back!”
“Again. Remember, no guy wants to deal with an obnoxious girl. Be a pain in the ass.”
After taking a moment to collect herself, Hayden jumped through the water, shoving me so hard I actually took a small step backwards as she yelled, “Get back.”
“Damn, well done,” I grinned.
Then I froze. “I really want to throw my arms around you and spin you through the water,” I said. “Permission to twirl and squish you?”
Hayden nodded, then squealed as I grabbed her, dipping to scoop under her legs so that I carried her in my arms a foot above the water.
Then I dropped her a bit, letting her legs fall in but keeping her shoulders above the surface. Lifting and dropping, lifting and dropping, I soon had her laughing hysterically.
Setting her on her feet, I snuggled her against me. “If I ever crowd you too much, and it bothers you, just tap my shoulder, okay?” I whispered into her ear. “You don’t even have to say anything. Just push my shoulder, and I’ll get out of your space.”
She cuddled into my chest, as her hand wandered along the back of my neck. “It’s funny…knowing that I can do that at any time means that I probably won’t ever need to.”
“I need you to feel safe around me,” I said softly. “No matter what you need, baby, I want to be that for you.”
She looked up at me with a strange expression.
“What? Did I say something wrong?”
“Nobody’s ever called me baby before,” she whispered.
Holding her close, we rocked in the water together as if we were dancing. The feeling of her curvy, soft body against mine was intoxicating, but I had to ignore it, and focus on what was even more important. She had just told me a few vital things, even if she didn’t realize it.
Hayden had never been in a real relationship before. She’d never been in love, never had anyone be sweet with her.
But more import antly, I could tell from the look in those pretty brown eyes that she absolutely loved it when I called her baby.
Chapter 9
_____
Hayden
After dancing and floating around in the pool for hours, we finally got dressed before we turned into prunes, then had pizza on the patio.
We curled up on the couch for another comedy special, this time with Leif’s arm across the back of the couch, so that I could snuggle up against him. It was becoming easier and easier to touch him, sneak the odd kiss, and I realized I was becoming completely comfortable around him.
Well, comfortable in one sense. In another, I was becoming more electrified every time we touched. I’d never had anyone make me feel so much before. My long-ignored sex drive was definitely standing up again, but this time instead of waving hello it was flapping a huge green flag directly at me.
I didn’t want to lead him on, but I also didn’t know whether I was quite ready for…everything. I didn’t know how long these things usually took to play out, but probably more than three days?
I knew he wouldn’t think I was easy, but I also didn’t want him to think I was desperate. Although that word was slowly becoming more applicable.
As his arm rested behind me on the couch, his hand draped over my shoulder, just enough to keep constant contact between us.
When the show was over, Leif asked, “Do you want to watch another one? Or if you’re tired, I can carry you upstairs again.” His eyebrows waggled suggestively, but he was clearly only teasing.
“I’ll be taking the stairs myself tonight, thank you,” I said, trying my best to sound dramatically prim. “Honestly, what would the neighbors think?”
“They’d be jealous that I was spending so much time with the most beautiful girl in the world,” he said, as his fingers trailed around to the front of my shoulder.
That simple touch was making my heart speed up already. I didn’t feel like watching more TV, but I certainly wasn’t ready to go to sleep.
“There’s another option, of course,” Leif said. “We could watch the stars from my bed.”
Swiveling my head to look straight at him, he was grinning. “Now you’re wondering,” he chuckled, “is this some cheap ploy to get the cute girl into his bed, or does he actually have stars in his room? Is the pretty girl’s curiosity going to win? Let’s find out.”
He hummed some cheesy game show music while I made my decision.
“I’ll bite,” I said, standing up. “Show me the stars.”
He scooped me up in his arms and carried me, and I didn’t even bother protesting, even though I was only wearing my sleep shorts and tank top. Although Leif was very respectful in the way he held me, his hands were still warm and firm through the thin fabric, making my shiny new libido sit up and take notice.
Taking another look around his massive bedroom, I couldn’t help thinking that it was a waste of space for just one person. Something else for my hormone-soaked brain to think about.
Leif laid me gently in the center of his bed, then turned out the lights. He went over to shut the curtain, so that the room was in complete darkness.
With
any other man, I would have been nervous at the very least. But whatever Leif was about to do was going to make me laugh, I knew it.
He fussed with something on the dresser, then my mouth fell open with a gasp. Tiny pinpricks of light projected all over the walls and ceiling. It was like being in the center of a galaxy. Most of them were white, but there were enough cloudy bits of blue and purple to make it seem extra spacey.
It took me a moment to notice that the slightly larger stars, which seemed closer, were moving incredibly slowly.
