Total pages in book: 69
Estimated words: 67492 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 337(@200wpm)___ 270(@250wpm)___ 225(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 67492 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 337(@200wpm)___ 270(@250wpm)___ 225(@300wpm)
“Come sit with me.” He pulls the stool out next to him, and after I grab us both a water, I take the seat as suggested. “Tell me about your day.”
So that’s what I do. I tell him how I beat my cousins in Uno and how my team won the annual Thanksgiving family football game. I tell him about the Christmas movie the ladies watched while the guys glued their eyes to the other TV, watching the game. I ramble every little detail until his plate is clean.
“Ready for dessert?” He’s cleaned his place, and it makes my heart smile that he enjoyed the meal my family prepared with love.
“Not yet.” He laughs.
“Fine. How about we watch a movie while your food settles?”
“Sure.”
“My choice.”
“Yeah, Blake, your choice.”
I don’t hide my grin. He has to know I’m picking a Christmas movie. I’m determined to bring the holiday back into this man’s life. It just so happens that I get to spend time with him—something I’m enjoying way more than I thought I would, or even than I should, but I’m not going to let that stop me. Come on, our family motto is to work hard, and that’s exactly what I’m going to do. I’m going to work hard to show Oliver Thompson that his past is that, in the past, and that he can still enjoy the holiday.
At least that’s my plan.
Oliver cleans up, choosing to rinse his plate and leave it in the sink while I settle on the couch and pick out a movie. He sits in the spot right next to me.
“What are we watching?”
I nod toward the screen.
He chuckles. “Yeah, I figured.”
“You’re not going to tell me no?”
He looks over at me, and his eyes soften. “I’m not sure that I can.”
“Why’s that?”
“Baby, I’m pretty sure there isn’t anything I wouldn’t give you.”
Oh, holy night. This man. I can’t find words, so I ignore his and hit Play on the remote. Oliver stands and turns off the lights. Just a dim glow of the light over the stove from the open-plan kitchen and the light from the massive TV we’re watching fills the room.
It’s difficult to focus on the movie, but that’s okay. It’s one I’ve seen before. Instead, I kick off my shoes, fold my feet underneath me, and curl myself in a ball. I’d really love a blanket to snuggle with about now.
“Are you cold?” Oliver asks, his voice soft.
“No. I just like to snuggle while I’m watching movies. Especially Christmas movies.”
“Who do you usually snuggle with?” His tone is a little harder than before.
“My blanket.”
“Oh. I’ll have to do.” He puts his arm around my shoulders and pulls me into him. My hand and head end up resting on his bare chest. “Is this okay?” he asks.
“Perfect.” I’m not just blowing smoke up his ass. The moment is perfect. The man is too, and you already know where I stand on the Christmas movie. It’s so perfect I end up falling asleep. I wake to a dark house. The TV is off, but there is still that soft glow from the kitchen.
“Go back to sleep.”
I freeze and take stock of my current situation.
I’m in Oliver’s house. I recognize that.
I’m lying on his couch.
He has his arms wrapped around me.
“I should go home.”
“It’s late. Go back to sleep.”
“I can’t stay here.” My plea is halfhearted at best.
“Why?” He doesn’t release his hold on me.
“I just can’t.” Because I think I’m falling for you, and sleeping in your arms is only going to make those feelings grow.
“I texted your roommate. I found your phone and told her you wouldn’t be home. She’s not coming home either.”
“Oliver!” I scold, but to be honest, that was sweet of him. However, he still should have just woke me up so I could drive home.
“It’s late, Blake. Just sleep.” He pulls me a little tighter into his chest.
I close my eyes and relax into his hold. It’s surprisingly easy to do considering I’ve never spent the night with a man. Not one I felt this way about. You know, one responsible for all the tingling between my thighs. I decide not to dwell on it. We’re just sleeping. Sure, he’s holding me as if his life depends on it, but he’s warm and safe, and at some point he found us a blanket. That’s my last thought as I drift off back to sleep.
CHAPTER
TWELVE
Oliver
I’ve been awake for hours. To be honest, I’m not sure I even slept. Not because I wasn’t comfortable, but because I couldn’t shut my mind off. I should have let her go home. It would have been easy to wake her, but I couldn’t do it. I wanted this chance to hold her while she slept. It’s been four long years since I’ve had any kind of intimacy with a woman, and this woman in particular makes it hard for me to not break that streak.