But surely he could have left a note…
Pulling the elastic from my hair, I let my bun out and rub at my scalp. I never fall asleep with my hair up, and it feels like it’s all growing in the wrong direction now. When I put my hair band on my nightstand, I note that it’s not much after 10pm. With a sigh, I push the covers from my body and re-button my pinafore as I head out to the living area in search of my phone. I can lie here and ruminate over all the what ifs, but I’m too old for all that angst. I’d rather just call him up and find out why he left.
The moment my bare feet hit the sealed wood of the dining and kitchen area, I stop in my tracks, relief filling my bones as I find Theo at the sink doing the dishes from dinner.
He didn’t leave at all.
A smile jumps straight across my face, growing even wider as I get closer and realize he’s bopping away to some music he’s listening to via the earbuds in his ears.
I pad over softly, enjoying watching that taut ass of his move to the beat. Then I place my hands either side of his waist and place a soft kiss against the skin of his muscular back.
“You stayed,” I whisper, thinking he wouldn’t hear me.
He pauses immediately, setting the washcloth aside and turning to face me, his brow furrowing as his blue eyes meet mine. “It was getting cold, so I carried you sleeping back to the house then decided to clean this up so it wasn’t a mess for you in the morning. Why wouldn’t I stay?”
My eyes widen. “I thought you had music on.”
“I do. In one ear,” he says, turning so I can see the left side is out. “But that doesn’t answer my question. Why did you think I’d leave?”
“I don’t know.” My voice feels small, and I look down, unable to maintain eye contact. “I’m not really the kind of girl that guys stick around for. I’ve been alone a really long time.”
“I’ve been alone too, Dottie,” he says, hooking a finger under my chin and lifting until I’m meeting his eyes. “Everything before now has seemed like a sky full of dark clouds. But you’re the silver lining. No one has made me feel the way you do. Maybe we were just waiting around for each other?”
“You think?”
He nods. “I’ve never felt like a belonged to another person. But with you…” His mouth seals over mine, leaving the rest of his words unspoken. Not that they needed speaking, the sentiment is clear by his actions. And I have to say I wholeheartedly agree. I feel like I belong to him too, that we belong together.
I suppose that’s why I felt so hurt when I woke up alone. It was like realizing that everything that felt true in my heart was somehow wrong. I’m so glad that I was the one who was wrong.
“I’m in love with you, Dottie,” he whispers, cupping my face with both hands as he kisses me like I’m a precious gift.
I whimper. “I’m in love with you too.”
And with a moan, he reaches down and lifts me up off the floor, carrying me back into the bedroom to do anythingbutsleep. I’ve never felt more worshiped and desired in all my life.
THEO
I'm startled awake by the sound of something hitting the floor, followed by a soft hiss under someone's breath. "What is that?" Dottie whispers, her fingers pressing into my chest as we both sit up together.
"Stay right here," I say, getting out of bed and looking around for something to use as a weapon. It's a statue of a meerkat giving a middle-fingered salute. "Cute."
"Theo!" Dottie hisses from the bed, making me stop in the doorway.
"It's OK, Dot. I won't break your statue. As long as I don't have to." I mutter the last part under my breath.
"No. It's not that. You're missing pants."
Looking down, I realize she's one hundred percent correct. "You know what? If some asshole is in here trying to rob you, getting an eyeful of my junk is the least he deserves."
"But what if he has a gun and he shoots you in your junk? I'm not sure I'm in favor of that eventuality."
"Just stay here. I'm going to go look around."
"Theo!" Without waiting for her to continue, I walk out into the hallway with the meerkat cocked over my shoulder, creeping toward the kitchen where I'm pretty sure the noise came from.
I hear hushed voices when I reach the end of the hall and pause to listen, glad that Dottie is still safely in the bedroom in case shit has to get messy. I can't believe that in a wholesome little town like Whisper Valley, someone has the nerve to sneak in and try to rob a single woman on her own. Thank god I was here tonight to protect her.
"Can you see anything?" Dottie whispers behind me, startling the crap out of me.
