The plan from last night comes back to me and I offer him the best smile I can. “We already know exactly where you’re going to go.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah. You gave me a place to land when I needed it, and now it’s my turn.” I offer him my hand to help him up. “You and Willow are going to Tahoe. As soon as you finish the transfer to the new owners. I’ll take care of getting you a place to stay for Willow’s school break.After that, if you still need time, we’ll figure it out. Is that far enough away from all of this?”
“You would do that?” Breck’s voice almost breaks on the words.
“I think escaping on the slopes of Tahoe is exactly what you and Willow need.”
“Hey, big brother!” Rory’s excited voice carries to me across the line from half a world away.
“Hey, baby sister. I need your help.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
Joss
Igot home late last night to a sleeping Wes, and I passed out almost instantly by his side. I didn’t hear him get up, but as I run my hand over his side of the bed and find the sheets to be cold, I assume he’s been up for a while. Slowly rolling over, I grab my phone off the table to check the time. It’s almost ten in the morning—I don’t remember the last time I slept that long or that hard.
I stand and stretch my arms overhead, twisting side to side to work out all the kinks, hearing my spine snap-crackle-pop as I move. The sound of the front door opening greets me, and I bolt for it.
I don’t get to jump on him because his hands are full with a drink carrier and a bag from Harbour Grounds. I swoon a little at the sight. Not only is the man an absolute smoke show in his grey running shorts and a fitted athletic shirt, but he’s carrying my specialty coffee.There’s no resisting him. Especially when his lips tip up at the sight of me and his damn dimples come out to play.
I help him put everything on the counter before reaching up to grab the bill of his baseball cap, flipping it around so that I can kiss him without taking a hat to the face. His lips are warm and there’s a hint of salt there. With the way his shirt clings to him, I deduce that he went for a run before getting our breakfast. I should probably be grossed out, but after a few days away, I couldn’t care less that he’s sweaty.
“Have breakfast with me?” he asks sweetly against my lips. He pulls back and hands me a cup of coffee. It’s a Sleepy Sydney, my favorite, and I take a long drink, letting out a happy little moan at the taste.
“Yeah, okay, because you asked so nicely.” We grab the bag of pastries and move to the balcony. Summer weather is just beginning, and the sun is already high in the sky. I know it’s an adjustment for Wes, a man born and raised in a snowy climate, to think of December as the beginning of summer.
I smile, knowing we’ll be in that snowy climate come this weekend when we fly to Tahoe to spend Christmas with his family. And Breck and Willow. They got on a plane the day Breck finalized the transition to the new owners. They’ve been in Tahoe for a couple weeks now, and I know Wes is anxious to see how they’re really doing—if Breck is coping with everything or just putting up a good front.
“Are you excited to see everybody this weekend?” I ask him over the top of my coffee.
“Yeah, I am. What about you? Ready to meet the family?”
I’m a little nervous about it, but I put on a brave face after much reassurance that they’re all going to love me. “Of course. Are you going to teach me how to snowboard?”
“No.” He says it so seriously I have to look over at him. All he’s talked about has been how much he wants to go snowboarding.
“What? Why not?”
“I’m going to get you a lesson, Grey. Otherwise you’ll be mad at me by the end of the day for torturing you on the slopes. I want you to actually enjoy it by the time we go together.”
“A lesson? Like I’m a little kid?”
“Yeah, with Willow.” He barks out a laugh and slides his fingers into mine, pulling them to his lips. “Kidding. Aprivatelesson with an instructor who is used to working with adults. I promise you’ll enjoy it much more if I’m not the one telling you what to do.”
“But I like it when you tell me what to do.” I smirk at him, begging him to contradict me.
“Touché, Grey, touché. But I’m still making you take a lesson.”
I drop my shoulders and purse my lips. He just laughs again, like I’m a petulant child throwing a fit.
“Now,” he says, drawing my gaze, “do you want to sit here and pout, which won’t work by the way, or do you want to get ready for our date?”
I sit up straighter in my chair, spilling a little coffee down my shirt. “What date?” I say excitedly, clapping my hands together.
“I guess that’s my answer. Up.” He stands and offers me his calloused palm.
