Chapter Five
LILY
It’s not until the door closes us into the intimacy of the house that I realize I’m alone with a stranger. A man. Tall, broad, and beardy.
Yep. There I go swooning again when I should be freaking out.
I can’t remember the last time I invited a man home with me, let alone had one stay over. Raising Blue has come before everything else. When she got to her teenage years, it didn’t seem fair for me to have boys stay over while telling her she couldn’t. It was just easier for both of us to have a house rule. No boys allowed. A rule I just broke. Big time.
It would be different if I wasn’t remotely interested in him… Sexually. But I am. Undeniably. The way he talked to me and touched me in the car on the way here? It took everything in me not to pull over and jump across the console and into his lap.
I don’t know him or anything about him but I’m open to whatever he has to offer me.
Maybe that’s it.
Maybe it’s because he’s showing an interest in me.
Yikes. That should be a red flag, shouldn’t it?
I’ve never thought myself easy. Right now, I would not make it hard for him to have his way with me.
Good reason not to give him a chance. The last thing I need is to get attached to a man with one foot out the door.
And I will. I’m over thirty now. My clock is ticking at a deafening level. And he’s perfect. Gorgeous. Wealthy. A bit full of himself but seems to have a decent sense of humor. And when I give him the word, he backs off. So, he’s respectful. But… He’s not from here. He can’t stay forever. His life is far away from Towering Pines. Physically and metaphorically. We may be in the same house but we’re worlds apart. Should probably keep it that way.
“So… Make yourself at home,” I tell him taking several steps backward putting some proper physical distance between us. “There isn’t much in the fridge. I’ll take care of that tomorrow.”
“Right.” He reaches into his pocket and takes out his wallet. “There’s no limit.” He hands me a credit card with a company name I don’t recognize. “Don’t spend a dime of your money on me. In fact, don’t spend a dime of your money on anything while I’m here.”
“Oh. It’s fine. You’re only one person and you’re not going to be here forever. Not that I’m in a hurry to get rid of you... but do you know about how long you might stay?”
Good save, Lily.
Ugh.
“Until I can figure a way out that won’t bring a paparazzi shit-storm to your door? I suppose, at the latest... I have a film that starts shooting in a few weeks I should probably show up for.”
“You’re an actor?”
The most curious grin curls his beautiful lips. I had no idea a man’s lips could look so incredibly kissable.
“I keep forgetting you have no idea who I am. It’s fucking wild.” His eyes spark the way they always do before he makes a move. It fades quickly though when I take another step back with his step toward me.
“Are you excited to start a new project?” I ask trying to get the conversation back on track before I change my mind and close the distance I stopped him from closing.
“I’m ready not to be a prisoner in my own home anymore. This is certainly a nice change of scenery though. I could stand to stay quite a while longer if I get to see you every day.”
An incredulous laugh bursts from my throat. “Yeah. You should probably know, you’ll still be on your own more often than not. I work two jobs and take care of half the elderly people in town.”
“Well, I’ll be sure to cherish every moment I’m lucky enough to get with you, then.”
“Are you always this corny?” I like it. A lot. He doesn’t need to know that though. That literally everything he says melts me.
“Just being honest,” he says, and damn if I don’t believe him.
This is who he is. He just says what’s on his mind whether he should or not. Does what he feels damning the consequences.
I’m so jealous.
