“Are we all ready to head out for Oban tomorrow night? I promise to not be in your way. Birdie said you all were going and I have some business out there,” he says.
“Yes, I’m all ready,” I say, just glad that I don’t have to drive.
“I can come back to the room tonight,” Birdie says and I shake my head. She seems happy here and honestly, I miss Greer.
“No, I’ll see you tomorrow, okay?” I tell her as Greer pulls into the drive with his truck.
Birdie gives me a hug and I hold her tight. This weekend we can talk more about what’s going on with our love lives. I’m just glad that everything is more or less on the table. We’re going to spread some of Mom’s ashes and really talk while we’re on the coast. At least I’m not carrying around this guilt anymore.
Greer gets out of the car, and gives Graham a clap on the shoulder and my sister a smile, before he looks down at me worried.
“Ready to go, sweet girl?” he says and I give him a tight nod.
He places a hand at my back and leads me to the car, where he opens the passenger door and I scoot in. Once he’s in the driver’s seat, he looks at me with concern.
“Is everything alright?”
I shake my head no. “Can you take me somewhere pretty?”
“On it,” he says, a large, comforting palm on my thigh as he drives us some distance. Until he parks the truck, the sun is setting, casting a moody autumn glow over the hills and loch below.
“What’s—”
Greer doesn’t finish his question as I nearly fling myself onto his lap, wrapping my arms around his neck and holding him tight.
How do I say that this was all the worst idea and the best idea all at once? How do I say that I’ve never felt this safe in a man’s arms before?
Greer holds me tight, the right amount of pressure I need as I nestle my nose against the crook of his neck. His body is so warm, big, and just perfect.
There’s a brief scent coming off him and I want it so bad, it’s like a craving, but when I inhale again, it isn’t there.
His chest is purring, and it’s so soothing. I feel like I could get lost in the comfort of this Alpha, and isn’t that just complicated? I’ve never sought comfort from anyone else. It’s always been on me to make me feel better. What if I could have this all the time?
What if I wasn’t this lonely person pretending to have their shit figured out anymore?
“What’s wrong?” I stubbornly shake my head. “Okay,” he just says, holding me in the silence for a long time. He rubs up and down my back and doesn’t ask me to get off or demand I tell him what’s going on.
When I pull back, still straddled over his legs, he cups the sides of my face, his callused thumbs rubbing against my jawline.
“You could stay longer, you know? If you’re feeling overwhelmed by your return date, you could stay longer and figure out if maybe this is where you belong.”
“What?” I croak, my throat getting kind of tight.
This was supposed to just be a vacation, a trip to celebrate Mom’s life, to get closer to Birdie. I still have an apartment back home, and…well, I guess all I have is an apartment. Staying isirrational right? You shouldn’t make massive decisions in the wake of grief?
“Don’t freak out, okay, breathe. We can pretend I didn’t ask.”
“Why did you ask?” I ask sheepishly.
“Because the thought of this ending makes me sick. I knew it wouldn’t be easy on me, that we probably should have never started this up, but I couldn’t help myself. I’m so drawn to you, Maisie. I don’t see how the rest of the month is enough. Fuck, I don’t see how the rest of our lives could even be enough.”
My body literally jolts back and my ass hits the horn.
“We barely know each other,” I whisper, though I feel the same way he does, but saying it outloud is a whole other thing.
“Tell me you don’t feel even a little the same way and I’ll drop it.”
I lick my lips and stare at him. How is he so beautiful, so understanding, and gentle with me?
