Page 41 of The Christmas Accomplice

Chapter 10

Avariety of emotions shifted inside Welton’s brain as they walked—well, speed walked was more like it—to the cabin. Everything seemed to be happening in light speed, and nothing stayed still long enough for him to be able to focus on it. One moment he was excited for the chance to be alone with Reece and see where things went, but the next terror took over, and he mentally berated himself for suggesting this course of action. How could this possibly work out? He was leaving right after Christmas, and Reece lived and worked here in Colorado. What was the point of any of this?

As he debated with himself, Dean’s voice barged in from the back of his mind. Stop ignoring this hot hunk of man beside you, quit overthinking things, and just enjoy yourself!

But Dean hadn’t answered the text he’d sent right after the kiss. Welton had told him he needed the cabin and asked Dean to clear out. Maybe Dean was busy skiing. Or perhaps he had met some hot guy on the slopes and taken him back to the cabin, unaware that was where Welton and Reece were headed at that moment. And at a pretty fast pace, as well. What a mess that would be if Welton and Reece walked in on Dean and some ski jock boning each other.

Good luck explaining that one.

He looked up at Reece. “Am I walking too fast?”

“Not at all. I’m holding back, to be honest. I could go for an all-out jog, I’m so excited.”

“We don’t know each other well enough for you to see me do any form of exercise.”

“Hey, hold up.” Reece took his arm and eased him to a stop. “We don’t have to do this if it’s freaking you out.”

“I’m not freaking out.” Welton heard the high pitch of his voice and winced. “Okay, I may be freaking out just a smidge.” When Reece released him and took a step back, Welton lurched forward and grabbed his hand. “Wait, please don’t back off now. Please. I want to be here. I mean, be there, at my cabin, with you. Okay? I promise, I’m not a psychopath. I’m just a little nervous.”

Nervous about having sex after so long, and also that my ex-boyfriend who shouldn’t be here in the first place will be fucking some ski jock at the cabin and suddenly all of this will blow up in my face.

Reece smirked. “A little?”

Welton blew out a breath. “Fine. I’m a lot nervous. But it’s a good nervousness, if that makes sense.”

“Let’s talk while we walk,” Reece suggested. “It’s cold out here.”

They set off once again, and Welton had to force his hands to unclench as he said a silent prayer to whatever entity kept an eye on his tiny corner of the universe that Dean would be nowhere in sight.

He knew he could, and probably should, put a stop to this right away. He could sit Reece down somewhere and talk through all of it, explain about him and Dean and the mixup with the cabin. But that sounded lame, even to himself who was living through it. And he hadn’t been so immediately attracted to someone in a long, long time. If ever. Not even Pete Atwood, the cute dungeon master from the first D&D group he joined back in middle school. Reece’s charisma modifier was way higher than Pete Atwood’s. And why the hell was he thinking about Pete at that moment, or D&D at all?

“You were saying something about good nervousness?” Reece prompted.

“Right. Yes.” He gathered his thoughts, inhaled then exhaled and walked through the vapor cloud. “I like you. A lot. Like, from right when we met. And I think we get along really well, you know? I want to take this, take us, to the next level, or step or phase or… I don’t know what to call it. But I’m nervous because, well, you’re different from other guys I’ve been with, and also, that’s just who I am. I’m pretty much nervous all the time.”

“Even when you’re asleep?”

“Most nights, yes. But, that’s not important, so forget I said that. It’s also been a long time since I’ve, you know… been with somebody.”

“Well, if it makes you feel any better, I’m nervous too.”

Welton gave him a side-eye. “You are?”

“I am. I like you a lot, too, and I’m eager to see what happens between us next. But it’s been a while for me, too, and it’s scary opening up to someone new. I know we just met, but I really feel a connection with you.”

“Yeah? Me, too.”

“Good.” Reece took hold of his arm and brought them to a stop. “Let’s make a deal, okay?”

“Okay…” Welton said, slightly suspicious.

“Let’s promise to be open and honest about what we’re feeling and whatever might be developing between us.”

Welton pushed down thoughts of Dean coming up the walk the night before and the two of them pretending to be strangers in front of Reece. If he looked at the whole situation too long, it made him way too nervous and he’d probably hyperventilate and pass out. Besides, that wouldn’t change what was developing between him and Reece, therefore it shouldn’t be considered as part of this deal. Hoping he wasn’t going to regret it, Welton said, “Yeah. Okay. That sounds like a very mature and honest way to handle things.”

Wait until he finds out just how immature you are and how you struggle with communication.

Thankfully, Welton was able to shut down his inner voice because he didn’t see any sign of activity behind the blinds and felt a quiet surge of hope. Maybe Dean would stay away from the cabin for the next few hours and things would work out after all. They stepped up to the door, and Welton dug through his pockets for the keycard, his anxiety building until he finally found it in a zippered pocket in his sleeve.