Page 92 of Mountain Dreams

“Hey, Mads,” he ventured.

“Hey,” she said softly.

“How was the party?”

“Good.”

“Avery and Dakota said they had fun.”

“I’m glad.”

She still hadn’t looked at him, and it was driving him crazy. He sidled up next to her at the sink, resisting the urge to pull her into his arms.

“I heard your sisters were here too.”

“Um-hmm.”

She feverishly scrubbed another dish, though it already looked spotless to him. He knew that cleaning and organizing gave her a sense of control over her environment. She became exceptionally focused when she was worried or stressed, which was how she was behaving now.

“Mads?”

“Hmm?”

“Can you put down the dish and look at me?”

She slowly rinsed it, making sure every soap sud was gone before setting it in the dish drainer. Finally, she turned and met his eyes.

“What is it? What’s wrong?” He had a feeling he already knew, but he needed to hear it from her.

“You didn’t take off your coat and shoes,” she said.

“I was in a hurry to see you.”

“Why?”

“Because I missed you.”

“We were only apart for a few hours.”

“A few hours too many.” He was aching to touch her, hold her, kiss her, but he doubted she’d welcome his touch right then.

She gave him a half-smile that didn’t quite meet her eyes.

“You promised to tell me what’s on your mind,” he gently reminded her.

“I know.” She glanced down at her soapy hands.

“That goes both ways, so if you’re not ready, I’ll go first.”

She popped her head up and gave him a curious look. “Don’t you want to take off your coat and shoes first?”

“Will that make you feel better?” He’d do whatever she asked, and he wanted her to know that.

She shook her head, so he forged ahead.

“In the past, whenever I went to Jax’s place, I was never in a hurry to come back home. Not because he’s such stellar company but because there wasn’t anything to rush home for, or I should say, anyone.” He paused to let that sink in and noticed he had her full attention now.

“The entire time I was there, I was thinking about when I could come back home to you.”