Chapter Seventeen

It took everything I had to keep my eyes open while driving home from the airport at five in the morning. Maybe I should have told Sawyer yes when he’d offered to pick me up, but I’d left my car at the airport and I wasn’t sure when I would make it home. My trip home had been the stuff travel nightmares were made of. I should have been home yesterday evening, but did you know that Alabama had tornadoes in the summer and thunderstorms that made you think you needed to board Noah’s Ark? There was nothing like being at the airport and having to hide in the bathroom among the blare of tornado sirens. When I wasn’t cowering in the bathroom, I watched the sheets of rain pummel the windows at the airport gate while thunder shook the ground.

By the time flights had resumed, the crew for our flight wasn’t allowed to fly because of some federal regulation concerning time. We had to wait another four hours for a new crew. To top it off, during one of our bathroom excursions I forgot my iPad, and someone decided to help themselves to it. Needless to say, not even Dr. Pepper or the chocolate chip muffin I was eating to help me stay awake was making me feel any better. It was a good thing I didn’t have to go into the plant today. All I wanted was my bed.

Groggily, I pulled into my garage. The first thing I noticed was that Sawyer had made himself at home and parked his rusted clunker in there. I supposed since it was his grandfather’s old truck it had some sentimental worth, but if someone stole it, they would be doing him a favor.

Too tired to even grab my bag, I stumbled into the dark house and trudged up the stairs. I could have honestly lain on them and fallen soundly asleep—that’s how exhausted I was. When I reached the top of the landing, I looked to my right and noticed the closed door to the guest bedroom. There the love of my life slumbered. Good thing I was too tired to be tempted to enter his room instead of mine. And it was a really good thing I was too mentally out of it to think about Dustin asking for my number and me giving it to him.

I was too tired to even turn on my bedroom light. I only went to the bathroom because I’d downed a lot of Dr. Pepper trying to stay awake. While in the bathroom, I tried to avoid the mirror as I knew it would scare even me. After peeing for five minutes straight, I threw on my pajamas that hung on the door. Why sleep in jeans when I didn’t have to?

Sweet bed and sleep, here I come.

“Welcome home.”

I grabbed my heart and screamed while taking on a kick-butt karate stance.

My bedside light switched on and illuminated my every hope and wish, Sawyer sitting up in my bed without a shirt on. Holy. Crap. Remember how I said I needed warning when his bare skin was involved? And there I was looking like a deranged ninja in my faded gray T-shirt with plaid boxer shorts after traveling for hours. At least I had peed before this surprise. No telling what other kind of embarrassments might have ensued.

I relaxed my stance. “What are you doing in my room?”

He gave me a come-kiss-me grin, which was only more attractive with his mussed hair and stubble. “Your guest bed is a twin and not as comfortable.”

“So you thought you would try out my bed? Who are you, Goldilocks?”

He smoothed out the sheets next to him. “You weren’t here, and I didn’t think you would mind. I had no idea you had a comfort controlled king-size bed. What do you need all this room for?” He gave me a wicked grin.

Believe me, it wasn’t for what his dirty mind was thinking. “I like to sleep like a starfish, thank you very much.”

He chuckled.

“I’m serious, so hit the twin, buddy.”

He pressed his lips together and studied me for a moment. “I have to get up for work soon anyway, so . . .” he patted the space next to him, “come tell me how your trip was.”

He wanted me to crawl in bed with him? Was he freaking insane? My eyes popped like a jack-in-the-box.

He pulled back the covers. “Come on, Em. We’re adults here.”

That’s the part that worried me.

“I’m tired.” That was a lie now as the adrenaline had kicked in, but I was trying to find any excuse to avoid my dream.

“Too tired for me?”

I closed my eyes, trying to muster up the courage to lie to him. The truth was I was never too tired for him.

“Em,” he whispered. “I’ve missed you.”

My eyes peeked open. I let out a heavy breath and walked toward what would be ecstasy and misery.

Sawyer’s grin filled his face while he scooted over for me.

Cautiously, I crept into bed. My exhausted body naturally snuggled down into the pillows, doing its best to avoid any direct eye or physical contact with the glorious chest nearby. It didn’t help that my pillows and sheets smelled like him, making all my senses turn on. It was like he sprayed his pheromones all over. If ever I wanted to try out Jenna’s stupid plan of kissing him, it was now. I could blame it on being up all night. All I knew was I was never washing my sheets.

Sawyer joined me by resting his head on the pillows next to mine. His happy face was staring right at mine only a foot away. It was then I remembered I hadn’t brushed my teeth in hours since I’d been stuck in airports and on planes. Maybe he would leave once he caught a whiff. Though I did really enjoy the view.

Sawyer took a moment to peer into my eyes. In his I could see the wheels turning. What was he so deep in thought about?

“Tell me about your trip, Em.”

Where did I even begin? Food was always my go-to. “Did you know they fry Oreos in Alabama?”

“Really?”

“It’s true. Unfortunately, it wasn’t all that great. But they sell real Dr. Pepper everywhere down there even though they call it Coke.”

“What?”

“Coke is synonymous with soda there.”

“Weird.”

“Yeah, but no worries, I caught on really quick.”

Sawyer grinned. “How was the conference?”

“Interesting.”

“How so?”

“It wasn’t the conference, per se, but during the plant tour I told you about, one of the managers there, Dustin, invited me to apply for a supervisor position in their new galvanized steel mill.”

Sawyer’s brow crinkled. “You’re not interested, are you?”

I shrugged. “Maybe. Dustin said the pay would be more than I’m making now and the opportunity for advancement there is better than here.”

“Who’s this Dustin, again?” Sawyer’s jaw tightened up with the pronunciation of his name.

“He’s the melt cast manager. He was great. He let me go up into their observation deck to check it out and he makes a fine chicken salad sandwich.”

“He cooked for you?” Sawyer growled.

“Well, kind of, I guess. We had lunch together at the plant.”

“Let me guess, in his private office.”

I narrowed my eyes. “Are you okay? I didn’t mean to upset you. Maybe we should talk about this later.”

“I’m not upset,” he snarled, “but I think you should be careful about this Dustin guy. What do you even know about him? Sounds like he’d like a casting couch style interview.”

“Did you get enough sleep last night? You’re awfully grumpy.”

He took a breath so deep, when he let it out his cheeks inflated. At least it let me know I wasn’t the only one with stale breath. Though I didn’t mind it. “I’m sorry, Em, I just didn’t know you were thinking about moving. You’ve never said anything.”

“Well, I’m not sure I want to, but I think it’s good to keep my options open.”

“Is Dustin an option for you?”

I flipped on my back and stared at my trey ceilings and the spinning fan. “I don’t know. I don’t know anything anymore. I’m not even sure where I belong,” I choked out.

“Hey there.” Sawyer scooted closer. His body heat enveloped me. “Em.”

I turned to find his face inches from my own. His warm amber eyes radiated in the dark room. I held my breath, which made me feel even more fuzzy. Where had the oxygen in the room gone? I kept telling myself this meant nothing to him, but then his strong hand combed through my hair.

“Em,” he repeated. “I know where you belong.”

“You do?” I whispered.

He nodded and moved in closer. I could feel his warm breath on my face. His eyes searched my own while his hand caressed my cheek. “Your cuts are healing nicely.” He shook his head as if he had said something stupid.

Okay, maybe I was reading him wrong. I thought we were having a moment. Like the moment I’d been waiting for, for a year now. “That cream Shelby recommended has helped. How is Shelby?” I asked out of nervousness and uncertainty about what exactly was happening here.

His finger began to outline my lips. “I don’t want to talk about Shelby.”

Me either. I was more focused on how every cell in my body was chanting Sawyer’s name and every goose bump possible was raised and singing hallelujah. Could this be real? My body said yes and closed our eyes to wait.

Sawyer’s hand glided down my cheek, then my arm. His breath had become warmer the closer he got, making the anticipation grow.

Holy crap this was really happening. My breath caught in my chest, waiting.

Sawyer’s slow hand continued a downward path until he reached my bare stomach where my shirt had come up. When he landed on my less-than-tight abs, I felt his warm hand freeze before it popped off. I opened my eyes to find the spell was broken. Sawyer’s eyes were wide and confused—or was that disappointed that his suspicions about my figure had been confirmed?

I shot up and ran my fingers through my hair. “Wow. That was awkward.” I kept my head facing forward, avoiding any eye contact.

Sawyer sat up too. “Wait, that wasn’t the way this was supposed to go.”

“That was apparent.” I threw off the covers to go anywhere but here.

Sawyer grabbed my hand. “Please, don’t go.”

I was about to ignore him and flee, but my ancient landline started ringing violently on my nightstand, which meant it was the plant and it was probably an emergency. Work was the only reason I had the landline in case cell service was interrupted or I left it in my car like I had today.

My head was buzzing from all the stimulation. I didn’t know what to do as the phone kept ringing. Finally, I took my hand back from Sawyer and used it to answer the phone.

“Hello,” I growled.

“Emma, this is Hayes.” He was a member of the production staff, which meant this wasn’t good. “I know you’re off today, but we’ve had four breakouts in the last twenty-four hours and we can’t figure out the cause. Please, we need your help.”

I could picture the mess now of molten steel overflowing the shell. I let out a heavy breath. “Yeah, of course. Lock out and tag down. Make sure everything is deenergized. I’ll be there in about a half hour.”

“You’re a life saver. Thank you.”

I hung up and jumped out of bed.

“Em, please, we need to talk.”

I headed for my dresser in the corner. “No, we don’t.” I was absolutely mortified and planning on a séance later or something to sell my soul to the devil in return for scrubbing this event from my mind for eternity. I pulled open my top drawer with gusto.

Sawyer, in all his half naked glory, joined me at the dresser running his hand through his mussed hair. He pushed the drawer back in.

“Excuse me.” I pulled the drawer back out, not caring that it was filled with panties and bras.

Sawyer took my hand and pressed it against his bare chest. I felt his heart pounding.

My eyes drifted up and met his. “I need to go.”

“I know, but please promise me you’ll still meet me tonight. I have a plan, and this wasn’t a part of it.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Please, Emma, let me do this the right way. I’ll pick you up at eight tonight.”

“I don’t know. I think maybe . . .” His hand pressed harder against mine, making me more aware of how warm and tight his skin felt under my fingers. How much my fingers yearned to stay right where they were among the soft hair on his chest. It made me lose my train of thought.

“Please,” he pleaded.

I ripped my hand away like I should have done to the stupid Band-Aid I’d been using ever since I met him and fell in love with him. “Fine,” I cried.

“You won’t be sorry, I promise.”

I ran my hand across my mid-section. Somehow, I had a feeling he wasn’t going to be able to keep that promise.