His Christmas List: – Naughty Stories For Your Stocking

‘Oh,’ my eyebrows rise in surprise. Don’t flatter yourself. What the hell?

‘I wouldn’t,’ I snap. ‘I simply didn’t want to be an imposition.’ I cross my arms angrily. This guy is an asshole. A bona fide asshole. And he’s full of himself, too.

‘I’ll take the couch,’ I spit.

‘You are an imposition, so that suits me fine,’ he mutters.

‘You’re a real knight in shining armor, you know that?’

His face crinkles into a smirk and then a broad smile.

‘You find this amusing?’ I squeak.

He smiles as he watches the road.

‘For your information…. Jack,’ I snap. ‘I’ll have you know that I would not flatter myself by thinking you wanted to sleep with me. I would be flattering you.’

He raises an eyebrow as if surprised. ‘Is that why you’re wearing stripper clothes?’ He pauses as if searching for the right words. ‘To… flatter me?’

‘What?’ I gasp. ‘Stripper clothes…you must be joking?’

He glances down at my tight skirt, stockings and high heels all covered in mud, and raises his eyebrow once more.

I inwardly cringe. Oh Hell, what must I look like? ‘I don’t know what strippers wear in Alaska, but I can tell you that they must be very different from the strippers in New York. And actually…this work suit is Armani,’ I announce.

‘Are-who-ee?’

I roll my eyes and fold my arms in a huff. Please shut up, you caveman.

‘There is no way in hell that you would wear that to work,’ he replies casually as he drives. His voice is deep and husky.

‘And why not?’

‘How would you get any work done?’

‘Huh?’

‘I imagine men would try and have their way with you on your desk, all day long.’ He turns into a driveway.

What the hell?

I open my mouth to say something snarky and slam it shut. That sounded decidedly sexual. Suddenly uncomfortable, I wiggle up and pull my skirt down.

That’s a weird thing to say, sort of passive aggressive sexiness.

I stare out the window at the rain as it pours down hard. Maybe sleeping in my car was the safer option after all?

I stay silent and his eyes flick over to me. ‘What?’ he asks.

‘Nothing,’ I shrug, my lips pressed so tight together that they are beginning to hurt.

‘Well?’ he prompts me again.

Oh my God, stop talking, you idiot.

‘Jack.’

His eyes glance over to me. ‘Yes, Haley.’

‘First of all, it’s Holly. Get it right.’

A trace of a smile crosses his face as if amused.

‘I’ve had a really, really, really bad day that started at 4 am this morning when I missed my flight. Now, if you don’t mind, I would like to use your couch for the night… to sleep. If that’s not okay, or if something else is rattling around in that head of yours, please drive me back to my car, because I’m not in the mood to have to justify my wardrobe choices to anyone, least of all you.’ I cross my arms in front of me. ‘And for the record… I am a professional and would never even contemplate having sex on my desk.’ I tilt my chin to the sky in defiance. ‘I don’t know what happens here in Alaska, but that is not how corporate New York operates.’

He rolls his lips as if trying to hide a smile. ‘Got it.’

We arrive at the top of the hill and a log cabin comes into view through the pouring rain. It’s lit up from the headlights. The house is made completely of timber. It’s small, with a veranda wrapping around the entire outside. I can see smoke coming out of a double chimney on the roof.

‘This is it,’ he says as he climbs out of the truck and slams the door shut behind him.

He comes around to my side and opens the door. Without asking for permission, he lifts me out of the car like a bride. The rain begins to hit my face hard once more. ‘I can walk, I’m fine.’

‘Be quiet, Haley.’

‘Holly,’ I snap.

He breaks into a broad smile. ‘Whatever the fuck your name is, shut up woman.’

My mouth falls open in horror and he carries me to the front stairs and under the cover of the front roof. He puts me down and I step back from him, surprised that anyone is that strong. He opens the front door. ‘It’s a bit of a mess, I wasn’t expecting company,’ he says.

I peer in, it’s all timber and what looks like to be one big room. I can see a small kitchen and living room with two couches. A dog lies sprawled out asleep on a rug in front of an open fire. I glance back to him just to see him take his raincoat off and hang it on a hook next to the door. He’s tall, huge actually. He must be 6 ft 4, and for the first time, I see his face. Dark brown hair that has a bit of a curl to it, a chiseled jaw, with big brown eyes. He’s handsome, in a caveman kind of way. Ha, who knew?

‘You just going to stand there dripping wet?’ he asks as he begins to undo his flannel shirt.

Damn it, in all the commotion, I didn’t grab my suitcase. Now what am I supposed to change into? My face falls in horror as I remember more of my misdemeanors. Oh shit, my laptop is still in the car. Ugh, this is the day from hell.

‘You’re dripping everywhere,’ he says as he peels his shirt off over his shoulders and hangs it on the hook.

‘Well,’ I go to answer him as my eyes drop down to his large broad chest and his muscular physique. Looks like something you would see at a strip show.

Well, fuck.

He kicks his boots off and undoes the button on his jeans. He raises his eyebrow as if waiting for an intelligent reply.

Um… I got nothing.

He slides the zipper down on his jeans. ‘Don’t just take your clothes off in front of me,’ I scoff.

He rolls his eyes and slides his wet jeans down his legs. He’s wearing blue boxer shorts underneath and I snap my gaze away immediately. Okay, this is getting into weird territory. Hot Alaskan mountain man territory.

‘In all the commotion, I left my suitcase in the car,’ I say.

‘Oh,’ he frowns and looks out into the rain as if contemplating going back and getting it.

‘It’s too wet and dangerous out there.’ I say. ‘Would you…’

He nods, and the wet dark brown curls in his hair bounce from side to side.

He really is quite…

‘Would I what?’ he asks.

Oh…that’s right, I was talking, focus. ‘Would it be possible to borrow something to wear?’ I ask timidly. ‘I’ll pay for laundry or replace it with something new,’ I shrug. Poor bastard, I ask him to rescue me, give me a bed for the night and now supply me with clothing and food.

‘Sure.’ Without hesitation, he marches into the house and I stand at the door and peer in after him. He goes into the bedroom and closes the door. What’s he doing? I frown… do I follow him, or is he coming back?

I look back out into the rain as it comes pouring down. It’s like a mini cyclone or something.

I see something in the darkness coming up toward the front steps and I squint my eyes to try and see what it is. It’s black and mangy and it begins to come up the front steps toward me.

A wolf.

A wolf.

A fucking wolf.

‘Ahhh,’ I scream as I hobble into the house. Oww, my ankle hurts.

How did I forget?

Before I can close the door, the wolf runs in behind me and jumps up and grabs me with his front legs. ‘Ahhh,’ I cry as it corners me in the kitchen. ‘Help!’

The wolf jumps up and goes up onto its back legs and I cover my face with my hands. ‘No,’ I scream. ‘Oh my God, there’s a wolf in the house. We’re all going to die.’

‘Rex,’ I hear Jack’s deep voice bark out.

I look up. ‘Huh?’

The dog begins to hump my leg with vigor and my mouth falls open in horror.

What the hell?

‘Why you… get out of here,’ Jack snaps as he shoos him away. The dog runs toward the door but not before shaking himself off, with mud and water spraying everywhere.

‘Out,’ Jack bellows with a loud clap.

The dog runs out and Jack slams the door behind him, his eyes come to me and then he shrugs. ‘He’s a bit wild, that one. Goes crazy when it rains.’

‘You own that dog?’ I gasp.

‘Yep, that’s Rex.’ He puts his hands on his hips as he assesses the damage. There is mud everywhere. ‘Never seen him hump anyone before, though…. I guess he doesn’t get to see pretty girls too often.’

I roll my lips to hide my smile. ‘Well, I never got humped by a dog before either, so it was a first for both of us.’

He smirks, amused by my answer. He pauses as if lost as to what to say next. ‘You can take a shower if you want. I have some clothes for you to put on.’

‘Thank you.’ I shrug. ‘Much appreciated, that’d be great.’

He holds his hand out to guide me. ‘It’s this way.’ He walks through the house and out the back door and I frown as I hobble along behind him.

He turns and looks down at my foot. ‘Is your ankle okay?’

I hobble along. ‘Yeah, I’m fine,’ I reply as I follow him. Oh dear God, it’s an outside bathroom. Please, no more semi-wild animals that want to have carnal relations. There’s an awning that joins the house and the bathroom. It’s covered but rain is still blowing in a little.

‘This isn’t fancy like New York,’ he says. He opens the bathroom door, turns the light on and I look around. A large metal bath sits in the middle and a shower hangs overhead. The tiles are white, it’s clean and well kept. Not at all what I expected, and I smile. ‘It’s perfect.’

His eyes hold mine and for the first time I get a feeling that Jack isn’t as tough as he makes out to be. ‘I can’t thank you enough for helping me tonight,’ I say.

He nods once, his lips pressed tightly together.

‘Is there a towel?’ I ask.

‘Yeah.’ He opens a cabinet to reveal a stack of clean towels. They’re all different and don’t match, but clean, nonetheless. ‘Just in here.’

‘Thanks.’

He hesitates.

I glance toward the door. ‘Is the sex maniac dog going to come barging in here?’

‘Possibly.’ He points to the lock. ‘Use this.’ He walks out and closes the door behind him, and I hear him walk away.

I look around at my surroundings and turn the hot water on. It comes out fast and hot and I breathe out a sigh of relief. I peel my wet clothes off and quickly wash the mud out of everything and squeeze them out. I put them in the sink to try and let them drain, before I climb under the hot water and let it stream down over my hair.

‘Feels good.’ I feel myself begin to relax for the first time in hours. ‘What a nightmare of a day.’

Jack

I hear the shower turn on and I march into the kitchen. ‘This place is a fucking mess.’ I quickly clear the dishes out of the sink and straighten up the living room. I throw the cushions into place and snatch up a few shirts that are lying over the back of a chair. I hear a scratching at the door, and I storm over and open it to see Rex, sopping wet and wanting to be let in.

‘What do you want?’ I snap. He looks up at me. ‘No,’ I whisper angrily. ‘You’re not coming in, you’re covered in mud.’ He goes back on his hind legs and lets out a playful bark. ‘I can’t fucking believe you humped her leg.’

He woofs again and runs back out into the pouring rain thinking this is the best game of all time.

I slam the door shut. ‘Damn dog is fucking insane’ I walk into the bedroom and snatch up the clothes that hang over the back of a chair in here, too. I turn the lamp on and straighten up the bed linen.

I hear the shower turn off and I hurriedly continue to clean like a maniac. I pick up my shoes from the floor and throw them in the closet. I straighten the top of the dresser and throw the cushions onto the bed.

I hear the bathroom door open. ‘Umm…. Jack.’ She calls.

I smirk, I like the sound of her saying my name.

‘Yeah,’ I call as I head back down the hall.

I find Holly peeking through a crack in the slightly opened bathroom door.

‘What’s wrong?’ I ask.

‘I um,’ she hesitates as if embarrassed. ‘You said you had something I could borrow to wear?’

I stare at her, wrapped in a towel, big brown eyes, perfect white teeth and olive skin, water beading on her bare shoulders. Her long dark hair is wet, and damn, she looks good enough to eat.

No clothes…. I like you naked.

‘Sure.’ I glance back down the hall toward my bedroom. ‘Just a moment.’

I march back into my bedroom and begin to rat through my drawer at double speed as I look for something suitable.

Damn it, why don’t I have any spare lingerie laying around? I smile as I imagine passing that through the crack in the door and the horrified face she would pull.

I grab a pair of boxer shorts and a white T-shirt. I go to the wardrobe and find a black bathrobe. Finally, I have a good use for this damn thing. I walk back down to find that the bathroom door is now closed, and I knock.

‘Holly.’

She opens the door slightly and peers through it as if I’m a wild animal.

‘Here you are.’ I pass the clothes through the crack. She smells clean and like soap… my soap. Hmm… I get a visual of what she might look like under that towel and I feel my cock twitch in appreciation.

Stop it.

‘Thank you,’ she says as she takes them from me and stands on her foot and then grimaces in pain once again.

‘Are you okay?’ I frown.

She hops as she keeps the weight from her foot. ‘Yes, I’m fine.’

She closes the door in my face and my cock pitches a tent in my boxer shorts. Just fucking cut it out already. I walk into my bedroom and over to the wardrobe and I look for a pair of pants that will hide this thing. Quick, I need to hurry.

Fuck.

I find a black pair of jeans, throw them on and tuck my dick strategically in the waistband and look for the biggest t-shirt I can find. I pull a grey one over my shoulders. I look at my crotch in the mirror. All clear.

‘This’ll do.’

Holly

I quickly dry myself off and pull on the clothes that Jack has brought in for me, a huge pair of boxer shorts and a white t-shirt. Thankfully there’s a robe or otherwise my boobs would be on display without a bra. I hobble around as I get dressed and I look down at my ankle. It’s beginning to swell. ‘Shit.’ I sit down to put my shorts on, unable to stand on one leg. I clean up the bathroom and wipe the floor with the towel and then hobble up the walkway. I find Jack sitting at the kitchen counter. I smile bashfully. ‘Thank you, I feel a lot better.’

He sips a glass of amber fluid as his gaze drops to my foot. ‘How’s your ankle?’

‘It’s okay.’ I shrug.

‘Let me have a look at it.’ In one quick movement, he picks me up and sits me on the kitchen counter and my heart catches, he’s so strong. His eyes flick up to me as if asking for approval and I nod. He peels my robe back and picks up my foot as he studies it. ‘It’s swelling.’

I nod. He runs his hand up the top of my foot and then underneath the arch. His hands are rough like sandpaper and I flinch.

‘Sore?’ he asks.

‘Your hands are rough.’

He breaks into a slow sexy smile as he concentrates on my foot.

‘What?’ I ask.

‘No woman ever complained about my hands before.’ His eyes rise to meet mine. ‘They like ‘em rough.’

I swallow the lump in my throat, jeez. I drop my shoulders as I pretend that isn’t the hottest thing I’ve ever heard. ‘Well, I guess I’m not used to it.’ I pull my foot from his clasp. ‘My foot is fine.’

He goes to a cabinet and lifts down a metal box and rats through it and produces a bandage. ‘I’m going to wrap it.’

‘Honestly…’

‘Just be quiet woman, I’m wrapping it,’ he interrupts me as he lifts my foot and begins to carefully wrap the bandage around my ankle. I watch him as I feel his hand on my calf muscle. He really seems to know what he’s doing. ‘Are you a medic?’

‘I’m a builder.’

‘Oh,’ I watch him, ‘I’ve never known a builder before. Growing up in New York it’s not someone that you meet.’

He wraps the bandage around and around.

‘What kind of men live in New York?’

The player kind.

I shrug. ‘I don’t know, people who work in offices.’

He nods. ‘Suits.’

‘Yeah.’

He fastens my bandage with a small clip. ‘Yeah, I got nothing in common with suits.’

I watch the huge muscles contract under his t-shirt as he moves. ‘I can imagine.’

He picks me up and places me carefully on the sofa, he puts two cushions under my foot to elevate it. ‘Are you hungry?’

I bite my lip, I’m starving. It was raining so hard that I couldn’t see a shop along the way, that is if there even was one. ‘A piece of toast would be great. Do you have toast?’ I ask.

His eyes hold mine. ‘I have toast.’

‘I can make it,’ I offer.

‘You stay there,’ he demands as he gets up. ‘You want a drink?’

I glance at his glass of amber fluid on the coffee table. ‘What is it?’

‘Whiskey.’

Hmm, I love whiskey. ‘Umm.’

‘I’ll take that as a yes,’ he cuts me off. He fusses around in the kitchen and returns with a glass of whiskey and ice. ‘This will take the sting out of your foot,’ he says as he passes it to me. He goes back into the kitchen. I take a sip and wince as I stare at the glass.

Fuck, what is this…200% alcohol? ‘Thank you,’ I call.

I look around the room, it’s innately masculine. The walls and floors are timber, a huge rug in muted colors is on the floor. The fireplace is big, and a giant metal tub has a heap of huge timber pieces inside of it, waiting for their turn to burn. The dog that lies in front of it hasn’t moved. Is it dead? The couch is tired and slouchy, but very comfortable, and there are curtains and cushions. I wouldn’t imagine a man like him to have cushions. I wonder, does he live here alone?

There’s a framed photo on the TV cabinet of a family portrait. It looks like a group of people all standing together in front of a waterfall, though it’s too far away for me to see who’s in the photo.

‘Do you live here alone?’ I call.

‘Aha,’ he replies as he does whatever he’s doing.

I take a sip of my whiskey. Who bought those cushions?

‘Do you have a girlfriend?’ I call.

He appears and places a tray down on the coffee table in front of me. It has a big bowl of goulash on it with crusty ciabatta toasted bread on the side. It smells delicious. I look up surprised. ‘You made this?’

‘Last night.’

‘Wow, I’m impressed.’

He holds out a spoon. ‘You didn’t taste it yet.’

I smile as I take it from him. ‘Well, it smells delicious.’

He walks back into the kitchen and the rain comes down hard outside. It’s absolutely disastrous and sounds so loud on the tin roof.

‘Are you not having any?’ I call.

‘I already ate.’

‘Oh.’ I pick up my bowl and take a spoonful. Holy shit…this is good.

I notice he didn’t answer my girlfriend question, he obviously has one.

‘So, have you lived here long?’ I ask.

‘In the area, all my life. I bought this farm about ten years ago.’

I smile as I eat. ‘You should open a restaurant, this is really good.’

‘You obviously hit your head, too,’ he answers dryly.

I hear him washing dishes in the kitchen.

‘How did you see my car?’ I ask.

‘I was out feeding Rex and I looked down the hill when I saw your headlights spin and then go off the road.’

I get a flashback of how scary those few seconds were.

‘I thought someone may have been hurt so I came looking for you,’ he says.

‘Thank you.’ I take a big mouthful. ‘I don’t know what I would’ve done if you hadn’t shown up.’

‘You would have been okay,’ he replies. ‘I get the feeling that you can look after yourself just fine.’

I smile proudly. I like that he made that observation.

I can look after myself…. I’ve had to do it all along.

My douche-bag husband certainly never did it.

I hear the front door open as the rain really hammers down. ‘Rex,’ I hear him call. ‘Get out of the rain,’ he calls. I smile as I listen. ‘Dumb dog,’ he mutters. ‘Rex,’ he calls again, as I hear the rain really come down hard again.

He comes in and slams the door closed.

‘Kid troubles?’ I ask.

‘You could say that,’ he replies. ‘He’s young and wild, out running around all night. I’m constantly chasing the damn thing and bringing him home.’

‘What kind of dog is he?’ I ask.

‘His mother was a wolf. I found her on the side of the road, she’d been hit by a car and been killed. I saw she was nursing so I went looking and two days later I heard them crying in the forest. Brought both pups home, but his sister didn’t make it.’

I turn to look at him over the back of the couch as I see a new side to the prickly man.

‘I think his father must have been a dog though,’ he continues, ‘or there is one somewhere back in his family, he’s not a full-bred wolf.’

I sip my whiskey as I listen. ‘Is that why he acts different, cause he’s half wild?’

‘Maybe,’ he replies. ‘I don’t try and curb him too much. He has free reign. I let him be who he was meant to be. I do spend way too much time looking for him though.’

I smile impressed. Jack’s a big softy.

I finish my dinner and he comes to collect my plate. ‘Leave that,’ I say. ‘I’ll wash it in the morning, you’ve done enough.’

He gives me a lopsided smile as he picks it up. ‘It’s okay, I’m used to doing everything.’

I watch him, and suddenly I want to know all there is about Jack.

‘Come sit with me and talk,’ I call, while I hold my empty glass in the air. ‘We can have another drink together.’

He picks up the whiskey bottle and comes and sits down on the other couch. He refills both of our glasses and takes a sip as his eyes hold mine. ‘What do you want to talk about?’

I shrug. ‘Is there anything you want to ask me?’

He shakes his head.

‘What’s your last name?’ I ask.

‘Stevens.’

‘Jack Stevens?’ I smile.

He nods.

‘I’m Holly McMillan.’

His eyes hold mine and he takes a slow sip of his whiskey. ‘You got a man at home, Holly McMillan?’

My stomach flutters. ‘No.’

‘Why not?’

I shrug. ‘I was married once, to a liar.’

He listens intently.

‘It’s ridiculous. I thought he was the love of my life and he thought I was his meal ticket.’

He frowns.

‘He was a stockbroker and he got caught for insider trading.’

‘He stole from people?’ he asks horrified.

‘Aha, and I thought that was the worst of it. But when they were doing his character analysis in court, they brought up all these affairs that he had behind my back with numerous women and it was splashed all over the tabloids.’

His face falls. ‘You didn’t know?’

‘No idea at all. I was completely blindsided. He even had a child with another woman and paid her off not to tell me.’ I shrug sadly.

He raises his eyebrows and sips his drink as if lost for words.

‘He’s in jail.’

‘You divorced him?’

‘Aha.’ I smile sadly. ‘It’s funny you know, you think you know how your life is going to turn out. But I never imagined I’d be a thirty-three-year-old divorcee, that was never even on my radar.’

He nods as if understanding.

My eyes go to him in question. ‘Did your life turn out to be what you thought it would be?’ I ask.

He shakes his head. ‘No.’

I wait for his reply.

‘Never thought I’d be a widower.’

My face falls. ‘Your wife died?’

He nods.

I stare at him.

‘Brain tumor, seven years ago.’

My heart drops. ‘I’m so sorry.’

He smiles sadly. ‘Me too.’

‘Were you together long?’

He nods but doesn’t elaborate and I get the feeling that he doesn’t want to talk about this anymore. I change the subject. ‘So, what do you build?’ I ask.

‘Houses.’

‘Tree houses?’ I tease.

He chuckles. ‘No, not tree houses. I own my own business. I have six guys working for me.’

‘How wonderful.’ I smile as I think about this. ‘It must be so rewarding to see something that you built from the ground up come to fruition.’

‘It is.’ His eyes rise to mine. ‘What do you do?’

‘I’m an acquisitions manager.’

‘What does that mean?’

‘I work for a large media company in New York and I buy small companies around the world for them.’

He frowns. ‘You travel a lot?’

‘I do.’ I frown as I remember Clancy. ‘Oh shit. She’s going to be freaking out.’

‘Who is?’

‘My assistant, Clancy. I have no internet on my phone, and I couldn’t check in, she’ll be worried sick.’

‘You can use my phone if you want, I have coverage.’

‘Would you mind?’

‘Sure.’ He gets up and hands me his phone and I dial her number.

‘Hello.’ She answers.

‘Clancy it’s me.’

‘Oh, thank fucking God. I thought you were dead. I was about to send out a search party.’

I smile. ‘No, I’m fine. I did crash my car but I’m okay and the weather is horrendous so I’m staying with a….’ My eyes flick up to Jack and I pause as I try to think of the right description… a hot mountain man. ‘At a farmhouse. A very kind person brought me in. I just wanted you to know I’m safe and I’ll call you in the morning. You can reach me on this number.’

‘Okay, great. I’m so relieved.’

‘Speak tomorrow.’ I hang up and pass the phone back to Jack.

‘You have an assistant?’ he asks.

‘I have three.’

He raises his eyebrows in surprise.

‘Well you have six,’ I reply.

‘I guess.’ He sips his drink, amused. He refills our glasses.

Two hours later

I hate to admit it, but the cranky mountain man is actually quite witty.

And dare I say it…. a little gorgeous. We’ve chatted about everything, with no real deep subject. He’s easy to talk to, and smart. A lot more intelligent than I first gave him credit for.

‘Are you working tomorrow?’ I ask.

‘No, there’s more rain in the forecast.’

‘You don’t work in the rain?’

‘Depends where we are in the job. If the roof is already on, we do.’

I smile as I imagine him being all rough and rugged with a hammer. ‘So, what do you do for fun up here?’

He shrugs. ‘Not much. There’s a few bars in town.’

‘Not much?’ I tease. ‘I imagine you would have Alaskan women falling at your feet.’

He smiles bashfully. ‘Well… I’m a one-woman kind of man.’

What does that mean? ‘You don’t have a girlfriend or someone you see?’

‘No. Not since….’ His voice trails off.

‘Not since your wife?’ I frown.

‘No.’

I stare at him and blink in disbelief. ‘I didn’t think men like you existed.’

‘We do.’

The air crackles between us as we stare at each other.

‘I should get you to bed.’ He murmurs.

‘You should,’ I whisper.

He stands and picks me up and I put my arm around his neck. We walk into his bedroom and he places me down to sit on the bed. He pulls the covers back and I notice a photograph of a woman on the side table. ‘Is that your wife?’ I ask. I pick it up.

‘That’s Tara.’

She has blonde hair and is laughing, she seems kind. ‘She’s beautiful.’ I smile.

‘She is… was.’

He opens the bottom drawer and puts her photograph in it. ‘About time I put that away,’ he mutters to himself.

‘Don’t do that,’ I say as I open the drawer and pull her picture back out. I put it back on the side table. ‘She should always be next to you when you sleep, and when you meet your new love, she will want to sleep next to her as well… because she’s a part of you.’

He stares at me as his jaw clenches.

A closeness runs between us and I reach up and run my hand down the stubble on his jaw.

His forehead creases and he stands in a rush and turns his back to me. ‘Do you need anything else?’

‘No.’

He drops his head and stares at the floor as if contemplating a decision. ‘I’ll see you in the morning.’

I close my eyes, shit… I crossed the line. ‘Okay, goodnight.’

He walks toward the door.

‘Jack.’

He turns back.

I give him a soft smile. ‘Thank you.’

He nods and leaves. The door clicks closed. I turn the lamp off, flop back to lie on my back and stare at the ceiling. I wasn’t joking, he really is one of a kind.

I wake to the sound of rain, hard on the roof and I lie and listen to it for a while. I need to go to the bathroom. It’s just getting light and I can see the glow of white through the crack in the curtains as the sun gets closer to rising. I climb out of bed and wince while I do so because my ankle is still sore.

I hobble over to the door and peer out. Jack is asleep on the couch. I tip toe past him and make my way out to the bathroom.

After finishing, I wash my hands and open the bathroom door to see Jack standing there waiting for me. ‘You alright?’ he asks.

I nod with a smile. ‘I’m fine.’

He bends and picks me up like a bride once again.

He holds me close and his eyes drop to my lips; my heart stops.

Is he going to kiss me?