where you’re going to be?” he asks me.
I nod. “Yeah.”
“I’ll be there.”
“He’s coming.”
“I’ll bet he is.” Charity laughs at her own joke, and I inwardly curse the fact that I know my face is flushed from her insinuation.
“Can I bring anything?”
“Yes, Silas loves your taco dip, so bring that. We’ve got everything else covered.”
“How are you feeling? How’s my niece?” I ask, ignoring the “Silas loves” part of the conversation. My heart, though, it skips a beat with those two words directed toward me.
“I’m feeling fine. Just anxious to meet her.” I can hear the smile in her voice.
“Okay. I’m going back to sleep. I’ll see you later.”
“I bet you are.” She laughs and ends the call.
“Do you feel any older?” Silas asks.
“Only from the drive. My muscles are stiff.”
“I can help you with that.” He smiles and scoots closer to me.
“I appreciate the offer, but nothing a hot shower can’t fix.”
He watches me intently for several long heartbeats, before bending to press his lips to my shoulder. “I’m going to run home and shower too, and check on things, and I’ll be back to pick you up later.”
“You don’t have to pick me up. I’ll just meet you there.” My words sound weak even to my own ears.
He leans over and places his hand against my cheek. “I know I don’t have to. I want to. How am I going to convince you to give me a chance if I don’t spend time with you?”
“Give you a chance?” I repeat as I try to decipher is words.
“It may have only been a few hours, but I already know I’m going to be addicted to sleeping next to you.” He leans in, and I take in a breath, preparing for his lips to press to mine, but instead, they land on my forehead. “Go back to sleep. I’ll lock up and be back here around six to pick you up. You need me to grab anything while I’m out?”
I shake my head. Not that I can actually think or process anything other than him telling me he’s addicted to sleeping next to me. That he wants me to give him a chance. “I’ll see you soon,” he says, climbing out of bed. I watch as he slips into his shoes and quietly closes the door behind him. Under the covers, my fingers pinch my leg, and I yelp at the pain.
I’m not dreaming.
This is real.
I squeal into the pillow that smells like him, and I know there is no way I’m going to be able to go back to sleep. A glance at the clock tells me I need to get up anyway. I’m having lunch at Mom and Dad’s. We had already planned for Charity and Brody to stay in. None of us want her out in this weather and risking a fall or having an accident.
Chapter Six
SILAS
I’m early. Thirty minutes to be exact. When I left her earlier today, it took everything I had not to blow off my plans and crawl back in bed with her. However, I had some shopping to do. Today is her birthday, and I need to get her something. In the past, I’ve always just gotten her a card. One year I did break my tradition of only a card and bought her a bottle of wine, but that was then, and this is now. I’m no longer pretending that I don’t want her. No. In fact, I couldn’t give a fuck less who knows. Callista is my kryptonite, and I want the world to know she’s mine. Or she will be.
Knocking on the door, I push one hand behind my back to conceal the bouquet of roses I got for her. Roses mean love, and I would have denied this a week ago, but I’m too far gone to not admit that I’ve been falling for her for years. It’s time to make my move.
“Hi,” she says, a smile tilting her lips. “You’re early.”
“I couldn’t wait to see you.” Leaning in, I press a kiss to her forehead, even though I would prefer kissing her lips. “And I wanted to give you this,” I say, pulling back and offering her the gift bag in my hands. “Oh, and these,” I say, presenting her with the dozen roses.
“Silas.” There are tears in her eyes.
“Happy Birthday, baby.” She steps back, allowing me to enter the house.
“This isn’t what we do,” she says, wiping the tears from her eyes.
“Maybe not in the past, but