Page 70 of Protected from Reprisal
He looks at me with a worried expression. “Is it too much? Did I overstep? Maybe I should have asked you first.”
If it were anyone else, I might agree that itwasoverstepping. That he should have asked me before transporting all the contents of my workshop all the way to his guest bedroom. But how could I possibly be upset about it when the intent was so sweet? So thoughtful? So?—
Shoot.
As sweet of a gesture this is, I don’t live here. This isn’t my apartment. And soon, we’re going to have to pack all this stuff up and move it back to my house.
Ace’s mouth droops. “I’m sorry, Yara. I was being too pushy again, wasn’t I?”
“A little pushy, but I don’t mind. I love what you did.”
“But?”
“But I have to leave. So you did all this work only to have to pack it back up.”
“Leave?” His brows pinch into a puzzled V. “Why would you leave?”
“Because I don’t live here? And I have a job in Seattle?”
Ace turns to me. His gaze is more vulnerable than I’ve ever seen it. “But maybe you could stay? Through the month, at least? It’s only another couple of weeks. You said you’d like to do some holiday things. We could go into Williston, like you talked about. And join our Thanksgiving dinner. It’s nothing fancy, but we have tons of food, and family comes, and we have a big bowling tournament after.”
My heart tugs at the hope in his eyes. “What about my job, though?”
“Didn’t you say you have lots more vacation time? And we could go into Seattle for the day if you need to go to the office.”
Logic says it’s too soon. That it would make sense to wait. To keep things long-distance until we’re more sure of things.
But I don’t want to leave.
I want Ace to help me with my project.
I want to celebrate Thanksgiving with him and everyone else at B and A.
Yes, going back to Rainier Beach would be the more logical decision. But is it the one I really want?
Life can change on a dime,a silent voice reminds me.You never know how much time you have with the people you love. Do you really want to waste any of it if you don’t have to?
But I don’t love him,the logical voice argues.Not yet.
Are you sure,the first voice asks.Are you really sure about that?
No, I’m not. And I don’t want to waste the time I have with Ace.
“What do you think?” he asks. “Would you want to stay?”
“Yes,” I blurt before I can second guess myself. The instant the word is out, a feeling of rightness sweeps over me. “Yes. I’ll stay.”
CHAPTER 14
ACE
“Anyone else for seconds on pie?”
Bea glances around the living room, her gaze sweeping across the small crowd gathered here. On one couch, Eden leans against Rafe, her legs draped over his. At the other end of it, Tyler is scraping his dessert plate clean. Webb and Noelle are snuggled together on the couch perpendicular, each with their own plate in hand. Webb’s mom is sitting on the third couch, beside Eden and Indy’s mother, both of them looking utterly relaxed and close to falling asleep.
From the kitchen, Indy calls out loudly, “Looks like we’ve still got half a pumpkin, a third of an apple, and a couple slices of pecan.”
I look over at Yara, who’s squished beside me on one of the recliners that faces the fireplace. She still has a few bites of apple pie left on her plate and a small dollop of Cool Whip beside it. “Do you want more?” I ask.
