Page 24 of Home for the Holidays

My phone lights up with a call.

“Hey,” he says, his voice deep and gravelly.

“Hi.” I fight back a nervous giggle. I don’t know why he makes me so awkward. I feel woefully inexperienced next to him.

“Do you want me to snuggle with Sven?” His voice dances with humor. “I think Vanessa might have a problem with it.”

“Oh, I wouldn’t want to upset her,” I tease back.

“Guess I’ll have to snuggle you when I get back.”

Exhaling slowly, I close my eyes to center myself. “Yeah. You might have to.”

There’s a commotion on the other end of the call.

“Listen, Rach…” He trails off.

“What?”

“My house is yours. You know that,” he says. “I want you to stay in my room. Sleep in my bed.”

I swallow. “You do?”

“I want to come home to you in my bed.”

There’s no second guessing. He wants this.

So why does that scare me?

And worse, why does it thrill me?

Maybe because it’s moving insanely fast, a voice that sounds like Viv says in my head.

And imaginary-Viv is probably right. There’s no way I’m ready for something like what he wants.

I guess the important question is, what do I want?

“When do you get back?” I ask.

“Late tomorrow night. Probably close to three o’clock in the morning.” He sighs. “It’s, what, a four hour flight? Yeah, that sounds right.”

“I’ll wait up for you,” I offer, even though I know I’ll be dead on my feet the next day.

“You don’t have to,” Jake says. “Knowing that you’re there, coming home to you… that’s all I want.”

“Okay,” I whisper.

“Yeah?”

“I’ll sleep in your bed.”

“Good. I’m glad.” Another loud noise on the other end. “I’ve got to go. I just wanted to check in.”

“I’m good. I’m here. I’m not going anywhere,” I tell him.

He exhales heavily. “Good. That makes me happy.”

Against my will, my smile stretches from ear to ear. “Me, too.”