Page 20 of Seducing Sasquatch

I nod, taking a sip from my coffee. “Scrambled is better.”

Arden slides two eggs onto my plate and six onto his as the toaster pops. I watch in silence as more food is piled onto our plates. Bacon, eggs, toast, baked beans and mushrooms. There’s more food on one plate to consider this a single meal, more like a full course. But Arden doesn’t say anything as he walks our plates over to the dining table and sets them down, pulling out cutlery from his pocket and looking up at me expectantly.

Feeling his eyes watching my every move, I slink into the chair opposite him. “Thank you for breakfast.”

He nods once before tucking in, clearly eager to fill his stomach. Which blows my mind since he ate five wraps for dinner less than eight hours ago. But nonetheless, I pick up my fork and skewer a slice of bacon to dip into the runny yolks of my eggs.

We eat in comfortable silence, with the ambience of the cabin and the storm filling the air. As I fork a mouthful of beans into my mouth, my mind feeds me the thought of back home. Every morning my father and I would do just this. But the breakfast would be fruit on Greek yogurt, and he definitely wouldn’t have made it himself. Instead, our private chef would have made it the night before. And we wouldn’t be sitting in silence. My father would be questioning me about my studies, about my daily goals, and things that needed to be done. My brain would still be half asleep as I tried to recite back to him the most recent things I’d learned. Like the difference between Actus Reus and Mens Rea, along with five examples of each.

Arden’s foot bumps mine under the table, and I jolt back to reality. His amber eyes meet mine with a questioning look.

“You shouldn’t be thinking so hard about anything this early in the morning.” He takes a bite from his toast. His jaw pops beneath his beard.

The mouthful of food on my tongue has my stomach churning. “Sorry.”

The clatter of his fork has a flinch shooting up my spine like lightning. “Don’t be sorry. I’m not angry with you, Blake. I don’t think I could ever get angry with you unless it involves you putting yourself in danger. But if something is bothering you, give it to me to handle.”

Give it to him? How would that work? It’s not like he can simply take away all of my worries or tell my father I don’t want to be a lawyer.

“What is it? Tell me.” His knee nudges mine.

I sigh, “It’s nothing. I’ve just never had such a calm morning before.”

Arden watches me as if he can see my thoughts written all over my face. “Would you like calm mornings like this every morning?”

The scoff that explodes from my chest is slightly embarrassing. Of course I’d want this every morning. Maybe every lunch and dinner too. But I know that will never happen. The storm will pass, my father will call again and order me home, and I’ll have no choice but to leave this mountain. Leave Arden…

It’s a tsunami of despair that slams into me. This is my last week of freedom, and somehow I’ve managed to spend it with the nicest man I’ve ever met.

Tears bead my vision as I nod, sniffling quietly. “Yes.”

Leaning back in his chair, Arden clicks his tongue. “Then stay.”

The air in my lungs freezes. My entire world freezes. Stay? How could I possibly stay? This man doesn’t owe me anything; he doesn’t even know me! Why would he want me to stay? I’m useless here.

“Stop.” Arden’s hand rests over mine, and I realize I’m shaking. His thumb swipes across the back of my palm. “It’s just an offer. You don’t have to make up your mind at this very moment. But… give this life a try. For the rest of the week, just try. Because I bet you’ll like it here far more than whatever beyond this cabin has in store.”

I deflate. Everything inside of me crumbles. Tears leak down my cheeks as I nod my head, numb to everything that’s rushing through me at light-speed. With shaky fingers, I clutch my fork, shoveling mouth full after mouth full into my throat, tasting the saltiness of the bacon and the tomato base of the beans. It’s delicious, and I want to have it every morning for the rest of my life.

Arden is stock-still as I finish my plate. He watches me lift it from the table and lick the remaining sauce from the surface. I need more. So much more.

“Careful, or you’ll choke,” Arden’s light chuckle fills the air.

I pause, plate held to my face with my tongue hanging out. Slowly lowering the plate to the table, I’m met with an amused smile.

Leaning forward in his seat, Arden gestures for me to lean closer. I do without a second thought.

Pulling the hem of his shirt between his fingers, Arden wipes my cheeks with gentle pressure. My tears blotch the fabric, leaving dark patches as he withdraws, yet his other hand cups the back of my neck, keeping me in place.

His face is inches from mine. I can see the golden flecks in his warm eyes; I can smell the coffee on his breath. My gaze flickers to his lips, his straight white teeth. I swallow as warmth fills my face.

“There is nothing you can ever do that is wrong, Blake,” he whispers. “Be yourself around me and never think otherwise.”

A shiver rushes down my spine as I suck in a lungful of his scent that wafts over me. My eyelids drop, and I nod, chewing on my lower lip. He’s so close. If I lean forward only an inch…

“Did you hear me, sweet thing?”

My brain goes static, and like a dam opening, every thought rushes from my mind. Singled down to one response.