Page 33 of If You Were Mine (After We Fall 3)
“It’s the truth.”
I let that sink in for a moment, trying to think of this from his point of view. “Because I’m looking for a relationship and you’re not?”
“That’s part of it.”
“What are the other parts?”
“I’m not sure how long I’ll even be in town, or when I’ll be back. My…other job often involves traveling at the last minute.”
I nodded slowly, realizing how little I knew about him. Not even his real last name. “So maybe all we’ll ever have is tonight?”
“Not maybe, Claire. Definitely.”
So we wouldn’t see each other again. I was disappointed, sure, but did that mean our night had to end? When I’d invited him in, I hadn’t done it because I wanted to bring him home to meet Mom and Dad. I’d done it because I was attracted to him, and I wanted to have some fun.
I liked Theo; I felt safe with him. Even better, I felt sexy with him—sexier than I’d ever felt in my life. Why not take advantage of that while I could? A one-night stand wasn’t exactly romantic, but it sure as hell beat going to bed alone tonight. Maybe I’d even learn a few things that would help me be more confident. I bet there’s a lot he could teach me.
I looped my arms around his neck and pulled him down for a kiss. “Then we shouldn’t waste any more time talking. I’m not looking for a boyfriend here, Theo. Just a good time.”
He smiled against my lips. “OK then. Got any chocolate syrup?”
* * *
I did have chocolate syrup. But Theo got even more excited about the tube of crescent rolls I had in the fridge. “Oh my God, I have the biggest craving right now.”
“For what?” I asked, throwing my hair up in a sloppy bun on top of my head. Theo was probably going to complain about that, but if he was going to cover me in chocolate syrup or something, I wanted to avoid getting it in my hair. While Theo cleaned up in the bathroom, I’d run upstairs, taken off the dress and slip, and put on a white t-shirt and pajama pants. After debating underwear, I’d gone with my gut and left them off.
Theo pulled the rolls out of the fridge and turned around to face me. He was barefoot and wore just his pants and his white dress shirt, unbuttoned and cuffs rolled up. “Tell me you have marshmallows.”
His face was so serious, I had to laugh. “I have marshmallows.”
“Butter?”
“Yes.”
“Cinnamon and sugar?” His eyes were getting bigger with every ingredient.
“Yes, but what are we making?”
“My grandmother called them Magic Marshmallow Puffs or something. Oh my God, they’re amazing. I haven’t had them in years, not since she died. Turn the oven on to…” He looked at the tube. “Three seventy-five.”
“Got it.” I wanted to ask him more about his grandmother, but I wasn’t sure if I should. He guarded his privacy so closely, and I didn’t want to spook him, make him think I hadn’t meant what I’d said about being OK with just one night.
While I preheated the oven, Theo started opening my lower kitchen cupboards, which were so old the hinges were coming off. “These aren’t in very good shape.” He dropped down to examine one, balancing on the balls of his feet.
“Yeah, I know. It’s on my list of things to work on this winter. What are you looking for?”
His brow furrowed as he examined the hinges closer. “Uh, one of those pans with the holes in it.”
“Holes?”
He frowned and looked up at me. “Not holes exactly. A pan that you’d make cupcakes in.”
“Like a muffin tin?”
“Yes! A muffin tin.”
I laughed as I reached for a high cupboard, rising up on tiptoe to grab the muffin tin. “Here you go.”
