Page 32 of Wren's Winter

I moved the pan to the other burner, cursing myself for getting distracted. Ignoring her eyes on me, I dumped the ruined crepe in the garbage and reduced the heat to remake mine.

I hadn’t burned a crepe in over a decade.

Plating my much less extravagant crepe, I sat beside her at the island, our knees bumping as we ate. Maizie wandered over from her spot on her bed, positioning herself between our feet and watching up for tiny scraps to fall. Little beggar.

“So, you open doors for ladies, cook a mean crepe, and you own separate shampoo and conditioner. Will the surprises ever cease?” she asked, setting her fork down.

Growing up, my parents were gone so much I had to learn to fend for myself. I couldn’t understand what was surprising for her. Imagining what kind of guys were in her life that holding the door open would be a reason for celebration. “I got to say, as much as I enjoy impressing you with my skills, these are basic things. I know how to do them. Why shouldn’t I?”

With a furrowed brow, she got quiet.

Instantly, I worried I had said too much. “These are ordinary things. I don’t want to scare you away, but I can’t be ordinary for you. You are exceptional. You deserve more.”

“You’re not ordinary to me.” Her voice was low. Her eyes grew soft as she reached out and took my hand. “You’re the opposite. You are constantly surprising me.”

Lacing her fingers with mine, I brought them up to my lips, pressing a kiss on the back of her hand.

Our stomachs full, I pulled her to the couch, tucking her into the inside before lying beside her. I figured, if someone rolled off the couch, it should be me. My hand on the dip of her waist, I closed my eyes.

What I wanted to say hung back in my chest.

I want to be enough to deserve you.

What was this woman doing to me for these impulses to take hold of me? I shook my head as if that would bring back my sense of reason.

Nope. I was doomed.

Beneath my arm, our bodies grew heavier, and as her breathing evened out, I felt myself drift away.

My phone chimed from its spot on the floor. Ignoring the noise, I buried my nose into the crook of Wren’s neck. She smelled of soap and sugar. My eyes still closed, I took another deep inhale of her. I had fallen asleep beside women before, but something about this felt right. The warmth of her body pressed against mine, the way her feet rested between mine. The tickle of her curls against my forehead felt like an idealized version of my life. As if I could dream up what the perfect sensation would be and hold it in my arms.

A scraggly head popped up from between Wren’s stomach and the back of the couch. Maizie and I watched each other for a minute. I didn’t normally allow her on the couch, as she shed terribly.

The phone chimed again, not ready to be ignored. I scrambled on the ground for the phone.

With one eye, I read the text and groaned. “Crap.”

Beside me, Wren stirred. Turning her body to face me, she displaced Maizie, who hopped over us both and climbed onto her dog bed with a disdainful glare.

Her eyes sleep-glazed, she wrapped an arm around my middle and let out a low hum. “What’s up?”

I ran a hand over my face. “I forgot about dinner.”

Her hand stilled from its spot on my lower back. “Dinner?”

He lowered my head to look at her. “With Tam and Penny. I told them I’d meet them tonight for dinner and drinks. They wanted to thank me for the burst pipe debacle.”

Her eyes darted away, her hand tensing. “Right, okay.” She started pulling herself up to a seated position. “I’ll let you get ready to see your friends. I should get back any—”

“Come with me?” My arms tightened around her waist, pulling her back down beside me. “Please, I want you to meet them.”

“You want me to meet your best friend and his wife?” Incredulity laced her question.

Brushing a curl away from her face, my fingers laced into her hair at her nape. I hoped she’d say yes. “You’ll like them. Tam is great, and Penny doesn’t know how to stay out of people’s business, but she’s also the warmest person ever.”

“You know I’m leaving in a few days, right? I don’t want this to get too complicated.”

She still thought this was a fling?

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