Page 116 of Wildest Dreams

“Yeah,” I breathe out, my voice quiet amongst the sounds of our friends. Connell nods at me and lifts his arm that isn’t holding the skewer, silently requesting a hug.

I laugh quietly and give him a quick squish, squealing my way out of his arms when he tries to turn it into one of his bone-crushing bear hugs. I give him a playful punch on the shoulder and his expression relaxes, a laidback smile lighting up his face as he kicks off his boots and settles his backwards cap back onto his head.

And then I’m making my way over to the lake house.

I stuff the marshmallow into my mouth, the softthumpof my hiking boots pounding rhythmically against the dirt sounding in time with the loud beat of my heart. The talking and laughter coming from around the campfire becomes a faraway melody as I try to calm my breathing, holding up the hem of the sundress that I changed into as the lake laps tauntingly close to my boots.

The closer I get the more sure I am that the soft glow radiating onto the porch is coming from the inside of the cabin,rather than the sunset outside that’s exuding its final burst of golden rays.

I jog lightly up the porch steps and then drop the skirt of my dress, staring at the front door as my heart thunders in my chest.

I quietly ease open the front door and step inside, eyes immediately moving over to the couch where Tanner is sleeping.

He’s fast asleep even though he’s sitting partially upright, with his quads spread wide apart and one hand tucked down the front of his unzipped jeans. He’s wearing a light grey shirt that’s stretched thin across his chest and there’s a small metal toolbox on the floor beside the sofa.

My mind whirs as I contemplate exactly what it was that kept him from joining us on our hike today.

As I gently click the heavy front door closed Tanner’s shoulders swell on a deep inhale and he rouses from his sleep, pressing the heel of his palm between his eyes.

When I slip my boots off my feet and they thud softly against the wooden floor his head turns in my direction and he immediately shoots to stand upright. He almost falls over the low coffee table as his big calves accidentally shove it across the rug.

“Fuck, sorry,” he rasps out quietly, his deep voice hoarse with sleep. He quickly looks down at his pants, ears blazing red as he rips his hand from under the open zipper.

He shoots a quick look in my direction as he hastily tugs up his fly, and then he’s rounding the side of the couch, meeting me in the middle just in front of the staircase. His palms immediately encase my waist as he looks me reverently up and down.

“How was the campsite? Did you have a good day?” he asks, eyes searching mine before he reaches down to press a kiss to the heart freckle on my exposed arm.

I scrunch up my nose, laughing, and he grins up at me before standing back to his full height.

“It was beautiful, I can’t wait to camp out there tomorrow night – I’ve never been camping before,” I admit, my voice hushed and happy.

I tug gently at his thin grey shirt, fitted tight around his thick abdomen.

I look up at him from under my lashes as I think about what he said to me this morning, about me deserving a break from the reno as I’m already so close to the finish line.

You know that I’ll help you finish it up, Ash.

My eyes subconsciously flick to the ceiling, toward the master bedroom, wondering if that subtle text meant what I thought it might.

He catches the movement and a smile touches his handsome mouth.

“What did you do today?” I ask carefully, my voice light and a little breathless as he pulls my body against his, the warmth of his broad chest pressing through my sundress.

His smile grows a little wider.

“Wanna see?”

I swallow hard, unable to prevent myself from smiling back, and then he gives me a full-on grin, a hint of a blush under his tan skin.

His big hand finds mine and then we’re walking side by side up the staircase, Tanner only stopping when we reach the top so that I can step onto the landing before him.

Then he tugs me gently in the direction of the master bedroom.

“Tanner…” I say warily, laughing in disbelief before we even reach the closed door. “You didn’t…” I say again as I shake my head, that blush on his cheeks spreading farther.

No way. No way did he do this for me again, even after the four years of disinterested hell that I put him through.

He breathes out a nervous chuckle, scratching at the back of his neck with his free hand, looking as nervous and shy and excited as I am.

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