Page 24 of Wildest Dreams

I place the bag on the bed, unzip the fastening, and start flicking through the shirts that I brought here with me. I find my favourite – the perfect XL fit for my chest, in solid militarykhaki – and then I stuff the rest of the clothes back inside before heading out the door again.

I trudge quietly around the head of the lake, keeping my eyes on my boots as I mount the porch steps.

When I get to the front door I take a long deep breath. Then I give it a gentle shove, opening it.

Goddammit Aisling. My chest heaves because I’m pissed off that she didn’t get around to fixing in a new lock yet, but I push that thought to the back of my mind for now as I walk toward the kitchen counter.

Feeling like an idiot, I stare down at the shirt in my fist, my cheeks turning red even though I’m the only person in here. I gently shake out the shirt, fold it in half, and then place it on top of one of Aisling’s bags.

Just in case when she gets home she wishes that she’d brought some pyjamas.

Chapter 7

Aisling

Four years ago

Leaning against the doorjamb to my bedroom, I watch Tanner position the headboard at the top of the frame, while using his other hand to carefully slot the bolt into place. After giving it a few rough flicks with his wrist he glances down at the tools on the floor, brow creased as he searches for something.

When he spots it he breathes out a laugh and his eyes meet mine, smiling bashfully.

“Didn’t realise that it was over there.” He jerks his chin toward the large hand-tool that’s lying near the foot of the bed, about three feet in front of me. “Mind grabbing that screw for me?” he asks.

I tuck a curl behind my ear and smile. “Of course.”

I quickly set down the mug in my hands and gently pad into the room, kind of excited to be involved in part of the process. I pick up the large hand-tool before making my way over to where Tanner’s standing.

“Once we’ve screwed these bolts into place, the frame will be finished. Then all we need to do is grab that” – he tips his chin toward my queen sized mattress resting against the wall in front of us – “haul it up on here, lay down some bedding, and then…” He shrugs. “All done.”

He glances down at the tool in my hand and then his eyes flash back to mine.

“Wanna do the honours?” he asks, in that impossibly deep voice of his.

“Me?” I ask, a little nervous.

I can’t help but fear that, if I touch the bed, all of Tanner’s hard work will come crashing down around us.

A smile tugs at the corner of his mouth, a beautiful warmth in his cheeks. “Yeah, you.”

“But what if I mess it up?” I ask, looking desperately at my gorgeous new bed.

He shakes his head. “You can’t go wrong with it, I promise. The drill’s not electric so the worst thing that can happen is that the bolt slips out before you’ve screwed it in tight enough. And that doesn’t matter either, because I’m still holding the frame in place.”

I cautiously flick my gaze over to his right arm, which is currently gripping firmly into the headboard, keeping it erect. I have to gulp down a little swallow as I watch his biceps flex and ripple.

“Okay,” I whisper nervously, sliding my eyes back up to his.

He gives me a small encouraging nod and then repositions his body, so that there’s a tiny Aisling-sized space between him and the headboard. He taps the bolt with his left thumb and says, “You’re gonna find the ridge in the bolt and slip the drill inside. Then start twisting clockwise until it feels tight enough to you.”

“Will you check that it’s tight enough after?” I ask breathlessly, not wanting to climb on top of my mattress tonight and then have the headboard smash down on top of me.

Tanner’s eyes are practically boring holes into the small bolt, his whole face on fire as he murmurs, “Uh, yeah, I can, uh… check how tight it is.”

Taking a steadying breath, I lean down slowly. Then after examining the bolt, I slip the drill into the little ridge.

Step one complete.

I look up at him with a hopeful smile and he breathes out a quiet laugh, returning it.

---