Page 79 of Most Likely to Fear Love

“Stay a while,” I murmured.

For a moment, she hesitated. I could almost hear the gears turning in her head, debating what she should do. But then she let out a shuddering sigh, all the tension leaving her body as she dropped her head back to my shoulder.

I resumed stroking her back, feeling a sense of contentment wash over me. This wasn’t part of our arrangement, but damn if it didn’t feel good.

CASSIDY

Iwoke with a start, my body warm and cozy despite the early morning chill. Harle’s muscular arm draped over my waist, and we were facing each other, our legs in a tangle.

I squeezed one eye open to orientate myself. Shit. I’d migrated to his side during the night.

Don’t get too clingy. Men hate clingy women.

Lifting my head just enough to see the alarm clock, I bit back a groan. It wasn’t even six o’clock yet. Way too early to be awake. But what if he woke up and found me like this, all snuggled up? The last thing I wanted was for him to think he had to pander to me like that. I tried to shift away, but his arm tightened around me.

“Mornin’,” he mumbled, his voice thick with sleep.

“Sorry,” I whispered. “Didn’t mean to wake you.”

“S’okay.” He nuzzled into my hair. “You’re warm.”

“I’m just going to…”Get out of your way.

“Don’t go. You feel good.”

I stilled, goose bumps rippling across my skin as his fingers trailed lightly down my spine. Oh, of course. He just wanted sex.That made perfect sense. We probably had time before I had to get up and get ready for work.

He shifted a little, his hand drifting to my lower back and pulling me closer, before sliding down to the back of my thigh and lifting my leg, settling it over his hip. Then he pressed a soft kiss into my hair, shifted one more time and relaxed completely. In no time at all, his breathing deepened.

He just…went back to sleep? So the cuddle was just a cuddle?

I lay there, frozen in place, my mind racing because I had no fucking clue what to make of this.

Cuddling wasn’t supposed to be on the menu. No matter how good it felt. And god, it felt soooo good.

The steady rise and fall of his chest against mine was so comforting. I tried to ignore the warmth spreading through me, the way my body seemed to melt into his. This was dangerous territory.

I should move. I should definitely move.

But I didn’t.

Instead, I found myself studying his face in the soft morning light. The strong line of his jaw under his beard. His perfect nose. His eye lashes. He looked younger when he slept.

A lock of his blonde hair had fallen across his forehead, and before I could stop myself, I reached up to brush it away. My fingers lingered for a moment, tracing the curve of his brow. He really was gorgeous.

Harle stirred slightly, and I froze, ready to take flight at the first sign of irritation. But he just mumbled something unintelligible and wrapped his other arm, the one that had been under his pillow, around me.

Maybe... maybe it wouldn’t hurt to stay like this for just a little while longer. He clearly didn’t mind. I closed my eyes, letting out a slow breath. Just five more minutes, I told myself. Then I’d get up and start my day.

I settledinto the booth by the window at the diner, wrapping my hands around the lukewarm cup of coffee in front of me. The view outside was a blur of people moving in and out of shops, cars rolling by, but none of it really registered. My mind was still circling back to Harle. How sweet that was this morning. How hard it had been to finally drag myself out of the bed, after we’d snuggled for another hour.

Then when I’d come out of the shower, he’d already made my breakfast and packed my lunch. A ham and cheese sandwich, an apple and a yogurt. It was so... I couldn’t even think what it was, but it made me feel a little like crying. When was the last time someone had packed a lunch for me?

I barely noticed the bell over the door chiming, the muffled hum of voices rising and falling around me. I was too lost in my own head, chewing over thoughts I wasn’t ready to face.

“Cassidy!” The familiar voice cut through my haze, but it took a second to register.

“Cass!” Hannah called again, louder this time.

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