Page 106 of Rooster

"He'll get tired of me. I don't even know if it's okay for me to live here."

"I went by his room this morning to check on you, and from the sounds coming from inside, I'd say he's very okay with you living here."

My cheeks heat. I did my best to muffle the noise I was making, but there were moments when I got lost in the passion I wasn't even thinking about who might be on the other side walking by and hearing what was going on with us.

"If anything," she continues. "You have vacation days. Take all of them and see where you are when you run out. There are worse things in the world than being stuck here with a sexy man. Just keep in mind that all the common areas have cameras."

We both laugh at this, drawing the eyes of the guys in the kitchen, and I feel warmth bloom in my chest when I notice that Robert is looking at me much in the same way that Ellis is looking at Kaylee.

Chapter 40

Rooster

"You looked like you were having a very serious conversation with Kaylee earlier," I hedge, wanting to know where her head is because she has seemed a little off since she talked with her friend.

I can't help the insidious feeling that she may be changing her mind or the things she told me and the things she said she wanted were part of a trauma response, and as time goes on, she's realizing she doesn't want certain things, including me.

She swallows, running her hand over the top of the water.

We're in the hot tub at her suggestion, and not wanting to go back to the room to spend time alone in private didn't seem like a huge red flag until I took a closer look at her other behaviors, like eyes darting away and not being the first one to curl into my chest.

"Has it been too much?" I ask, resisting the urge to lock my arms around her.

I can't trap her with me. I can't force her to want what I want, and I'm starting to feel a little foolish for jumping in feet first with the expectation that she was doing the same.

"What?" she asks, snapping her head in my direction. "No."

"Are you sure? Because you seem a little off."

She gives her head a little shake, once again breaking eye contact, and despite the warmth of the water swirling around us, a cold chill runs down my spine.

"I'm..." she begins but takes a moment to swallow a second time before turning in my arms. "I don't think I can go back to work."

"Okay," I say, waiting for her to say more because there has to be more to why she's struggling right now.

"I'm scared, but I hate it there. I don't want you to think I won't work because I will. Kaylee suggested finding a work-from-home position, but I don't know how long that will take. I have savings, so I'm not going to be living here for free," she says all in one breath.

I smile as I cup her face. "Is that what you've been worrying about?"

Her eyes find mine, and I hate the threat of tears that make them glisten.

"I know Henry was able to convince you that I wasn't who you thought I was, and I don't want you or anyone to think that I can't pay my own way. I just don't want to do it alone at my house."

"I will spend the rest of my life making it up to you that I let him come between us even for a second," I assure her. "And do you really think I was going to let you leave?"

I'm not even going to worry about arguing right now about bills and rent and carrying her own weight around here. That's an argument for another day that she won't win.

I press my lips to hers, feeling the sigh of relief leave her mouth.

"Eternity," I promise, luxuriating when she wraps her arms fully around me.

My worries were unfounded, and I'm so very grateful that we can talk about our issues rather than letting them come between us.

There isn't a possibility of risking losing her because we are afraid to have a conversation, no matter how awkward or frustrating the topic may be.

Instead of staying against my body, she moves, straddling me in the hot tub, her lower half rolling against me.

"There are cameras," I whisper against her lips.

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