Page 14 of Hensley Manor
It was then I noticed how close we were in the car, leaning toward each other in our seats, our warm breath fogging the windows. I glanced at his mouth, and maybe he glanced at mine, too.
“I’m convinced this is a dream,” I said, staring at his lips and noting the way they parted. “That I’ll wake up back in my apartment, away from all of this. It’s the only explanation I have.”
“It’s not a dream. If it were, I wouldn’t be real, would I?” The edge of his mouth curved upward. “And I feel very real.”
Damn. He looked real. Smelled real, too. Like sandalwood and pine.
Closer, I moved toward him. The heat coming off his body was incredible, and I wanted more of it. His gaze darkened, and he seemed to come toward me, too. Heat shot up my neck as I grew unbearably hot, which was strange since it was fucking cold outside and the heater in the car had been shut off.
Then, his expression shifted, and he leaned away.
Ian quietly cleared his throat before opening the door. “We should get inside and warm up.”
I knew of a much better way for us to warm up, but I kept it to myself and got out of the car, following him into the house.
Ian veered to the left, disappearing into another room that saidstaff onlyon the door. With a sigh, I walked down the corridor and found the stairs before taking them one by one, a bit sluggishly.
The day together had been nice. We’d explored Main Street for a while, going inside several stores to get my clothes and any other small necessities I needed for my stay—however long that might be. I liked spending time with Ian, and I got the impression he felt the same about me. We hadn’t talked a whole lot about our personal lives, but he had commented on random things, mostly food.
What had made him get weird on me just now and practically run off?
I probably shouldn’t have told him the truth. He more than likely thought I was on drugs or something.
As I reached my door, the young married couple met me in the hall.
“Went shopping, huh?” the woman asked, eyeing my bags.
“Yeah. Lost my luggage and needed some clothes,” I said, cracking a smile. I hoped it didn’t look as forced as it felt. “I heard lunch is vegetable soup today.”
What the hell, Cole? Talk about random.
“That’s where we’re headed,” the man said, returning my smile. His looked sincere, though. “See you down there?”
“Yep.”
In my room, I put my clothes in the drawers then plopped on the bed.
I expected to wake up any moment. Part of me even hoped I would. The other part of me? Well, like Ian had said, sometimes different was good. I had been in a rut: depressed, lonely, and feeling like I was slowly being crushed by invisible weights. Although confused about my situation, I felt lighter as I stared at the ceiling and dare I say…excited.
Maybe this unexpected trip to Evergreen Valley was just what I needed.
Chapter Four
Dinner was more formal than I expected. Breakfast had been a casual affair. The room had been bright from the multiple windows letting in the day and some people hadn’t even fixed their hair. The atmosphere had shifted for dinner. Sconces on the walls, candles throughout, and the few small chandeliers added an inviting ambience, as did the large dining table draped with a red cloth.
The round tables from lunch had been pushed to the other side of the room to make room for the table, and I thought it was kind of nice that dinner was a more social affair. It brought everyone together and helped people introduce themselves who might not have done so otherwise. Normally, I would’ve hated it, but I was trying to be positive about my weird situation.
“I’m Hannah, by the way,” the pregnant woman said, as she took the chair beside mine. “And this is my husband Ken.”
“Nice to meet you. I’m Cole.” I shook her hand before doing the same to Ken. Hannah’s gown was loose around her stomach but fit her snug in the areas that counted, and Ken wore a casual suit. “I feel underdressed.”
Hannah smiled. “Don’t. There are some who wear their pajamas to dinner. I just like to feel fancy every now and then.”
“Are you here to visit family?” I asked.
“No,” Ken answered, looking at me over the top of his wife’s head. “We wanted a small getaway for Christmas this year. And there’s nowhere quite like Hensley Manor.”
“What makes you say that?” Other than the sexy owner, I didn’t see what made the place so special.
