Page 24 of Hearts Colliding
Alex snorted. “I think it’s foolhardy, that’s all. I don’t see how you can disagree.”
“I know every path and track on these hills.” Which he’d better make sure he stuck to, otherwisefoolhardywouldn’t quite cover it.
“And they’ll be slick with mud. It’ll be like walking on ice covered glass. What would you do if you slipped and busted your ankle? Or your leg?”
“Won’t happen.” Although it wasn’t an impossibility. Ryan smothered a groan. No two ways about it, the walk ahead of him was looking like the pathway to hell.
“I—I suppose you could stay the night.”
“What?” Ryan’s heart crashed against his ribcage. Spend the night with—?
“It’s not as though there aren’t plenty of spare rooms. Look at it as a way of saying thank you for giving me a lift.”
Ryan said nothing as he stared at Alex. The man’s face had turned a deep shade of red, and he stood as stiff and still as a statue, looking as awkward as Ryan felt.
“Wouldn’t that be fraternising with the enemy?” Ryan blurted out, his voice louder than intended. Not that he hadn’t already…
“A bit late for that, don’t you think?”
Ryan started. The kiss Alex hadn’t bothered to mention, and he hadn’t been able to.
“Look,” he said slowly, his gaze shifting from Alex to the floor, and back again. “What I did, I shouldn’t have—”
“Forget it, because I have. The offer’s there, but it’s up to you whether you take it or not.” Without waiting for an answer, Alex turned and strode off along a corridor, leaving Ryan alone.
Outside a rumble of thunder and a heavy gust of wind rattled the windows, and Ryan winced. Instead of turning towards the door, he rushed after Alex, following the sound of cupboards opening and closing, leading him to a kitchen.
Standing by a counter top, Alex cradled his dog in his arms, rocking him as he rubbed his cheek against Henry’s chestnut coloured fur, all the time whispering endearments, every shred of his attention on his pet. Ryan watched, fascinated. The dog seemed to be the only living, breathing creature capable of thawing Alex’s iciness.
“I’m sorry I left you for so long, I didn’t mean to, but you were better off here than out in the storm. You hungry, little fella? I know I am, but let me get you your dinner first.”
Ryan coughed, and Alex froze. He stared up at Ryan, holding tight onto Henry as though he feared Ryan might try to take him.
“If the offer still stands…?”
Alex nodded, his grip on Henry relaxing as something that could, possibly, be called a smile flittered over his lips. “Of course. Sit down. I’ll feed Henry then us. Microwave ready meals, they’ll have to do.”
Ryan perched on the edge of a wooden chair, grimacing as his soaked jeans squelched beneath him. “Erm, do you have an old towel or something? My jeans are soaked through and I’m making the chair wet.”
Alex looked up from filling Henry’s bowl. “I’m sorry, I should have thought. There’s a shower in the utility room. There’s loads of hot water left, and a pile of towels…”
Ryan stopped listening as he followed the glide of Alex’s hands over his denim clad thighs. Those long fingered hands would feel sweet easing over—
Fuck…this wasn’t what he wanted to think about, not when he was alone with Alex in a big old house with big old bedrooms with big old beds, and with that kiss that should never have been quietly laughing in his ear.
“… might fit.”
Ryan jerked his gaze away from Alex’s hands. “Sorry, what’s that?”
“I’ve got some old tracksuit bottoms. They’ve stretched so they’re too big for me but might just about fit you. If you like, I can put your jeans in the tumble dryer?”
“Yeah, okay. And thanks for putting me up. I mean it.” As he said it, another thunderclap exploded above the house. His eyes met Alex’s and he smiled, his stomach tightening, just a little, when Alex answered with a smile of his own.
CHAPTERFOURTEEN
“Why’s it called a drawing room?” Cradling a large mug of coffee Ryan pressed back into the oversized, squashy sofa, so comfortable he wanted to groan in shear, unadulterated pleasure. He looked around the large room glowing with warm, buttery light from standard and wall lamps. “Was it used for art work?”
“No, it’s actually awithdrawing room. Originally it was where visitors were entertained, a kind of living room really. It was my mum’s favourite room, she used to call it her refuge.”
