Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 83379 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 417(@200wpm)___ 334(@250wpm)___ 278(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83379 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 417(@200wpm)___ 334(@250wpm)___ 278(@300wpm)
I slid aside the covers and was about to pad into his room and wake him up, when I heard a thud and what sounded like Julian toppling out of bed. My heart pounded in my ears as I heard the bathroom door push open on his side, then the sound of the toilet flushing and the sink gushing water. I assumed he would retreat to his bed, but instead I heard him stumble down the hallway toward the front door. Maybe he only needed some fresh air.
I felt like a creeper as I tiptoed to the window, but I told myself I was only looking out for him. Squinting beyond the porch light, I saw his silhouette as he paced near the paddock, as if thinking something through, and then he started walking away from the house.
I had a feeling this wasn’t his first time getting his energy out like this after a bad dream, and out here, it might’ve been easier to get the space he needed, compared to the big city. Still, he didn’t know the property like we did, but I supposed where he decided to walk was none of my business. Besides, I had no clue if he’d done this before while I was asleep some other night since he’d arrived. Eventually he’d run into a fence or a pond or some cattle.
Except he was a guest and a family member. And he’d just woken out of a deep sleep. Did he have the wherewithal to find his way back? Even if he had done this before?
Decision made, I pulled on some sweats and went out to the porch swing to wait for him. If it seemed too long for him to be gone, I’d go search in the direction he’d headed.
I leaned back as the motion of the swing and the cool temps lulled me into a twilight slumber. Five more minutes and I would go find him.
When I heard the rustling of leaves, I straightened myself to a sitting position. My eyes met his as he began ascending the steps, and he looked…haunted. That was the only word I could come up with to describe it. But no way I’d mention that to him.
I heard his voice catch as he paused on the top step. “Wh-what are you doing up?”
He pushed his fingers through his hair, which was already wild-looking from tossing and turning in his sheets, and I was sure mine wasn’t much better. He had on a pair of thin shorts that did nothing to disguise his muscular thighs, but it was wrong of me to have such a thought right then. Or ever.
“I could ask you the same question.” I shrugged, trying to make it seem like it was no big deal that I might’ve sent out a search party at any minute.
He winced, then looked behind him, not making eye contact. “I just…”
“How often do they happen?” I asked, not wanting to beat around the bush. He didn’t owe me anything, but I wanted him to know I was here for him if he needed anything.
“What?”
“The dreams,” I said, finally meeting his eyes.
He sputtered, his mouth opening and closing as if he either couldn’t believe I’d figured it out, or that I’d had the balls to ask. I’d stepped in it now, so there was no turning back.
“I hear you sometimes,” I confessed. “I came out here to make sure you were okay. I didn’t want to intrude, but I’m way more familiar with the property than you are.” He stared at me, his eyebrows practically to his hairline, as I continued, “But you don’t have to tell me anything. Just walk right on by into the house, and I won’t be offended.”
And then Julian did walk by me. My shoulders dropped in defeat, and my stomach bottomed out from guilt. Shit, I hoped I didn’t just ruin everything.
But then he paused in front of the door and sighed. He looked back at me with this heaviness in his gaze, like he had the weight of the world on his shoulders, and most likely he did. It was why I was trying to reach out and tell him I had plenty to go around myself. Hell, maybe if we combined ours, it wouldn’t feel so substantial anymore.
Where in the hell had that thought come from?
It would’ve probably looked strange if anyone saw us standing there watching each other like that, but it didn’t feel weird at the time, only real and raw. Like there were unspoken words hanging between us and that same crackling tension in the air I’d felt around him before. I didn’t look away and neither did he, though I wondered if he would think I was some creeper or something. But he was giving it back just as good.