Rebecca White spun around, ready to leave.
Where are you going?
She barely took a step before Francis caught her wrist.
I’m just going to find the housekeeper…
Rebecca felt a lot more awake now, and explained, The guest room needs to be tidied up before someone can sleep in it.
Francis let out a low chuckle, a half-smirk flickering at the corners of his mouth,
You want me to sleep in the guest room?
Rebecca blinked, momentarily confused.
Wait, was that…not right?
Sure, it was his house, but she’d already claimed the master bedroom.
Rebecca, Francis said her name softly, his eyes narrowing as he studied her. Are you really that clueless, or are you just pretending?
Rebecca stared, What do you mean?
Suddenly, her cheeks flushed as the implication hit her. Was he saying…?
Francis stepped closer, their faces nearly touching. His breath was warm against her skin as he spoke.
I want to sleep in the master bedroom, he said, clear as day.
Of course! That’s what she thought he meant!
Is that okay? Francis asked, his hand sliding around her waist, gently guiding her back toward the bedroom.
Rebecca took slow, stumbling steps, her heart racing. But…
“But what?” Francis prompted her, “We already slept together tonight, didn’t we?
By now, they were inside the master bedroom. Francis nudged the door shut with his foot.
He lowered his forehead to hers.
Let me stay, he whispered. Please?
And then, before Rebecca could answer, he scooped her up so effortlessly she barely had time to gasp, laying her gently down on the bed.
She lay there, her mind a blank haze, staring up at Francis’ handsome, composed face.
Rebecca, he murmured, leaning over her, his hand brushing softly against her cheek. If you ever feel uncomfortable, just tell me to stop, okay? I’ll stop right away.
She wasn’t quite sure what to make of that. Rebecca wasn’t exactly a naïve girl, but she didn’t have much experience with this sort of thing, either.
Wait… As he leaned in, she placed a hand on his chest, cheeks burning. Isn’t this…all a bit fast?
Francis gave a soft, exasperated laugh. Fast? Rebecca, it’s been five years. James is four now. I lost four of those years, and I’ve spent this whole last year trying to win ou back. You really think this is fast?”
He shook his head, smiling a little. If anything, it’s been way, way too slow.
As he kissed her, images flashed through Rebecca’s mind: Francisz pulling her out of her abusive
marriage, finding her a safe place to stay in a quiet suburb, hiring doctors for her recovery…
Helping her find a job, taking care of her grandfather…
Telling her, whenever she was ready, he’d marry her in a heartbeat…
Rebecca’s heart softened. She closed her eyes, wrapped her arms around him, and hugged him back.
Rebecca? Francis pulled back just a little, searching her eyes. This time, you really want this, right?
She blushed deeply, nodding. Yes. I want this… I want you.
Her answer was swallowed by his next kiss-and after that, there was no stopping what came next.
The next morning, Rebecca woke up alone in the bed.
Had he left?
Thinking back to the passionate night before, she felt oddly empty, like something was missing.
She slipped out of the bedroom and headed downstairs.
Morning.
At the bottom of the stairs, Francis was just about to come up. When he saw her,
he reached for her hand. I was just coming to check on you, but you beat me to
it.
He glanced her over, concern soft in his eyes. Did you sleep all right? Get enough rest?
Yeah, Rebecca mumbled, her cheeks tinting pink again. She kept her gaze down.
He hadn’t left. He hadn’t just disappeared and left her alone in the morning.
Francis squeezed her hand gently. Want to have breakfast together? She nodded.
They sat down at the table in the
sunlit kitchen, a plate of scrambled
eggs, toast, and coffee between
them. Rebecca picked at her food, glancing at her phone, her heart lighter than it had been in a long time.