Chapter 50

Shirley

As I’m getting ready for the day the following morning, I can’t help but acknowledge the restful night of sleep I’ve had - despite the dinner with Keith, despite him asking me to spend Thanksgiving with him, despite everything. Somehow, I managed to pass out soon after I returned to my room, and I slept soundly throughout the whole night.

And now I’m moving around the guest bedroom, tidying up a little so Keith doesn’t think I’m some wild animal. Meanwhile, I have my phone propped against my shoulder and Jean’s sweet voice filling my ear.

Well, it’s sweet despite the sadness in her tone over the news I’ve just shared.

“What do you mean you’re not coming home for Thanksgiving? I was really hoping I could see you,” she tells me.

“I know, Jean. I was too,” I tell her as I fold some clothes. “But things are really picking up with the project and it’s important for me to be here.”

“I get it,” Jean says. “Work comes first. But really, I hate the idea of you spending the holidays alone.”

Apparently, I won’t be spending it alone, I think, but I don’t dare say the words aloud.

“I’ll be fine,” I say instead. “I’ve spent plenty of Thanksgivings, Christmases, etc alone. I’m used to it by now.”

And really, I have. For years, I haven’t taken time off or spent the holidays with anyone else. I just use it all as an excuse to bury my nose in work and drink a glass of wine by myself as a form of celebration.

“I know,” Jean replies sadly. “You’re used to it…but it does break my heart.”

Oh, Jean. Her tone pulls at my heart a little, especially because she means well.

“Next year,” I tell her. “We’ll spend every holiday together. I’ll even cook the turkey.”

Now that pulls a laugh out of her, causing me to smile as I love the sound, but also because I know I’m in the clear.

“I’ll hold you to it,” she says back. “Okay, I should probably go. I need to get Eliot to daycare. Love you.”

“Love you,” I reply. “And tell Eliot I love him too.”

From there, I pull the phone from my ear and hang up before I slide it back in my pocket. With the room in much better shape, I grab my laptop and head toward the door. Once I’m in the hallway, I pause as I listen for any signs that someone else may be in the house. However, it’s silent as usual.

Taking that in stride, I head into the dining room where I quickly set up my things and take a seat. I know I can easily work in my room, but I don’t feel like being cooped up in there constantly. Plus, Keith’s dining room has a nice view of the forest where I can happily admire the autumn leaves over the trees.

Getting to work, I open up my documents and begin typing away. It’s easy to immediately get lost in the files and emails as I swiftly fire out edits and replies. I’m not even aware that time is passing quickly before I take a moment to pause so I can stretch my arms over my head, noting from my computer’s clock that two hours have passed.

Looking out the window again, I smile to myself as I study the sunshine coming through the glass, noticing it stretching across the table next to me. Smoothly, I slide my hand over, feeling the wood that has been warmed from the rays as I nearly hum in pleasure.

However, that soon causes a new idea to fill my head. I want to feel the sunshine across my skin and I figure I can afford to take a little break. I get up the table then, already moving toward the front door without a second thought.

Once I’m outside, my smile only grows. The sunshine feels devine and I take it all in as I lower myself onto the front steps, tilting my head back and closing my eyes so I can let it touch all the peaks of my face. I take in a few deep breaths, enjoying the fresh air as a warm wind blows through the trees.

However, the sound of the leaves rustling is soon replaced by tires moving over the gravel. It causes me to open my eyes again as I direct my gaze toward the car pulling into the driveway. I’m expecting to find Keith, but instead I see a familiar black Audi before I discover Warren behind the steering wheel. I stand as he gets out of the car, giving him a small wave before he moves to get something out of the back.

“Something for Keith?” I ask as he begins to walk toward the porch with a box in his hands. “He’s not home right now.”

“Actually, these are for you,” he tells me as he grows closer, causing me to lift my brows. However, as he reaches me, he holds out the box and I’m able to get a look at what’s inside.

“Your books,” he informs me the same moment I spot them. “Keith said you requested a few titles. I just picked them up.”

“Oh my,” I say, taking the box from him. Immediately, I lower it to the step, taking a seat beside it before I pull out two of the books. I read the titles before I glance down again, scanning the others that still lay inside.

He hadn’t just gotten one or two of the books I requested - he’d gotten all of them. I’m not sure if Keith told him to get them all or if Warren was just an overachiever, but either way I’m floored.

“Thank you,” I tell Warren as I look up at him. In turn, he gives me a smile and a wave before he’s retreating again, going back to the car as he’s likely off to run more errands.

Meanwhile, I go back to the books, smiling once more as I grab one that I’m most eager about. And because I can’t help myself, I open it up and begin to read it right then and there.

~

It’s been over an hour and I still haven’t put the book down. Apparently I didn’t fully grasp the concept of taking a “little” break, but I just can’t help myself. The book started off with a bang and now each chapter is leaving off with a cliffhanger, making me hungry for more.

Turning a page, I read swiftly as I have to know what happens next between the main character and her love interest - only, my focus breaks a little as I begin to hear more rustling from the trees. However, this time it isn’t just the wind, but something more louder.

Blinking, I look up from my page and look off in the direction that the sound is coming from, feeling my heart stagger for a moment as I finally stand and stare off at the forest, gripping my book tightly in my hands as I anticipate what could be causing the noise.

And soon, I find out. But it’s not a threat, nor does it call for any alarm.

Or maybe just a different kind of alarm as I feel my body flush as I watch what steps out to greet me. Emerging from the trees and bushes…is Keith.

But it’s a completely shirtless, hair gorgeously tousled Keith who is unaware of my presence. His eyes are aimed toward the ground, his beautiful tanned skin shining with sweat as he walks toward the house.

For some reason, the sight makes me only squeeze my book tighter as he gets closer. And then I fear I may drop it completely as he finally looks up, his eyes officially meeting mine. But his are wild, almost gleaming as if he just…

He just shifted. That’s where he’s been. Out in the forest on some kind of run. The thought of him in wolf form, darting through the forest only makes my heart race more, which is not the state I want to be in as Keith finally walks up the stairs to meet me.

“Hey,” he says, so damn casually. He even lets out a small huff, his muscles contracting as I try not to stare down at them.

“Hi,” I eventually offer back, noting the meekness in my voice. Goddess, I could kick myself for it.

“You okay?” Keith asks, lifting a brow as he runs his hand through his hair.

“Yes,” I say with a nod, trying to get my voice to sound more normal.

However, I’m not sure that I’ve convinced Keith, but either way he doesn’t comment on it. Instead, he just looks down, seeming to notice what I’m currently clutching in my hands.

“You got the books,” he says, looking over the cover before his eyes rise back to mine.

Again, I nod. “I did.”

“Good,” he says back.

We both grow silent for a moment, staring at each other as my fingers begin to drum over the cover of my book. Keith seems to clock the movement, causing him to glance down once more as I mentally scold my fingers. However, maybe it’s my eyes that I should be picking a fight with because they officially betray me as they scan him, ogling over every inch of Keith before I’m able to stop them.

Thankfully, I manage to look back up at him the same time his eyes lift to mine.

“Alright - well - I’m going to take a shower,” he says then. And for the third time, all I can do is nod. But words don’t leave me as Keith officially walks away, moving past me before he can slide into the house.

Once the door closes, I nearly feel like I’m going to melt into a puddle, but find myself pressing my book into my face instead. Oh dear Goddess, all I can think about is Keith inside…heading toward the bathroom where that mouth-watering body will soon be standing under the -

No, no, no. I should not be thinking about Keith this way. It’s not right. Why was I getting so worked up over this?

Well, maybe it’s like what Keith said back on Halloween…my body just can’t help itself when it sees an attractive male. Maybe the most attractive male I’ve ever encountered.

Finally, I force myself to pry the book away from my face, shaking my head as I realize I hadn’t even thanked him for the books because I’d been so distracted by him.

Yeah. That can’t happen. I need to control myself around Keith.

And avoid seeing him shirtless again at all costs.