Reaching across Reid’s chest, I pulled the seatbelt down and buckled him in. With the moonlight streaming across his face, he looked peaceful, and I let myself watch him as his breathing slowed to a steady in-and-out. With him tucked into my passenger seat, I could almost pretend for a moment that he was mine. That we’d been out on the town and were headed home, together. The thought didn’t seem so far out of reach while he was still within touching distance.
My fingertips ached to reach out, and though I didn’t want to wake him, I found myself unable to stop from leaning over and running the back of my hand lightly down the length of his jaw. The stubble there felt surprisingly soft, and only when I moved my hand the opposite way did it prickle at all. When Reid didn’t so much as stir, I repeated the move again, pressing my luck.
He was beautiful. So, so beautiful. And now I knew it wasn’t just the way he looked or the persona he’d put on every day;hewas beautiful.
The words were on the tip of my tongue when Reid arched, and before I could pull away, he leaned into my hand so that I was cupping his cheek. I held my breath, waiting for his eyes to open, for him to catch me touching him when I shouldn’t be. But he didn’t wake, falling right back into his deep slumber. I gave him one last look, memorized the way he looked with his perfect face cradled in my hand, and then pulled my arm back slowly. When he stayed asleep where he was, I let out an exhale and sat back in my seat.
That had been too close. But the quick jolt to my system had given me an idea, and it was with that thought that I drove sleeping Prince Charming home.
nine
“CAN YOU MOVE it a little to the right? Yeah, in front of the window. Perfect.”
As the movers positioned Reid’s present where I indicated, I leaned against the wall and imagined the reaction Reid would have when he saw what I’d found earlier that morning. It wasn’t fancy by any stretch of the imagination, but I had a feeling he’d appreciate the gesture, and with it being my day off, I didn’t want to waste another moment in showing him. After I gave the movers a tip, they left and I sent a quick text to Reid.
Not even five minutes later, the doorbell rang, and it didn’t stop until I opened the door, chuckling at Reid’s impatience. He stood on the doorstep, out of breath and with his hands on his hips. “Did you run all the way over here?” I asked.
“You said come quick.” He looked me up and down. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing’s wrong. I just thought maybe you’d want to see your surprise.”
Reid’s eyebrows went up to his hairline. “A surprise? For me?”
“Yep. Close your eyes.”
“Wait—is it a good surprise or a bad surprise?”
“Just close ’em.”
“You’re being awfully cryptic today.”
“I believe the proper Southern term is ‘clear as mud.’ Are they closed?” I waved my hand in front of Reid’s face, and when I was satisfied he wasn’t peeking, I took his wrist and led him down the hall. There hadn’t been space in the living room for what I’d found at a secondhand shop a town over from Floyd Hills, so his surprise was currently taking up the spot where my small kitchen table used to be—since I never used it anyway.
“Can I open them yet?” Reid said.
“You’re so impatient.”
“I think you enjoy driving me crazy.”
I coughed as I thought,You have no idea.“Keep ’em closed.” As we came to a stop at the opening between the kitchen and living room, my nerves got the better of me and I almost turned him back around. Maybe I’d overdone it. Or maybe it wasn’t such a great idea after all?—
“Ollie, you’re killin’ me here.”
“Okay, okay,” I said, and let go of his wrist. “You can open them.”
“Finally.” When Reid’s eyes opened, the grin on his lips fell as his jaw went slack, and he froze.
“Surprise,” I said, gesturing toward the piano all Vanna White, but the longer he went without speaking, the more my smile wavered. He was so still and quiet, I wasn’t sure if he was breathing.
“Uh, I thought”—I cleared my throat—“since you can’t have one at your place, you could…you know. Maybe have one here. To use anytime you want.”
“I… I don’t…” He blinked a couple of times. “I don’t know what to say. Ollie…”
My stomach plummeted. “If you don’t like it, I can take it back,” I said quickly. “I know it’s probably not the kind you’reused to…were used to. But it plays, and I have someone coming out later today to tune it up for you so it sounds good.”
“You bought me a piano,” Reid whispered, as he stepped toward it and ran a hand lightly over the top. Then he looked back at me, the expression on his face still one of shock but also…appreciation?
Relief swept through me as he rubbed his lips, his head shaking as if he couldn’t believe what he was seeing.