As If You Never Left Me (Crimson Romance) by Katriena Knights Read Free Book Online Page B

awake looking at the ceiling, thinking about Rey in the other room. He’d never slept in more than a pair of boxers; she doubted he had on anything more right now. Maybe he was asleep already, hair tousled, drooling on the pillow.
    How had he managed to get past her barriers so quickly? She’d been determined to protect herself, and now here he was in her house, sleeping in his underwear on her couch only a room away. All this after fourteen months, during which he’d barely tried to contact her …
    She sat up suddenly, tossing back the covers. On the shelf in her closet was a white shoebox she could barely reach. Straining upwards on her toes, she caught hold of it and managed to maneuver it down into her hands.
    She carried it back to the bed and covered herself back up, tucking the blankets around her lap. She let the house get quite cool at night, to keep her electric bill down and to prevent having to keep more than a small fire burning in the stove. So, before she opened the box, she made sure she was cozy.
    Even then, she stared at the box’s lid for a time before she finally pushed it open. Inside were twelve letters. Unopened, addressed to her, in Rey’s handwriting.
    He’d tried. He’d called her several times, as well. He’d even called her mother to track down her phone number, and Joely knew he’d rather have dental work done than talk to his mother-in-law. She’d never opened his letters, and had used Caller ID to avoid his calls.
    What had she been afraid of? Had she thought maybe he would say something that would change her mind? Why hadn’t she given him a chance, back then?
    She picked up the top letter and slid her index finger under the envelope’s flap. There was a small tearing sound. She stopped. For a moment, she sat frozen like that, the tip of her finger ready to tear the envelope open. Then she put the letter back, closed the box, and stuffed it under the bed.
    Whatever she’d been afraid of then, she was afraid of the same thing now. Afraid of opening herself up again, of getting hurt.
    Or maybe she was just afraid it was too late.
    She lay there, curled up in the blankets, curled around her heart, remembering what it had been like to have him next to her in bed, just sleeping, his warmth suffusing the blankets. A man in bed could come in handy on those cold mountain nights. The altitude sucked the heat out of the air even in the depths of the summer. And he was just down the tiny hallway, wasting all that glorious male heat on her couch cushions.
    Resolutely, she grabbed her spare pillow, wrapped her arm around it and closed her eyes. She’d slept alone in this bed for fourteen months, and she’d stayed plenty warm enough. She would be fine.
    • • •
    The couch was too short. Way too short. Rey butted his feet up against the armrest, but his head was still squished against the other one. He could put his head on top of the armrest, but it was uncomfortable, digging into his neck and squishing his ear. The pillow helped, but not enough.
    He was never going to get to sleep at this rate. Adding to his frustration was the thought that Joely was only a room away in a perfectly comfortable bed that undoubtedly had more room for him in it than this stupid couch did. He’d even promise not to touch her, if he could just get enough room to stretch out flat on his back.
    Who was he kidding? He could promise, but he’d touch her anyway. As much as possible. Maybe it would be better for them both if he just stayed here.
    Maybe if he had another pillow …
    He sat up, peering down the short hallway. A small nightlight burned next to the bathroom door, which was good because otherwise the tiny house was pitch black. He’d never lived anywhere without streetlights, and the immensity of the darkness here had caught him off guard. There must not be any moon to speak of tonight. He’d never thought much about that, either.
    Joely’s bedroom door was closed. He hadn’t heard anything from