Sleeping ’til Sunrise by Mary Calmes Read Free Book Online

I said firmly. “There was no date.”
    He sighed sharply, and I could hear all the exasperation. “That makes no sense.”
    “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
    He looked annoyed.
    “Blake?”
    “Now I’m really lost, because last week—what was that, Tuesday—we had this pharmaceutical rep in, and normally he stays with Roark before he heads back to Panama City. But this time Roark doesn’t even invite him back to his office, just says that we don’t need anything and thanks him for coming by.”
    I crossed my arms, waiting for the point of the story.
    “So after the guy leaves I tell him that he shouldn’t be treating a fuck buddy that way, and he says that he’s got no time for anyone anymore but you.”
    It was my turn to be surprised. “What?”
    “Yeah. So when you tell me that you haven’t heard from him, I’m wondering what the hell is going on.”
    “I have no idea.”
    His brows furrowed. “Well, could you try and call him, and if you get ahold of him, could you let him know that he needs to call me?”
    “Sure.”
    “Thanks.” He sighed, smiled, and then left, getting into the red Ferrari parked in front of my house and gunning the motor before he took off.
    Inside, I immediately tried to get Roark. He answered on the second ring.
    “Ess?”
    Oh, the shortened name thing was kind of hot. “Yeah.”
    “I was wondering when you’d call.”
    He was? “Why didn’t you call me?”
    “Because I was afraid if I did, I’d ask you to come here, and I didn’t want to do that.”
    He wanted me there with him? “What’s going on?”
    “My grandmother died.”
    “Yeah, Blake told me.”
    “You talked to Blake?”
    “Yeah, just now. He came over because he wanted to know if I’d heard from you. And by the way, he wants you to call him when you get a chance.”
    “Oh… oh, I see,” he said softy, and the underlying sadness was heartbreaking. “So you’re just calling because—”
    “What the hell is going on, Roark?” I nearly shouted.
    “What do you mean?”
    “I mean are we starting something or not?”
    “I thought—yes. Aren’t we?”
    And the truth hit me. We were having our first, and hopefully last, misunderstanding.
    He thought we’d already begun.
    I was checking to make sure he wanted to.
    Neither of us was aware of what was happening in the other person’s head.
    But clearly, as evidenced by the hitches in his breath as he waited for me to answer, he was already in the relationship. He was already there . I was the one who hadn’t heard the ready-set-go and was waiting for some definitive word or gesture from him.
    For him, allowing me close, at all, was the “Okay, I’m in this moment.” He felt like he’d already said yes to me, which was why he was worried now. He wasn’t sure whether we were on the same page, and there I was, waiting for a sign he’d already given me the night I drove him home. The whole letting me in was him beginning.
    Christ.
    Sometimes I missed what was right in front of my face.
    “Yeah,” I said quickly, growling at him. “So why the hell would you leave without saying anything to me?”
    “I—it was too soon to ask you to go with me,” he rushed out, and I heard both relief and longing in his voice.
    “That’s what you thought?”
    Nothing.
    “Roark?”
    He coughed. “Yeah.”
    “Well, it wasn’t.”
    “No?” he husked.
    “No.”
    “Well, I’m glad you didn’t come, because it’s awful here, and my family is just insane and… I… you’re the only thing.”
    “What?”
    “Thinking about my life there, about going home, about you being there… that’s been the only thing keeping my head on straight.”
    The thought of me was keeping him grounded, and he was looking forward to seeing me. I couldn’t think of a better compliment. “Explain to me what’s going on there.”
    “Oh, no, I don’t want to bur—”
    “If you say bug me or burden me with your crap or anything but how much you missed