Page 42 of Salvation (Clover-Hills #1)

Wesley

W hen I woke up this morning to Blake snoring on my chest and her legs wrapped around my own, I was fully content with ignoring any work I needed to get done for the day and making her a breakfast so big I’d have to wheel her back home.

But now? Now, I sit across from a spitfire brunette who talks and talks and talks, and I wish I would have thrown my work boots on before the sun even rose.

“He just kept sending gifts and flowers to the apartment. Eventually, he found out she was gone and went ballistic. I knew when she texted me something was wrong. So naturally, I bought the first plane ticket out here.”

She was so giddy when she got here that I almost let her go wake Blake up, but we both agreed she deserved the extra few hours of sleep.

I made her coffee, but she declined any breakfast until Blake awoke.

Now she sits across from me on the couch, filling me in on ‘Princess Marshall’, as Vivienne likes to call him.

I couldn’t help the laugh that came barreling out of me at that name.

“So, how long have you known Blake?” I ask, setting my mug on the side table.

“We met when she moved to the city, so-"

“Six years.” I nod my head in confirmation.

“Right.” Vivienne draws out the word, raking a skeptical eye over me, like she just knows something I don’t.

Usually, I wouldn’t be so intimidated by a woman so small, but I’d do just about anything to get the hell out of this conversation as soon as possible.

“We’ve been roommates for forever,” she adds.

“Well-"

“Vivienne?” Blake’s soft voice interrupts from the hallway, making me nearly groan in relief.

Thank god.

Before I even have time to process, the two are a jumping, screeching mess. “Oh, my god!”

“I missed you so bad!”

“When did you get here?”

“Are those his clothes ?”

Vivienne practically whisper-shouts that last one, her eyes bouncing between the two of us.

Blake looks ready to throttle her best friend, not as oblivious to the fact that I can hear them.

She is in my clothes. Where she slept in my house.

In my bed. And goddamn if I don’t want to take her right back to the bedroom and rip that top right off her body until she’s a screaming, weeping mess beneath me.

The shirt is three sizes too big, falling right above her knees.

The thought of Marshall sneering at Blake’s attire yesterday has me seeing red.

I knew from the stories that he didn’t deserve her, but I didn’t realize just how bad it was.

This woman could walk around in a garbage bag and still steal the very breath from my lungs.

I went over there last night with the intention to apologize for being an overbearing dick.

The last thing she needs is me dictating her love life, even if I loathe the idea of Haden getting anywhere near her.

The things we said… I couldn’t stop pacing when I got home.

Couldn’t concentrate on work or even a stupid TV show until I went over there and made things right.

I still need to apologize, but I’m glad I got there when I did.

Seeing Blake pop her ex in the mouth may just be the highlight of my week. Life is more like it.

At the reminder that I’m here, she turns her honey-brown eyes on me. A little smile graces her pink lips, and I hate the way my heart skips a beat. “Hi.”

Her eyes are still puffy from the night before, but she seems much more at ease. Whether that’s from Vivienne’s presence or from sleeping like a rock on my chest, I couldn’t tell. I’m just glad she’s better than when I found her. "Sleep, okay?” I ask.

She nods, scrunching her eyebrows and turning back to Vivienne. “Does Whitney know you’re here?”

I pull my eyes from Blake to look at Vivienne. “You know Whitney?”

“No, she doesn’t.” Vivienne replies before turning her attention on me. “She’s my sister.”

Now, that I wasn’t expecting. It’s easy to see now, the dark hair and big, round eyes. The two aren’t identical by any means, but it’s obvious to anyone passing by that they’re sisters.

“Well, shit. Congratulations on-"

“Making it here!” Blake interrupts me with a high-pitched enthusiasm that has me raising my eyebrows.

“Was the flight horrible? I know you hate planes.” Blake pulls her in for another bone-crushing hug and gives me a look over her shoulder that just screams ‘ Don’t you dare mention that her sister is pregnant you gigantic fucking idiot . ’

I give a subtle nod. Noted. Vivienne doesn’t know that she’s going to be an aunt soon. I clap my hands, deciding to help Blake out with our little hiccup. “Everyone want breakfast?”

***

I’m flipping a pancake when Blake creeps up beside me. I peek at her, seeing her set a near-empty coffee mug on my counter. “Did you get enough coffee? I can make you another cup.”

“I just want to say thank you for last night. And I wanted to apologize for yesterday.”

I turn off the stove, registering that this isn’t going to be a conversation about coffee. I set everything aside to give her my full attention and in hopes of not burning anyone’s breakfast. “Blake. You don’t need to-"

“I do.” She cuts me off with a shake of her head. “You…you were right. I don’t need another douchebag. You were protecting me. Even…” She sucks in a breath. “Even after all this time. After everything. You still are. So, thank you.”

As if I need any other reason to be pining after this woman, my heart fucking melts when she gets on her toes to kiss my cheek.

She goes to move away, but I’m quicker. My hand shoots out to grab the back of her head, holding her just mere inches away from my face.

I tilt her head just a little bit to meet my eyes.

Her warm breath grazes my own when she gasps, and when she licks her lips, I have to refrain from running my thumb over her plump bottom lip.

Seeing tears stain these cheeks just 24 hours ago…

it makes me want to rip this fucking town apart.

“I’m sorry too, sweetheart.” Not just for my words or my actions, but for everything that’s been burdening her. She straightens, releasing herself from my grip and lifting her chin at me. Seemingly trying to shake off the tension that’s crackling in the air between us.

“All is forgiven.” She glances toward the pan and raises an eyebrow. “So long as you don’t burn my pancakes.”

I don’t miss the extra swish in her hips as she leaves me in the kitchen.