A Little Crush

“But you’ll come back, right?”

“No.”

“Why? That’s what you were talking to Leonard about.”

She sighs.

“Yes. You could come with me, but the fear that you might be unsafe is too much for me to risk. Unfortunately, I can’t afford to take time off or keep missing work. And I don’t want to let you down.”

She pauses.

“Leonard assured me he’d take care of you and promised that, if you didn’t want him here, nurses and maids would come and nothing would be lacking. It will always be your choice.”

She looks at me seriously.

“We’ll come here once a week, probably on Friday, and stay until Sunday morning. At least until we’re sure you’re really safe. Besides, the police want to talk to you. They’re coming on Monday.”

She looks at me sadly and uncertainly.

“Blair, I trust him. And you trust me. I don’t know what’s going on between you two, but he cares about you. You’re safer here than the president himself!”

I smile and nod.

She’s right.

Leonard won’t hurt me.

He might be a lot of things, but he’s no rapist.

“He can stay.”

“Mmm…”

She gives me that crooked smile of hers, the one belonging to someone who sees more than she should.

“I know… You’ve got a little crush on him!”

“Shut up! I don’t have anything!”

“Yeah, right!”

I slap her arm, and she runs toward the door, laughing.nShe turns back, kisses me on the forehead, then pulls me into a hug before leaving.

Maybe I do have a little crush on him.

Just a tiny one.

I take the pill the doctor left on the nightstand and lie down.

I need to sleep.

I wake up with a start from another nightmare.

I’m sweaty, and my heart is racing. I try to control my breathing and calm myself as the nightlight comes on. I look around.

I’m alone.

But I don’t want to be alone.

I get up and leave the room. The only sounds I hear are coming from outside.

I look down a long, dimly lit hallway, illuminated by ambient lights along the walls. Floor-to-ceiling windows overlook the vineyards. On the opposite side, I notice three more doors.

I remember Claire saying she was right next door, so I take a chance and open the first door.

Empty.

It’s smaller than my room, decorated in shades of beige with hints of green. I realize Claire has already left and close the door. I take a few more steps and stop between the last two doors.

Which one is his room?

He must be asleep.

I turn to go back to my room, but stop. I don’t want to be alone, and I don’t feel like sleeping So I summon the courage to find him behind one of these doors.

I place my hand on the doorknob of the second-to-last door and slowly open it. It isn’t an old door, so it doesn’t creak, but my heart insists on pounding in my ears.

I’m nervous.

I peek inside, but all I see is darkness, so I don’t even dare to enter.

I close the door and move on to the next one.

The night is going to be long, I can tell. On impulse, I place my hand on the doorknob and slowly open it. As I push the door, I see light—the same soft ambient lighting as in my room. I push it open a little further.

And I’m completely mesmerized by what I see.

Leonard is lying on the bed shirtless, wearing only black sweatpants.

His laptop is open, and his phone is still in his hand. It looks like he fell asleep while working.

He looks like a God.

A perfectly defined body. A silver chain with a cross hangs around his neck, resting against the hair on his chest.

Now I understand perfectly why they call him Heartbreaker.

This man is gorgeous from head to toe.

Even when he’s asleep. I decide he deserves some rest and turn away.

“Blair!”

I look back and see him getting up.

“Sorry. I didn’t mean to wake you.”

“What’s going on? Is everything okay? What do you need?”

Now I feel like a complete idiot.

I can see the concern in his eyes.

“Nothing. Seriously, everything’s fine.”

I smile at him.

He stops almost right next to me, but doesn’t force the closeness.

However, his eyes give him away.

He looks me up and down, lingering for too long on my chest. I completely forgot to put on my robe. And now I realize I’m standing in front of him wearing a long black silk nightgown, laced at the bust.

Way too sexy given the situation.

He realizes he’s been silent for too long and clears his throat.

“Tell me what you need, please. You didn’t come looking for me for nothing.”

“Mmm… Well, I had a nightmare and woke up alone and…”

“You need company.”

I nod.

I never thought I’d reach a point in my life where I’d rather be with someone than alone.

His smile is sweet. Who would have thought I’d ever see a smile like that on my boss’s face?

He extends his hand toward me.

I hesitate.

He senses my insecurity, and just as he’s about to lower his hand, I grab it.

I have to trust him.