and warm, and it felt like she could fall asleep with his hand on her face. This was crossing a line she wasn’t sure she should. She closed her eyes and nodded tentatively. She waited in anticipation. She could feel him shifting to get a better angle. She wanted to open her eyes, but she couldn’t. She felt him lift her chin and noticed how heavy she was breathing. She was a little relieved she was remembering to breathe at all. Then it happened. His lips touched hers gently at first. She returned his kiss. She started to want more, and his lips moved from hers. He kissed her cheeks and her forehead. He stood up, and she was still sitting there with her eyes closed. She slowly opened them.
“Good gravy,” she whispered. He laughed out loud. He held out a hand, and she took it. He helped her to her feet, walked her around the corner and down the hall. She began to feel excitement build. He stopped outside an open door and flipped on a light within the room.
“This is your room,” he said. She looked in and then looked at him confused. “Sleep on it. You’ve had a lot to absorb this evening. Sleep well. I promise I’ll keep you safe.”
“But,” she said, and he gently led her into the room by placing a hand on her back and moving her toward the bed.
“I’ll be across the hall,” he said. “If you need anything, you know where to find me.” He closed the door, and she was alone in his spare bedroom staring at the closed door. She kicked off her black heels and climbed into bed fully clothed. She grabbed her cell phone and called Derrick.
“Hello?”
“Hey. It’s Kristine. What are you doing?”
“Reading Cosmo.”
“Are you at work?”
“Of course. This is where I do all my reading. Slow night. No one wants to shoot anyone tonight. Are you drunk?”
“Yes.”
“Are you naked in a strange man’s bed?”
“No and kind of.”
“Why not and who?”
“Because and Will.”
“The Chief Editor guy?” he blurted, and she heard the hard binding of the magazine hit the desk or counter where Derrick sat.
“Editor-in-Chief and yes. I’m in his spare room. He’s helping me with a tricky story, but he did tell me he likes me.”
“So why are you in the spare room?”
“I’m thinking.”
“About what? You’ve been hot for him for as long as I’ve known you.”
“He’s my married boss,” she said.
“When was the last time you let yourself do something crazy? Buying purple lipstick that you never wear doesn’t count as crazy! Use the alcohol as an excuse to get naked and jump him,” Derrick said sounding more excited by the prospect than she could muster for herself.
“But that could screw up my job. Look, I’m hanging up before he wonders who I’m talking to in here,” she said. She could hear Derrick yelling, “Just do it!” as she closed the phone. She rolled over.
“Sleep on it,” she whispered Will’s words as she drifted off to sleep.
Chapter Three
Kristine woke up with a headache and dry mouth. She looked at the big red numbers on the nightstand next to her - 7:34. She rolled on her back and rubbed her head. She didn’t remember dreaming…or did she? Had the conversation with Will been a dream? She got up, dug in one of the bags for clothes and a toothbrush and set out to find the bathroom. A half hour later, she emerged from the bathroom to the smell of coffee. Her hair was still wet and hung over the white T-shirt, which was tucked into the new jeans. The T-shirt was a little snug and the jeans were a little loose - not what she would have picked out for herself. She wondered which staff member Will had sent to buy the things for her. Probably Joyce, she thought. She went into the kitchen and felt the cold tile on her bare feet. Will was standing by the toaster.
“Good morning,” he said and turned around to see her. She was still fighting a hangover and confusion from last night.
“Good morning,” she said and leaned back against the counter. He was staring at her and smiling. “What?”
“I don’t know that I’ve seen you with your hair down like that. I like it,” he said still grinning. She reached up and felt the cold, wet hair. “There’s juice in the refrigerator and the coffee will be ready in a minute. Make yourself at home.” The toast flipped up through the slits of the toaster, and Will turned his attention to buttering.
“Thanks,” she said and walked to the refrigerator. It was stocked with a lot of healthy looking stuff. Her refrigerator had old mayonnaise, diet soda, a beer or two and left over Chinese take-out. She pulled out a bottle of water.
“Come on. Breakfast is served,” he said and took a plate of toast and the coffee pot to the dining room. She followed him. They sat down. “You’re quiet. Not a morning person?”
“Hung over,” she said and reached for a piece of toast. Will had already put some fresh fruit on the table. He poured her a cup of coffee.
“Sorry about that. I probably shouldn’t have opened the second bottle.” He wouldn’t stop smiling. It was contagious. She smiled at him. “How did you sleep?”
“I was out as soon as my head hit the pillow,” she said taking a sip of the coffee and not mentioning her conversation with Derrick. “Are you going into the office today?”
“No. I told Joyce I was working from home today. I want to help you with your story,” he said. She felt a little uneasy, but she didn’t know why.
“You don’t have to do that,” she said. “Won’t people wonder what we’re up to?”
“I don’t care,” Will said. “For the first time in my life, I don’t care.” She watched him. He looked happy - almost like a teenager in love for the first time. He was giddy. She wasn’t sure how to react to this Will. Will was supposed to be all business. She had never thought about what he was like outside the office. “So, did you do any thinking last night?” She honestly hadn’t.
“Actually, between the wine and being exhausted I think I passed out.” They both sat quietly. “Will, I have to be honest. I don’t know if I can take anything else right now.”
“I understand,” he said.
“No, please. Let me finish.” He nodded. “Two months ago I was trekking along my only care in the world was how to beat everyone. Now I’m in hiding trying to crack potentially the biggest story of my life. And to top it off, this unattainable man, or so I thought, who I’ve been in lust with for almost three years, tells me he’s separated from his wife and has feelings for me. I’m kind of overwhelmed by everything right now, but that doesn’t mean no. It just means I need a little time to let all this sink in,” she said.
“You’re right,” he said. “I shouldn’t
