Her hands gripped the bottom of her tank top and pulled it over her head as she walked toward my closet and flicked through my hanging shirts. Long brown hair hung down her back, and I realized spending the night just sleeping was going to be more difficult than I had imagined.

“Where are all your T-shirts?” she turned and asked, her breasts practically busting out of the top of her bra.

“Dresser,” I mumbled, watching every move she made. When she pulled out a Texas University shirt and slipped it on, I hardened even more. Seeing her dressed from head to toe in my clothing was a ridiculous turn-on.

“Your turn,” she said softly as she reached for the bottom of my shirt. It was such a bold move, but it felt right in her hands. I lifted my arms above my head as she pulled it off and tossed it to the floor near her discarded clothes.

This was a side of Paige I didn’t even know existed. This Paige was confident and bold and seemed completely unafraid, while I stood there half-terrified, feeling like my soul had been stripped bare and laid out in front of her. I hoped she’d be gentle with it.

Once she reached for the button on my jeans, I stopped her and did it myself. I trusted Paige but I was emotionally spent, and having her unbutton my jeans crossed the line from where my sanity and self-control lived. I wanted Paige in my arms. I needed to feel the closeness between us after what I’d just shared with her, but I wasn’t ready to push the boundary. Yet.

“I know this probably seems crazy to have you here like this and not…” I paused as I pulled the covers back on my bed. “Well, you know.”

“It’s not messed up. Do you have any idea how many times a girl would just like to be held, or have an amazing talk like we just did and have it not end up in the bedroom? I’m happy to spend the night with you. I’m even happier that it has nothing to do with sex. You have no idea how much of a relief that is for a girl.” She climbed in bed beside me, my shirt hanging well past her hips. “Especially for someone in my position.”

My emotions still raw, I pulled her against me, still thinking about my dad and feeling vulnerable. She rested her head against my chest and I kissed the top of it. “Thank you. For understanding.”

“Thank you. For not being typical.”

“Yeah, I’m definitely not normal. Pretty sure I’m broken, or damaged, or maybe just clinically insane.”

She looked up at me. “Pretty sure you’re amazing. And I’m lucky to have found you.”

“Pretty sure you’re just as messed up as I am,” I teased, before finding her lips and kissing her until I could barely stay awake.

A New Kind of Trust

Paige

My eyes fluttered open as the weight of someone’s arm reminded me that I wasn’t alone in bed. Memories of last night flooded through my mind, and I smiled as I buried my face in Tatum’s arm. I tried to turn over, but I couldn’t move. His body pressed against mine as he held me so tightly.

It was in that moment that I started to freak out, realizing that his mom would know I had spent the night with her son.

“Oh my gosh, Tatum,” I said, trying to shake him awake. “Tatum, wake up.”

“What’s up, babe?” he mumbled.

“Your mom.”

“What about her? Is she here?” He shot up.

“No. But she’ll know I spent the night. Oh my gosh, she’s going to kick me out of your house.” I dropped my head into my hands and closed my eyes.

Tatum wrapped one of his arms around me and squeezed. “She’s not going to do anything except probably bake us both more pie. She’ll be pleased as punch.”

“Pleased as punch?” I said, turning my head slightly.

“It’s a Southern thing. It means happy.”

“How do you know?”

“You saw her face last night. She lit up like a Christmas tree when we said we were hanging out together. I think she’s been waiting for this since I first brought you home and warned her not to freak out.”

“You warned her not to freak out? About me?”

“Well, yeah. I couldn’t just waltz in the house with you and not warn her. I am a gentleman, after all.”

“Is that what you call it?”

“What would you call it, Princess?”

I growled and frowned at him. “I hate you and I’m going to make up some stupid nickname for you that you hate. And I’m going to call you by it all the time. Because I’m twelve,” I said with a fake scowl.

“Sorry, punk.”

“But seriously, Tatum, I don’t want to disappoint your mom.” I hated the idea of her being upset at me.

“She’s not going to be disappointed. You’re reading way too much into this,” he insisted.

“By the way, what’s the deal with my car?” Not that I cared, I just figured I’d ask so I could pretend I needed to know.

“Oh.” He turned his face away briefly before looking up at the ceiling and shrugging. “I’m, um, never fixing it.”

I laughed. “That’s just rude, Tatum Alan Montgomery.”

“Is it?” He leaned over me, his mouth quirking up into a devilish grin. I wanted to smack his arm, be playful, or say something witty, but all I could see were his shoulders and the way his arms flexed as he held himself above me. Nothing in my life had ever been sexier than this moment.

“You see something you like?” Tatum winked as my focus returned to his face.

“A lady never tells,” I said coyly.

“And you, Paige Lockwood,” he kissed my nose, “are most certainly one of those.” With a grin on his face, he rolled off of me and got out of bed. “I’m starving.”

I moved to get out of bed and change into my clothes when I froze. “Tatum, seriously. I’m putting the same clothes back on and doing the walk of shame. Into your mom’s house!”

“You’d better bring some of your clothes over here then,” he said as he walked out the door, and my heart melted. I stayed on his bed for a minute, collecting the puddle of myself until I turned solid enough to move again.

Pulling open the porch door, I prayed that Tatum’s mom wasn’t in the kitchen, or anyplace where she could see me. But the smell of breakfast cooking hit me in the face, and I knew I was in trouble. Mrs. Montgomery turned her head at the sound of the door creaking open, and I pinched my lips together and offered her a tight smile.

“Morning, Paige,” she said with arched eyebrows.

Crap. I was so busted.

“Morning. I’ll just, uh,” nerves fluttered through me, “be right back.” I rushed into my bedroom and quickly changed into some clean clothes before returning to the kitchen for breakfast.

Sitting down at the table, Tatum couldn’t wipe the stupid smile off his face as his mom kept looking between us.

“I’d really like to take you both out to dinner tonight if that’s okay,” I said. “You do have a restaurant in town, right?” I searched my memory, trying to recall if I’d seen one, but I was certain they had to have one.

Tatum laughed. “We have one café.”

Mrs. Montgomery smiled. “You don’t have to do that, Paige, but it’s kind of you to offer.”

“You both have done so much for me since I’ve been here. And Mrs. Montgomery, you haven’t stopped cooking or baking since I arrived. I’d love to let someone else cook for you for once. Please?” I put my hands together in prayer and stuck out my bottom lip.

“So you don’t like my cooking? Is that it?” Mrs. Montgomery teased, and as I opened my mouth to argue, she stopped me. “I’m kidding, Paige. That sounds nice. I’d love to go out.”

“Yay!” I said a little too enthusiastically, and Tatum rolled his eyes.

Rubbing my full stomach, I hoped that my day with Tatum would consist of more talking much like last night. My thoughts felt somewhat pushy in a sense, but I hoped he was on the same page as I was. As we washed the dishes from breakfast, I nudged my hip against his upper thigh, shoving him over a step. He turned and splashed water from the sink at me, and I squealed.