Exception (28 page)

E
MILY’S EYES
opened slowly to welcome the new day. It had been too long since she’d had such a relaxing night’s sleep. Pulling her rubbery arms from beneath the covers, she stretched and twisted her stiff spine before turning her head to the side.

If anyone had told her a month before that she would be waking up in the same bed as a man she’d met a month ago, she would have laughed and called them crazy. Nonetheless, there she was, lying in a strange bed and staring at the lovely, relaxed, sleepy face of the only person that she wanted to be completely vulnerable with.

As Emily watched him sleep, memories of the night before packed her mind. When he came back to her room, clad in blue plaid shorts and a soft gray tee, she was still going through her nightly routine. He sat on the bed and started talking to her as she moved around the room. The conversation flowed with such ease that it felt like they’d been doing it for years. After Emily laid beside him and turned the lights off their conversation continued in hushed tones for just a few seconds, until both fell asleep.

Nothing had happened between them: no kissing, no touching or cuddling, and definitely no sex, but as she watched him sleep, she realized that never in her life had she felt closer and more connected to a man. Once again, the realization of how necessary he had become to her life hit her, and it hit her hard.

“You are unnatural.” Taylor’s sleepy voice broke through her reverie. “No one should look that good so early in the morning.”

Up until that moment she hadn’t noticed that his lids were half open, or that he was staring at her through his lashes. The comment made her laugh, yet another plus of waking up beside him. Taylor was a funny morning person. “I’m just as bleary-eyed, messy haired and bad breathed as any other girl. You’re just still half asleep.”

“I agree with everything you just said,” he admitted with a smirk. “That’s exactly why you’re unnatural. Despite of all of that, you’re still breathtaking. It’s ridiculous.” A small smile and a reddish blush were Emily’s only responses to his compliments.

Being complimented by Taylor was different than being complimented by anyone else. He wasn’t saying nice things to try to get into her pants, or to kiss her ass to get something in return; he was simply speaking from his heart, with no agenda behind it. It made her accept and appreciate his words even more.

If Taylor noticed her shyness and slight blush, he didn’t mention it. “Did you sleep well last night?”

“Like a baby. How about you?” she answered in a content and relaxed voice.

“Me too.” He rubbed his eyes and stretched before continuing. “Do you think we have time for a run before you need to get ready to go?”

“I don’t know. What time is it?” she asked pointing to the side table where her phone was.

Yawning, Taylor reached for the device and handed it to her. She clicked the button to light up the screen. “Shit!” she yelled, jumping out of the bed. The clock showed a quarter to one, which gave her less than twenty minutes to be on the road and heading back to New Haven, or she’d be late for her book club meeting.

Taylor watched her fuss around the dresser, retrieving her clothes and tossing them over the bed. The scene of Emily cursing while running around the room to collect her things was both funny and sad.

In all honesty, he didn’t want her to go, but he wouldn’t dare say anything about it. It was clear as day that she loved her book meetings and besides, he would ask her to stay, and then what? Ask her to move in? Even Taylor knew that was an idiotic idea.

“Hey,” he called from the bed. When she finally turned to look at him, he offered his most honest smile. “You’re coming back next week, so why don’t you just leave your things here? That way you don’t have to waste time packing.”

Emily looked at him with relief clear in her eyes and nodded. The feeling was not only for the time she would save packing, but also from the reminder that she would be back the following week.

“How about you go take a shower and I’ll make you some breakfast and coffee? You definitely look like someone who needs a lot of coffee.” He spoke with a smile on his lips, trying to hide his sadness at the thought of her leaving. A vigorous nod, confirming her need of their shared vice, made him laugh. “Good, you’ll be out of here in no time, you’ll see. And don’t worry about putting your clothes back in the drawers, I’ll ask Daisy to do it.”

As Emily walked towards the bathroom, she noticed that Taylor had made no move to get up from the bed. He just sat with his back against a pillow propped between him and the bedframe, his arms resting behind his head and a grin on his lips.

“You’re making breakfast from here?” she asked playfully.

“Nope, kitchen. No stove or coffeemaker here.” His innocent tone and smile gave no indication that he had picked up on her teasing.

Emily rolled her eyes and leaned against the doorframe, waiting for him to leave so she could get ready for her shower. With the smirk still on his lips he stared back at her, making no move to leave the room. She bent her head towards the door, fixing him with a look that made her point clearer.

Taylor chuckled. “You see, I’m a guy and guys have certain situations in the morning,” he said moving his hands over the general area of his crotch. An instant blush took over Emily’s face, causing him to chuckle once again before continuing. “Yeah . . . and you, my hot best friend, are not helping it one bit by parading those short shorts in front of me. So I don’t think me getting up from this bed is in the best interest of our non-sexual friendship.”

“So, what you mean to say is, that we’re keeping secrets now?” she teased him yet again, a small wicked grin on her lips. She didn’t know if it was because they shared the same opinion on relationships or because he was her exception, but there wasn’t a single other person with whom Emily would feel comfortable enough to tease like that.

Nevertheless, the fear of rejection she always had whenever she made herself vulnerable was there, and as soon as the words left her lips she wanted to take them back. All of the different scenarios in which he could misinterpret her little joke began playing in her brain. She knew he would never hurt her physically, but he might not want her in his life anymore, and that possibility froze her bones with fear.

In a second, his lips turned into a grin that was twice the size and twice as wicked as hers. “Good heavens no. I’ll show you mine if you show me yours.”

Once again his words brought an immeasurable amount of relief to her. He was playing along, and she was amused. “I have to hit the shower, but I’ll definitely think about it.”

It took a second for the words she’d just said and the way they must have sounded to Taylor’s ears to sink in, but by then it was too late. He was laughing so hard that his entire body was shaking.

“Shit! That sounded all wrong,” she cried, covering her burning face with her hands.

“I see nothing wrong in you thinking about me showing mine while in the shower, not one thing. In fact, I might even do the same,” he said in his best sexy voice.

Picking up the first thing she found on top of the chest of drawers, she threw it at him, laughing and yelling for him to shut up. To her further mortification, the second the garment hit his face she realized it was the black lace bra she’d worn the night before. His thundering laughter filled the room yet again, as she covered her face with her hands and walked to the bathroom. In privacy, she joined his laugh.

Fifteen minutes later, Emily walked out of her room. With a quick detour to leave her purse and briefcase by the door, she walked to the kitchen to find Taylor sitting at the breakfast bar sipping coffee. It took a deep, steadying breath for her to walk up to him and sit on the stool, the teasing conversation they had earlier still on her mind, making her feel incredibly shy.

On the place mat in front of her was a multi-grain whole-wheat bagel with a thick coat of cream cheese, a bowl of strawberries, and a large mug of coffee. An appreciative smile turned her lips. “I love bagels and strawberries; thanks Tay.”

“I’m glad, because that’s all I know how to make,” he informed her with a smile. Emily wondered if the sad undertone she felt in both his smile and voice was real, or if she had imagined it?

As they’d done every day that week, they talked throughout their meal. The fun teasing continued and, in those few minutes, Taylor managed to make Emily blush twice. They ate their food incredibly slowly but, unfortunately, it was over too soon.

Being very uncomfortable with the idea of leaving dirty dishes behind for a maid to pick up, Emily gathered their plates and took them to the sink. There, she rinsed them and placed them in the dishwasher. That was another trait of hers that Taylor had come to admire in the few days that she’d shared his home; she was as kind and attentive as she was beautiful.

After having spent so many years with Georgina it was refreshing to be around a woman who was a kindred spirit. Someone who didn’t think she was above anyone else just because she had more. He’d seen her treat Daisy and Tommy in the exact same way she’d treated Mr. Stanley Parker, and every other big shot she’d met at the gallery. To her, they were all just people, and as long as they treated her kindly she would do the same. That made her even more beautiful in his eyes.

Taylor grabbed the stainless steel mug he’d left on the counter and walked her to the door. They descended to the garage in absolute silence; the only sound inside the steel and mirror box was the beeping, indicating the floors as they passed them. They stood, side by side, close enough so that their arms were touching. That little bit of contact made their mutual sadness a little more bearable.

Reaching her car, Taylor helped her place her briefcase and purse on the passenger seat. “I made you an Emily usual to keep your energy up on the way home. It’s even Starbucks coffee and everything.”

The thoughtfulness of his gesture left her speechless. She took the cup from his extended hand and sipped. It was hot and delicious and perfect. “If you ever get sick of the whole being rich thing, you could be a barista. This is a perfect cup of usual.”

“It’s always good to know I’ve got options,” he joked, making her giggle. “See you tomorrow?”

There was an edge to his question that was easily recognized by Emily; after all, she felt it, too. Once again her body moved without thinking, and in an instant her arms were around his neck and his arms circled around her.

“You better, because leaving sucks. I had the best time this week, Tay.”

The words that sounded against his chest made him smile, despite the sadness in his heart. “Ditto. Call me when you get there, okay?” With her arms still around him, Emily answered with a nod. “Good. Now you better go or you’ll be late,” he continued before kissing her hair.

It took a few more seconds for them to loosen their hold on each other. When they finally did, afraid she would lose her resolve and stay in NYC, Emily climbed in her car and drove away in a hurry.

For both Taylor and Emily, Friday was pure agony. From the moment she’d left his apartment the day before, they’d kept in touch with constant phone calls and texts which, combined with Taylor’s plans to leave NYC around lunchtime on Friday, kept them somewhat calm and happy for the first twenty-four hours. However, when problems arose, keeping Taylor stuck in the gallery until five in the afternoon, it all changed.

He was a pile of nerves when he called Emily from the interstate. She patiently listened as he ranted. She didn’t complain or try to cheer him up, she simply allowed him to vent.