Chapter 28

Marcus

Lying in the bed he had once shared with his wife, Marcus' thoughts were on the woman currently sleeping on his sofa. She had asked every day if he wanted her to leave. But he insisted she was welcome to stay as long as she wanted to be there.

He tried to play it cool, but he couldn't imagine her not being there. They had found comfort with each other. They coexisted in a way that gave them space when they needed it, and a shoulder to cry on when the mood called for it.

Living with Erica was a dream, even in these weird circumstances. Over the past week, he had learned more about her and her life. What made her tick as a person. She had told him about her parents and how they met. Also, about the first boy she ever loved. And, of course, the whirlwind romance she shared with Alex.

In return, he told her about his parents, and where the idea for his business had come from. And he had finally told her what it was about Sophie that had caught his attention.

They had made plans for Phantom Footsteps, looking to the future and how to grow their business. They toyed with renting somewhere together. So, the ghost of their past relationships would not haunt either of them.

What they hadn't talked about was that kiss.

Plenty of times Marcus had said her name, intending to start a discussion, only to chicken out.

It wasn't the outcome of the conversation that he was nervous about. He was sure she felt the same things he felt. If he tried to change their relationship, he didn't think she'd turn him down .

But as much as he may want that, it was too soon. He needed more time to heal from Sophie, and he was sure it was the same for Erica.

Instinct told him that once they crossed that boundary, there would be no going back. Things would move fast, and they'd be intense.

If he crossed that boundary, he was signing up for something permanent, and he knew it.

Neither of them was ready for something like that.

But it didn't stop the longing he held for her. The need to be close to her. Even now, knowing she was asleep, he wanted to wake her up just to see her smile.

With that thought in mind, he threw the blankets off and left the room. Padding down the corridor, he passed her sleeping form on his way to the kitchen, averting his eyes.

The one tiny problem he found about having Erica around was her complete lack of clothing. She had grabbed a few things thrown hastily into a suitcase, but she was fast running out of clothes.

He had offered her a couple of his old shirts. It felt like a good idea at the time. But once he saw her in them, he almost asked for them back.

He couldn't avoid the fact: Erica was stunningly beautiful. She had the elegance only seen in old Hollywood movies. The sight of her in his clothes, with legs that seemed to never end, was a temptation he hadn't expected. At least, not to that degree. He wasn't some horny teenager who couldn't control himself around a pretty girl.

But Erica was not just any pretty girl.

He worked silently, keeping his back to the living room. He could picture Erica there as she slept, the blanket wrapped around her, tousling her hair. And with far too much skin on display. It was hard enough to resist the image he had created in his head. He would have no chance with the real thing.

He grabbed a mixing bowl and made a start on breakfast, humming a nonsensical tune. He'd barely whisked up the eggs when Erica cleared her voice from behind him. "Morning. Is there any coffee? "

He turned to look at her, his mouth running dry. He pointed towards the coffee machine, not daring to speak.

Good God, she looked incredible.

"You need help?" She asked, rolling up her sleeves as she grabbed two mugs.

"No. You're supposed to be sleeping, so I can surprise you with my impeccable hosting skills." She looked over at him, frowning. "You're dopey in the morning. I was going to make you breakfast in bed."

Realisation dawned in her eyes as she spread a soft smile before flashing him an impish grin.

"Ah, but you're forgetting something," she said as she snatched a pack of bacon before he could stop her. "I had plans to surprise you with my impeccable guest skills."

"Guests don't need skills," he challenged, feeling a smile break out over his face. "They need to sit down, shut up, and enjoy being taken care of."

She wrinkled her nose and sighed dramatically. "If you insist. But if that's the case, the host needs to learn to deal with rebellion."

He looked over his shoulder, intent on asking her to clarify. He was too slow to react to the egg rushing towards his forehead. Cold slime dripped down his face. Erica stood half-amused and half-unsure with the shell still in her hand.

Had she really done that?

"Did you just smash an egg on my head?" She released a small giggle, quickly covering her mouth with her hand. He placed the mixing bowl on the countertop, reaching for the bottle of syrup. He'd planned to make her pancakes. Now he was out for revenge. "Take this!"

He squirted the bottle at her, only to frown as she held a pan up in front of her face. How had she managed to grab that so fast?

"Too slow!" She laughed fully, reaching for the pancake batter. Sensing her intent, he grabbed the other side of the bowl. She dropped the pan, which fell to the floor with a loud bang. Neither of them flinched. They locked their eyes on each other, each with an equal grip on the bowl.

"This is no way to treat your guest, Marcus," she said, with a warning in her tone .

"This is no way to thank your host, Erica," he replied in the same warning tone. She smirked at him, tugging on her side. He smirked back, tugging harder. Chaos ensued as neither backed down, each fighting for dominance over the bowl. She twisted her hands, trying to tip it over him. He pushed the bowl towards her, trying to pour the mixture over her.

Of course, there could be no winners in a fight like this. Before long, their play fight backfired on them. The bowl fell from their hands and smashed on the floor below. It showered them in thick pancake batter.

It should have been the end, but as though in sync, they each reached for their own squeezy bottle, attacking each other with syrup. Soon she had soaked him in sticky honey, and he smothered her in smooth syrup. Their laughter filled the kitchen, a sound not heard there for a long time.

The fight only ended with the puff of air from the now empty squeezy bottle. Their heavy breathing was the only sound as Erica tried one more time to squeeze out the last of the syrup.

He grabbed her wrist. "Don't you even think about it," he warned, tugging her closer. She giggled, her head tilted towards him. She bit her lip, her eyes darkening. His eyes were glued to her mouth, watching as her tongue flicked over her lip.

Kiss her!

It was an overwhelming demand. One he was desperate to listen to. He leaned towards her. She swayed towards him.

And then a clatter from a precariously placed spoon falling to the floor broke the tension. He released her with a chuckle, and surveyed the mess of his kitchen. Still giggling, Erica reached her hand out to him. "Truce?" She asked, panting as she caught her breath.

"Truce," he agreed. He took her hand and shook it, his laughter dying in his throat. She looked up at him from beneath her lashes, the very air around them seeming to still as they became locked in the moment.

Oh, not again.

He couldn't do this again .

He cleared his throat and broke the spell, chuckling awkwardly. She smiled up at him and released his hand. "Sorry I ruined breakfast," she said, cleaning their mess.

"You're kidding, right?" He moved into action, the two of them working together to reverse the mess they had made. "That was the most fun I've had in this kitchen in forever."

"Well, I appreciate the thought," she said. "Breakfast in bed, I mean. I don't think I've ever had the pleasure."

Never had breakfast in bed?

It may not be today or even the next. But at some point in the not-too-distant future, Marcus planned on righting that wrong.

"Are you prepared for today?"

He glanced over as Erica scrubbed the countertop and nodded once. "I'm ready. How about you?"

"Nervous," she said, rinsing the sponge. "Really fucking nervous."

Well, of course she was. Today, they planned to swing by Alex's place and pick up a few things of hers. With no idea what they were going to walk in on, he was also apprehensive. The fact he was more than likely going to run into Sophie made him nervous, too. But he was determined to be strong so that Erica could draw strength from him.

With the agreement that could stay with him for as long as she needed, it was time she had her own belongings.

"You know I've got your back," he promised, kissing the top of her head without thinking. She didn't even flinch, and it occurred to him just how comfortable they'd become with one another.

In fact, this entire morning was a series of incredibly intimate moments. Not in the traditional sense, of course. But the playful fight, her dressed in only his shirt, was intimacy on another level. Domestic bliss, one could say.

Smiling at the thought, he pulled a clump of batter from her hair. "You should probably shower before we do anything. You're a right mess."

She giggled and shrugged, leaning back against the counter. "You're no better, mister. Worse, in fact, 'cause I'm a better aim. "

"You wish," he said, narrowing his eyes on her. She giggled again, and to his complete surprise, his stomach flipped with nerves. Every time she laughed, he wanted to make her laugh some more. "How about we get cleaned up and I take you for breakfast before we head to Alex's place?"

Her eyes met his, a smile lingering on her lips as she captured her bottom lip between her teeth. "I think I'd like that."

She squeezed his arm as she passed, confirming where the clean towels were before she left. No, seriously, what was that? He didn't imagine that look. The coy, flirtatious smile.

Did he?

He was no fool. He had a feeling where this was leading. But up until this point, they had been careful not to let things go too far. Alex, Sophie, timing. They were all valid excuses. All good reasons not to complicate things further.

So why was he so desperate to join her in the shower?