Hold You In My Arms (Stevens book 9)

Chapter 11

Fiona and Henry spent a little over an hour with Boston and Callum before saying their goodbyes and heading towards the elevator. Fiona couldn't help how her stomach fluttered as she thought about sharing a bed with Henry for the night.

"What about a little fresh air?" Henry asked as the elevator arrived.

Fiona looked at him questioningly.

"While you were getting ready earlier, I had the chance to watch the in-house station, and they mentioned a rooftop garden," Henry explained as he held the door to the empty elevator.

"All right," Fiona agreed. There wasn't much room for her to squeeze by him, and her body brushed his as she passed him.

The tension on the small space was thick as they rode in silence from the basement to the roof, and when there was a ding to announce their arrival as the elevator stopped, Fiona jumped.

It was a warm night, and the moon was high as then entered the lowly lit garden. It was a beautiful little oasis in the middle of the city. They were so high up that the sounds of the traffic below were muted as Fiona and Henry walked towards the high wall that looked down over the city. It was surrounded by clear glass for safety, but it did nothing to hide the tapestry of city lights below. Fiona couldn't help but think that it was a very romantic setting.

"It's beautiful and surprisingly quiet," Fiona thought aloud as she noted that they had the garden to themselves. Henry didn't respond to her comment. He looked quiet and thoughtful as he looked down on the city below.

"I like your friends. They're much better than mine," Fiona admitted.

"They like you, and it was good to see them. It was a good reminder." Henry looked over at Fiona, and it was hard for her to make out his expression in the dim lighting.

"A reminder for what?" she softly asked, knowing she wasn't going to like his answer.

"That I have to rejoin them shortly." Henry looked away.

"Rejoin, when?" Fiona swallowed hard as she tried to keep her voice even. It would be pointless to try to pretend that she didn't understand what he meant. She knew from the beginning he would be leaving, but part of her had hoped that he wouldn't and that he would choose to stay.

"Week after next." Henry turned to face her. "Fiona?' Fiona's heart jumped as he said her name. "I'm telling you this because it's important to what I have to say next. What I want to ask?"  

Fiona turned to face him. "What do you want to ask, Henry?"

"There is a lot of history between our families and us. I have noticed you over the years, but you always appeared to care little one way or the other about my presence whenever we did meet." Henry took a long pause before he continued. "At your grandmother's memorial service, I barely saw you, and when I did, you hardly said a word to me. In fact, I was convinced you were going to throw me out when I appeared at the ranch a few weeks ago."

Henry took a deep breath. "This is why I have never expressed any interest. I didn't want to make things awkward because I thought you couldn't care less about me, so I ignored the situation entirely." Henry frowned as he thought about his words.

"What's your question, Henry?" Fiona asked again. she couldn't deny that she had been cold towards him. It was what she did best when she was nervous, and she didn't doubt that he had honestly read it as a lack of feeling because many did. Her Uncle Bryce was the same way.

"I ask this with the knowledge that it could make things forever awkward between us, but is my interest reciprocated?" Henry's eyes met hers.

Fiona took a deep breath. "Yes, and it has been for a long time. I..." She stopped, full of doubt.

"You what, Fiona? I'm putting myself out there. The least you can do is meet me halfway." Henry reached forward and took her hand.

"The reason I stare at you and don't have much to say for myself is that you make me nervous," Fiona admitted as she looked away from him.

Henry gently touched her cheek and turned her face back towards him. "I make you nervous? You make me nervous," he insisted.

"You never come across as nervous." Fiona shook her head in disbelief.

"That's because your family would eat me alive if they sensed it. Don't get me wrong, I love  your family, but they can tease a person mercilessly if they sense any weakness." Henry shook his head with a smile.

"They can and do," Fiona agreed.

"If I kissed you right now, what would you do, Fiona?" Henry asked.

"I'd kiss you back, Henry." Her voice was clear and confident.

Henry watched her in silence for a moment as he considered his next move.

"And if I can't stop at a single kiss?" he asked as he looked at her lips. The heat factor between them shot up at the question.

Fiona swallowed hard. It was her chance to grasp a dream.

"I won't be staying. This won't be long-term. It can't be because I live on the other side of the country and you live here, and I won't try to hide the fact that it worries me what your family would do if they found out? I don't want to hurt you." Henry tucked a piece of hair that the night breeze had caught behind her ear.

"I understand that it's not forever, and we don't have to tell my family. I would prefer if they didn't know." Fiona was an intensely private person, and if her family knew, it would be very uncomfortable for her. She and Henry would never be able to be at the same family events again without knowing glances. Plus, she didn't doubt that the Stevens would make up plenty of reasons to invite her and Henry to the same places simultaneously.

Henry pulled her close and ran his hand down her bare back, sending shivers up her spine at her assurance that she understood what he was saying. It instantly stopped all thoughts of anything but him.

Fiona put all of her self-confidence in her following words. "We have a room downstairs, Henry. I promise I understand all that you have said."

Henry let out a long breath as if he could finally breathe again. "I think you are the most beautiful woman I have ever met, and I would like to show you how truly lovely you are." He brought a hand up to her cheek, and she turned her face into his palm, kissing it in agreement.

"I'm O.K. with that," Fiona whispered with a smile, and it was as if that smile broke a dam. Henry's lips came down in hers in a kiss that was far from gentle as his lips punished hers, and Fiona gave as good as she got, wrapping her arms around him as she pulled him closer.

"This is not what I expected from this weekend," Henry insisted as he pulled away.

"Me neither, but's let's not talk about that right now," Fiona insisted as she kissed him again.

Somehow one kiss led to another as they worked their way back to their room.

Dessert had been delivered and the bed turned down, but it would be a while until they realized those facts.