Noelle (Babysitter’s Club 4)

I counted breaths, an old trick I’d learned whenever I felt panicked, until I felt like myself again.

Though my body still felt strangely aroused, my head finally cleared enough for me to make out the room. It was the same as it was earlier. No magnolia blossom, no silver brush.

I searched my body with my mind, still not sure if I were fully awake yet. Everything seemed to blend together and it was hard to separate dream from reality.

My mouth and throat were dry and there was a wetness around my nipple where he’d licked me in the dream. And between my thighs I could still feel the lingering effects of his tongue.

I rubbed my aching nipple for some much needed relief and pressed my thighs hard together to stop the ache, before laying back against the pillows with my eyes wide open, staring.

Why did it feel so real? Why was my heart still beating me to death? And why can I still feel his body pressed against mine? Dreams aren’t supposed to be that real. Are they?

I relived every second of that dreamy encounter until my whole body grew flush with embarrassment. I’d acted so unlike myself. So free, relaxed, in the arms of a man.

I thought for sure I wouldn’t fall asleep again, but the next time I opened my eyes it was morning and the sun’s first rays of the day were streaming in through the muslin curtains that floated on the cool morning breeze.

I hadn’t even realized the French doors had been left open the night before. I squinted as I tried to recall leaving them open. Then I remembered where I was and what I was here for and jumped out of bed.

Isabelle was still asleep when I checked on her after throwing on some shorts and a tank, which was my usual wear on hot summer days. A look at my watch showed it was just barely six in the morning. No wonder.

I snuck from the nursery and made my way quietly down the stairs, heading for the kitchen and a much-needed cup of coffee. I always need that first cup to clear the cobwebs from the night before.

I came up short in the doorway when I saw Callan standing at the sink with a cup in hand as he looked out at the backyard and beyond. The night’s dream came rushing back and my whole body went up in flames.

As if sensing my presence, he turned his head to look at me. That light was in his eyes again, but he blinked, and just that quickly it was gone. He smiled invitingly and I stepped into the room.

“Good morning, did you sleep well?” Did his voice always have that silky quality to it? I shook my head to clear it as I made my way to the coffee pot.

My voice sounded like I’d swallowed a family of frogs when I answered him. “Yes, thank you. But…” I looked at him as he waited for me to go on.

“What is it? Was your mattress not comfortable? It’s an old bed. My family has this thing where they hate to get rid of anything. Most of the stuff around here has been passed down from one generation to the next.”

“I’d say your bed is maybe a hundred and fifty years or more.” His voice was almost hypnotizing and I had to shake myself again to take me out of my stupor and keep myself from standing there looking like a boob.

“No, it’s not that. My French doors were open this morning. I don’t remember opening them and I’m sure they were closed when I went to bed last night.”

“Oh that, it’s probably the latch, they do that from time to time. I’ll have a look at it later.” He rinsed his cup and placed it on the rack before turning to leave the room.

“Don’t you want breakfast?” The words rushed from my lips before I could stop them and I was once again left feeling foolish.

It felt like he studied me for a long time before giving me an answer. “Are you offering?” It’s true I hadn’t been hired to cook or clean, but I didn’t see why I couldn’t whip him up some eggs.

“Sure!” I moved to the fridge and started removing stuff like I’d done it a million times before. I’ve never been this excited about cooking in my life.

He sat silently and watched as I got everything I needed together. I felt his eyes on me as I moved from the fridge to the worktable and back. I guess my face was going to stay as red as my hair whenever he was in the same room.

As I chopped vegetables for an omelet he told me about the housekeeper and her helpers that came in every day at eight. I guess that answers that question. It would take a whole team to keep this place in such good condition.