I Want to Hold Your Hand Read Online Free PDF Page B

mind staying a while longer . . .”
    Nolan put his arm around her and kissed the top of her head. “I don’t mind.”
     • • • 
    Will never said a word on the ride from Hannah’s house to his cabin on the outskirts of town. The cabin was now their place, Cameron recalled, the excitement of her move to Vermont dimmed by the news they’d been greeted with upon arriving back in Butler.
    Cameron wished she could think of something to say that would make Will feel better, but she decided to wait until he was ready to talk about it. Recalling the tortured, grief-stricken look on his face when she’d found him in Hannah’s mudroom, her heart broke for him.
    The cabin was cold and dark when they arrived. And it was unusually quiet with his dogs spending one more night at his parents’ house.
    “Weird without the boys here,” Cameron said, hoping to spark some conversation.
    He squatted before the hearth to start the fire. “I know. I hate when they’re not here. Sucks the life out of the place.”
    Cameron went into the bedroom and found the suitcase that contained her pajamas. She put on the flannel moose pajama pants Will had bought her along with one of his UVM sweatshirts and joined him in the living room.
    He stared into the fire, lost in thought and miles away from the cozy room.
    She couldn’t bear to see him in pain so she went to him and curled her arms around him from behind. “What can I do for you?”
    Will blew out a deep breath and covered the hand she’d placed on his chest with his. “Having you here makes everything better.”
    “I’m sorry about Homer.”
    “Thanks. Even though I knew he was getting old, I refused to believe he could ever die.”
    “I know.”
    “It brings it all back. With Caleb.”
    “I know that, too.”
    “When Hannah said Caleb must be happy to see Homer . . .” He shook his head. “That killed me.”
    “Come here,” she said, urging him to turn into her embrace.
    He did as she asked, his arms encircling her. “Sorry,” he said, his voice muffled by her hair. “This wasn’t how I expected to spend our first night of officially living together.”
    “Please don’t apologize for being upset, Will. I only met Homer a couple of times and didn’t know Caleb at all, but I’m heartbroken for Hannah. I can only imagine how you must feel.”
    He hugged her for a long time as Cameron stroked his hair and back, wishing there was something she could say or do to make him feel better.
    “I’m so glad you’re here to stay,” he said, breaking the long silence.
    “So am I.”
    He pulled back so he could see her face and kissed her softly.
    As she caressed his cheek, she stared at the face she’d longed for during the weeks apart while she packed up her life for the move.
    “What do you suppose it means that Hannah and Nolan had plans tonight?” he asked.
    “I suppose it means that maybe things have progressed a bit since they danced at the Grange.”
    “God, that would be awesome. I couldn’t believe it when she said they’d had plans for tonight.”
    “I was proud of you and the rest of your family for biting your tongues on that one.”
    “Wasn’t easy,” he said with the first hint of a smile.
    “I bet Hannah knows she’s in for it as soon as things settle down a bit.”
    “For sure.” He leaned in to kiss her again, a bit more intently this time. “I don’t know about you, but I’m totally wiped out. What do you say we hit the sack?”
    As the thought of hitting any horizontal surface with Will Abbott made her heart leap for joy, Cameron said, “Fine by me.”
    They stood together in the bathroom to brush their teeth and then Cameron rushed into bed, pulling the down comforter up to her chin as her teeth chattered. She couldn’t believe it when he emerged from the bathroom naked.
    “Are you for real? I’m freezing, and you’re naked ?”
    “I’m counting on you to warm me up.”
    “You’re going to be very