The lighting was dim in the staircase, but then it abruptly turned dark. I tried a nearby switch, but the light didn’t turn back on.
“Something’s wrong with the electric circuit down here.”
"Should we go back upstairs and grab a flashlight?" Lexi asked.
I took out my smartphone from my pocket, turning on the little flashlight button. "It's okay. We have enough light with this."
"That's true. I left my phone upstairs, but this will work. I'm going to focus on the fact that there is wine; otherwise, I'd feel a bit like we were in a horror movie."
"Are you afraid of the dark, Lexi?"
She shivered. Fuck, I was close enough to feel the goose bumps on her arm.
"Not tonight," she whispered as we stopped in front of the shelves. "Wow. This is amazing. You know how most people would love to see a real-life version of the bookcases in Beauty and the Beast?"
"I have no idea what you're talking about."
She turned her head sideways at me. I tipped my head and was so close that my lips almost brushed hers. "You have a young daughter."
"I know, but my brain always blocks out whatever she wants us to watch."
"Understandable. Well, anyway, there's a scene in which there's a huge library, and people are always like, 'Oh, I want this to happen in real life.'" She pointed at the wine bottles. "But this is what I've always wanted to see."
I chuckled. "You're always welcome here, Lexi. Tell me, what kind of wine do you like? Describe it as best as you can."
"I love white wine. I want it to be fruity but not sweet. Light, with a hint of smokiness."
"I have what you need. Come on. Let's pick it out together from the shelf." Instinct overpowered rational thought again. I put a hand on her waist. She moved, knocking my phone out of my hand, disengaging the light when it fell so it was completely dark.
"Oh, shit. I'm sorry," she said.
"No problem. I'll get it." Bending down, I brushed my hand around the floor and picked it up. Pressing the bottom of the screen, I managed to turn the light on again.
“Can you find the bottle?” Lexi asked.
I had to laugh at the apprehension in her voice. She was legitimately worried about not getting wine. I liked this woman more and more.
“It was the fifth bottle from the floor.” Taking it out, I held it to her, jokingly asking, “Want to keep it to make sure I don’t drop it or anything?”
“Oh, no. I trust you with wine more than I trust myself. Although... you did drop the phone, so give it here. I’ll keep it safe.”
She clasped the bottle, laughing.
I put a hand on her arm, resting my fingers on her bare skin. She squirmed against me. I heard her suck in a breath. She was so sensitive to me that it drove me insane.
"So, you like wine? Tell me more. What else do you like?"
"Your delicious cooking," she said.
"I meant in general, not about me, but since we're on that slippery slope, please do say what else you like about me."
We reached the staircase and stopped.
"Tate," she whispered. Her breath landed on my neck, and it was all I could do not to pin her against the wall. I wouldn't stop just at kissing her. I knew that. If my lips ever touched hers, it wouldn't end with a kiss. It would end with me sinking inside her and making her mine. And I couldn’t risk that.
"I’m not sure why I’m always on a slippery slope around you,” she murmured.
I laughed, skimming my hand up from her waist to her shoulder and then her neck, feathering my thumb on her jaw. "I like you, Lexi, far too much, and I don't know what to do about it."
The next moment, I heard Paisley calling my name from upstairs. The spell broke and I groaned, taking a step back.
"Is that Paisley?" she asked.
"Yes."
“Does she have nightmares?" She was back in her professional mode. Good, because someone had to keep us in check, and it wasn't going to be me.
When we reached the stairs, I realized it wasn't just the cellar light that was out. The whole place seemed to be in the dark.
"It’s a blackout," she said.
“Probably from the storm. Now I know what woke Paisley. She has a night-light, and it probably went off. I'm going to go upstairs and talk to her, okay?" I wondered why the backup generator hadn’t kicked in.
"Okay, sure. Should I go home?" she whispered in the dark.
“The storm’s still strong, Lexi.”
“I see. So, you’re still not letting me out?”
“Exactly.”
“I’m your prisoner?” Her tone was playful.
I stepped closer. "Wait for me here."
"Okay. I left my phone on the kitchen counter. I’ll feel my way there, grab it, and pour us wine.”
“Thanks.”
I headed upstairs, knocking on Paisley’s open door to announce myself before entering.
"Daddy, is that you?" she asked, her breath frantic as I sat down at the edge of her mattress.
"Yes, baby." I caressed her hand, and she instantly calmed down, scooting closer to me.
"What happened to the light?" she asked.
"The electricity is out, but I'm going to fix it, okay? I’m going to turn on the generator."
"I can't sleep in the dark," she said.
"That's okay. We’ll turn on the light on your phone, and then when the electricity is back, your night-light will automatically turn on, okay?"
Some people—including Paisley’s teachers—raised their eyebrows that I’d bought her a phone when she was only nine years old, but I liked knowing that I could get in touch with her anytime.
She nodded, leaning against me. She didn't do this often anymore. When she was little, she used to want me to rock her to sleep, but then she said she'd outgrown it. I turned on the phone’s flashlight, placing it on the nightstand so the light reflected on the ceiling. About two minutes later, I realized she’d fallen back asleep.
I kissed her head, but I didn't leave her room right away, waiting just in case she woke up so she wouldn't be scared. I messaged my brothers in the meantime, asking if one of them could check on Gran. Tyler answered me that her generator had started automatically, but he was already on his way to her house to check on her anyway.
When I was confident that Paisley wouldn't wake up again, I tiptoed out of her room before closing the door and heading downstairs.
"Lexi?" I asked.
"I'm on the couch," she said. I could see the light from her phone. "It's not the house. A huge chunk of the city is out of electricity. They're working on repairing it, but it might take a while,” she said.
“Yeah, I figured that might be the case.”
“Is Paisley okay?"
"Yeah, she's fine. She fell asleep."
"You're a great dad," she whispered.
"I'm glad you think so."
"So listen, I didn’t uncork the bottle. We can drink it another time. With the storm and everything, maybe it's better that I get home."
"Is your building okay? Do you have electricity there?" I asked, standing in the doorway.