Page 128 of Out Of A Fix

“No, this is not the same bedroom set that was here when Caitlyn was.”

“How did you know?”

“Because if our roles were reversed, I’d wonder about that too.”

I nodded.

“But so you’re aware, I got rid of every bit of her in here. The nightstands are new, and I put the bay window in and the reading nook because I always wanted one.”

I did wonder, because his room was done in deep mahogany and cream, and the style was minimalist, masculine, from the platform bed to the armoires to the heavy rugs on the dark-stained wooden floors.

“The bed frame and mattress are new too,” he explained. “All this is mine and now yours as well. And if you have something at your place in Chicago that you love, then please bring it here.”

“I have a Tiffany lamp my father bought my mother when they got married, and some art I love.”

“I can’t wait to have it in the house.”

I studied his beautiful, chiseled features.

“Do you like the bedroom?” he asked.

“Yes. It’s very warm in here.”

“Good. I’m glad you like it. Now lie down.”

I squinted at him.

“What? Too direct?”

“I’m worried.”

“You’re always worried.”

“Really?”

“Sorry,” he said, crossing to the king-size bed and sitting down. “Come here and tell me what you’re worried about.” When I sat down beside him, he took my hand in his. “This is already better,” he said, turning to kiss the side of my neck.

“I need you to realize we promised your kids a lot of things despite not knowing if you even want to sleep with me.”

“Don’t be an idiot. Of course I want to sleep with you,” he said, lacing his fingers with mine. “But there’s a learning curve there, so you’ll need to be patient.”

“My middle name is patient,” I assured him.

“Lucky for me,” he whispered, then slipped his hand around the side of my neck and drew me close for a kiss that warmed me inside and out. “I’m gonna take a shower. Don’t leave this room.”

“You should say don’t fall asleep. That’s far more likely.”

“I don’t care if you fall asleep, just do it under the covers so I don’t have to wake you up.”

I smiled as he walked into his spacious bathroom.

I made myself get up, then went through my duffel until I found a T-shirt and a pair of sleep shorts to change into. My gun case had been placed on the nightstand closest to the door, probably so I’d see it right away, and I stored it in the compartment underneath, then got under the covers. I tried so hard to keep my eyes open, but his bed was warm and smelled like him, and that was a bit too much comfort. At some point, his warm skin sliding over mine made me moan softly.

“That was a great sound,” he murmured, kissing my shoulder as he spooned me. “And you look really good in our bed.”

“You’re saying our again.”

“Why wouldn’t I? You promised you’d stay, so yeah, everything is ours now.”