Page 8 of Exposed

“Shani only has three legs,” Lucy points out.

“She does not,” I pretend to be surprised at the fact that Shani is missing a back leg. “Shoot, she does. The shelter charged me for all four limbs. What a scam.”

“Seriously?” Lucy looks at me with raised eyebrows.

“I’m kidding,” I chuckle and watch as Lucy smiles. I want her to feel comfortable.

“Your house smells good,” she notes.

“Anything has to smell better than your car. That thing looked gross,” I joke.

“Whatever,” she rolls her eyes.

“Hungry?” I hang my keys on the nail by the door.

“I’m okay, thanks,” she murmurs at the same time her tummy growls.

“Your stomach disagrees with you.”

“Traitor,” she looks down at her abdomen, and I grin at her sense of humor.

Opening a cabinet, I grab two of my favorite protein bars and hold one out for her. “Eat this. High in protein with fat and carbs. A mini meal before bed.”

Our fingers brush when she takes the plastic wrapped bar, and chills run up my forearms. I loved touching herhand when I helped her open her door, and I want to keep finding excuses to put my hands on her soft body.

Unwrapping the snack, she takes a huge bite. A big crumb threatens to fall from her lips, but she pushes it back in her mouth. She must be starving.

“I can whip you up something before bed,” I suggest, opening a cabinet to grab a skillet.

“I’m fine.” Her protein bar is already gone. She practically inhaled it.

“Did you even chew that? At least take another bar then.” I open and give her mine, then get another one for myself. I leave the skillet on the stove to use in the morning, then eat my bar.

I grab a glass and fill it with filtered water for her. “Here.” I hand it to her, and she downs that quickly, too. I hold my hand out to take the glass, then fill it for her again.

Her slight frame in my kitchen does things to my heart. I want to wrap her up in my arms and keep her warm tonight. Too bad I have a guest bedroom that she’ll probably sleep in. It’s almost 1AM now, and she’s probably exhausted.

After putting our empty glasses in the sink and discarding our wrappers, I gesture towards my hallway with an open palm. “I’ll show you the guest bedroom. You can use the adjacent bathroom and shower.”

“Thanks.” Lucy follows Shani and me down the hall.

“You need anything?” I ask after I show her the bathroom and the guest room.

“Nope. I’ve got everything in here,” she pats the full backpack she’s taken off her shoulders.

I turn to leave, then spin back around and lean myhands on the top of the doorframe. I’ll kick myself forever if I don’t take my chance with her.

“You can ignore what I’m about to say, but I’m throwing it out there. If you don’t want to sleep alone tonight, my bedroom is across the hall. I’ll leave the door open if you want to join me.”

Her eyes flit down my body, then meet my gaze again. When she says nothing, I leave to let Shani outside before bed.

I’m taking that as a no. Damn. At least, I tried.

***

Twenty minutes later,I’m showered and sitting against the headboard in bed in boxers and gray sweatpants. Shani lays at my feet, warming them with her furry body.

I turn my laptop on to transfer the photos I took today. Knowing Lucy is under the same roof as me, I doubt I’ll sleep. I’m too distracted by thoughts of her. Usually on the weekends, I work late hours, and it’s a good thing I can stay home tomorrow to edit this wedding portfolio.

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