Page 45 of Vegas Baby

“Yep,” she glanced around the empty bedroom. She didn’t need her bed or furniture since Howler’s house was fully furnished. The room was small but this condo had been her first purchase and she’d miss living there with Trent.

He took the box into the living room where the rest of the boxes were sitting, waiting for the moving van Leo arranged. His brown eyes met hers. “Am I ever going to meet this husband of yours?”

“In a few hours would be my guess,” she said, more thrilled than she should be at the title. She twirled the ring on her finger, a worry stone of sorts. “He couldn’t give me a definitive time.”

“All work and no play…” Trent said, opening the fridge and pulling out an apple. He placed it on the chopping board and began to cut it into pieces with a paring knife.

“I’m not in any great hurry to leave you. Unless you want to get rid of me?” Trent had moved into the condo soon after they’d met at work. He was new to town and newly divorced from his wife of six years after he’d come out. She’d offered to rent him a room and they’d become fast friends. Raina slipped onto the barstool at the breakfast bar and rested her elbow against the white countertop. Unexpected tears pushed at the back of her eyes.

“Shit, I’m going to miss the hell out of you roomie,” he said.

“Ditto. Just think, you can have the entire place to yourself,” she said more to cheer herself up than him. Moving was bittersweet. Scary but at the same time exciting.

“It won’t be the same without you.” Trent split the apple between two plates and placed a dollop of almond butter on each plate. He slid the plate over to her. “I won’t be around to watch out for you. You need to start taking better care of yourself. You’re eating for two.”

“Everything I manage to get down comes back up.” She eyed the snack he’d made for her and lifted the apple, biting into the crisp fruit.

“Eventually it will go away.” As a physical therapist and self-proclaimed hippy, he was studying homeopathic medicine. “If you want, we can try acupuncture.”

“You already tried acupuncture on me and it hurt like hell,” she said, taking another bite of the apple. It was crisp and crunchy, the slight sweetness ambrosia. For now.

“I told you it hurts the first few times but once you’re used to it, you’ll thank me.” he crossed his muscled arms over his vintage black AC/DC black t-shirt.

“If the sickness gets worse, I’ll consider it, but—" a loud knock sounded at the door, cutting her off. Dropping the apple, she stood, her heart beating a little bit faster. “Sounds like the van is here.”

She opened the door, and her smile tightened. Howler stood on the threshold in a pair of dark jeans and black t-shirt under a black blazer. This was really happening. She was moving in with a man for the first time in her life as a couple. “Hey, I thought you had to work late.”

He flashed a crooked grin and shrugged broad shoulders under the taut cotton. He handed her the set of car keys. “I do but I figured since you needed the van, I’d drive it and help you move. It’s easier to come here now than get stuck in rush hour traffic. I do have a conference call in about five minutes I have to take first.”

She stepped back, unsure what she should do. They’d decided on an arranged marriage with no sex right off the bat but what about was the protocol? Certainly not a handshake, or a hug. “Come in then. You can use my office. I’m done packing. Trent and I were having a snack. Are you hungry?”

“Yeah but it’ll have to wait,” he said, dark eyes settling on her mouth. Her knees weakened. What had she gotten herself into?

“I don’t think you’ve met Trent.” She walked into the kitchen, her eyes meeting Trent’s. She picked up another slice of apple and dipped it into the almond butter. The space was large for a condo but as always seemed to happen when Howler entered a room, it shrank.

Trent held out his hand. “Hey.”

“Hi, so you’re the roommate I’ve heard so much about,” Howler said, head cocked, his professional smile in place.

“Ex roommate. You’re the new husband I’ve not heard enough about. Congratulations, you’re lucky to have this one.”

“Thanks.” Howler laughed, the lines around his eyes crinkling with amusement. His phone rang, the tune a relief to the awkward tension following his statement.

Thanks? Not, yes, I know. What else could he say? “My office is through those French doors. She led the way to the room, aware of him following her as he answered the phone. “Please hold the line,” he said.

She paused, her back to the door. He clasped her hand that held the apple slice smeared with almond butter and brought it to his mouth. His lips brushed her fingertips and he licked off the excess almond butter. Her knees weakened and she willed her jaw to remain shut.

“That’s good stuff,” he said, winking before he disappeared into the office.

Raina swiveled on her heel and stomped back to the kitchen where Trent stood, hip resting against the cabinet door.

“That’s the new husband.” Trent said, nodding his head. “Wow, you lucky bitch.”

The feel of his lips still present on her fingertips, she fought the blush coming on. “You saw that. He’s trying to rile me.”

“I’d say he’s trying to do more than rile you. Claim would be the first word that comes to mind.”

The second he’d touched her hand she’d wished for the same thing but it wasn’t happening. Not yet. “Sex is off limits. We have an agreement.”

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