Page 74 of Win Big

He slides a glance my way. “So when you were going off on me about caring about the environment, you weren’t kidding.”

“No.”

“Huh.” He stares out the windshield.

I don’t know what he’s thinking.

He parks on the street outside my building and I lead the way in. I did pick up groceries yesterday, so I’m sure I can find something to make us.

“Did I tell you I like your place?” he says, following me through the living room toward the kitchen.

“Um, no.”

“It’s very . . . calm.”

I smile. “Thank you! That was my goal.”

“You seem like a calm person.” Then his eyebrows pull together. “Except in bed.”

“Ah.” If only knew hownotcalm I am on the inside. “Is that bad or good?”

“That’s good.Verygood.” He pulls me against him and loops his arms around me. “Thank you for letting me help out this morning.”

“I don’t think I ‘let’ you do anything.” I smile up at him. “Thankyou,for doing it.”

He kisses me, a soft but lingering kiss that melts my brain. Everything inside me goes soft and weak. I rise up onto my toes and wrap my arms around his neck and kiss him back. I can’thelp it; I just feel I have to. On some level I know this isn’t good, but I don’t even care right now. I just want to kiss him and show him my gratitude and appreciation and admiration and... oh God, I’m in big trouble.

He pats my butt. “Okay, what are we eating? Besides you, later.”

My belly flips. “I have some ham... how about Denver sandwiches?”

“Sounds great. What can I do?”

I get him chopping onions while I whisk up some eggs and dice the ham. We chat about the shelter and more about the game last night as we cook together, then sit down at my table to eat.

“This is great.” He finishes off two sandwiches easily.

“Mmm.” I wipe my fingers on a paper napkin. “I was hungry.”

“Now I need a nap.” He stands and picks up his plate. “After we clean up.”

My mind is jumping around, trying to decipher what that meant. Is he going home? Is he staying? Did he mean he really wants a nap?

He helps me wash the omelet pan and load the dishwasher. Drying his hands on a towel, he prowls up to me. He drops the towel, plucks my baseball cap off my head, and slides the hair tie off my ponytail. My hair falls around my face and he threads his fingers through it, holding the back of my head, peering into my eyes. “Let’s go back to bed.”

My heart leaps and my belly flip-flops. “Oh, you meant a ‘nap.’” I make air quotes.

He laughs. “You know what I meant. Although truthfully, there may be sleep involved because I sure as hell didn’t get much last night. You just wouldn’t leave me alone.”

My first reaction is to gasp with outrage, but I’m getting to know how he pushes my buttons, so I simply smile and rub my fingertips over the stubble on his jaw. “And you loved it.”

“I did.” He takes my hand and leads me upstairs to my bedroom.

WYATT

“Wyatt?”

“Mmm?”

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