Page 38 of Accidentally Yours
I really need to get some art for the walls. Maybe a candle or two.
Paige arched a brow, looking around. “Do you actually live here, or did you bring me here to murder me?”
Ethan grinned, entertained by Paige’s sarcasm. “The cleaners were here today.”
“Hmm,” Paige replied, not quite looking convinced.
“I’m not as much of a minimalist as it seems.” He set his jacket on the kitchen counter. “I haven’t been here long. Bought it about six months ago.”
“Six months?” she repeated, gaze sweeping over the space, making six months sound like an eternity. “You waiting for a woman’s touch?”
He cocked a brow. “Was that an offer?” Because the thought of Paige putting her stamp on his space? He didn’t hate it. At all.
“Me?” She laughed, shaking her head. “Oh no. I don’t even know how to decorate myself.” She twirled a finger at her face. “Gigi did this.” Then gestured to her outfit. “Alice did this.”
He leaned against the counter, arms crossing. “They did a good job.” But he liked Paige’s look, with or without the extra decorations. Her charm and wit overpowered any outfit.
“I’ve got friends that could help you, but me? Most of the time, my clean clothes don’t make it to the closet.” She toed off her sandals, setting them by the door. “My coffee table is basically a storage facility for unopened mail, and my idea of décor is stacking beautiful books everywhere.”
“I can’t argue with the beautiful book part.”
“My mom calls me messy.” She shrugged, like she wouldn’t accept the descriptor. “I prefer creatively organized.”
He chuckled. “Creatively organized, huh?” He rolled the phrase around in his mind, and strangely, it felt like something that was missing in his life. Unpredictability. A little chaos.Maybe I’ve already found the perfect mix, he thought, watching Paige as she wandered over, setting her purse beside his jacket on the counter.
“Just being honest,” she said breezily. “Wouldn’t want to give you any fake ideas about your fake girlfriend.”
Something about the way she said it gave him pause, like she was reinforcing a line between them, making sure he didn’t forget that this—whatever it was—wasn’t real. But the way her voice caught slightly at the end of her statement made him wonder . . .was she reminding him, or herself? Because, that kiss? His world had turned upside down while he had her in his arms. She had to have felt that too. Right?
Before he could respond, a sharp bark interrupted them. Queenie wobbled out from the bedroom, blinking at them like they’d rudely disturbed her beauty sleep.
Paige grinned, immediately walking over to the little fluff ball and crouching down. “Well, at least someone lives here.”
Ethan scratched the back of his neck, trying to shake off the sudden weight pressing against his ribs. Maybe his condo wasn’t the only thing that felt a little empty.
Queenie strutted forward, her tiny paws tapping against the hardwood like she owned the place—because, let’s be honest, she did.
Paige reached out her hand. “Well, hey there, Your Royal Highness. Did you miss me?”
Ethan opened his mouth to warn her. Queenie was extra cranky when she woke up. But before he could get a word out, the tiny Chihuahua lifted her head and sniffed Paige’s fingers. Then, shockingly, Queenie allowed Paige to scratch the top of her head.
Ethan blinked. “Okay, you have to be a sorceress of some kind.”
She grinned, looking amused, as she ran her fingers over Queenie’s ridiculously tiny skull. “I told you—small, but mighty recognizes small, but mighty.”
“I’m still claiming witchcraft,” he muttered, shaking his head, bewildered.
Paige stood and turned to him. “You should be worried. I think I’m her favorite now.” Queenie let out a small, satisfied huff before marching toward the couch, where she climbed her miniature staircase and made herself comfy on the cushion.
“She literally bites people for breathing too close to her,” he admitted. “This is unreal.”
“Speaking of unreal,” Paige said, stepping closer, her voice softer, “now that we’re alone . . .”
Ethan’s pulse kicked, his mind jumping straight to places it probably shouldn’t.
“. . . we should open the clue,” Paige finished, her gaze watching him closely.
Right. The clue. How had he forgotten that?
