Page 26 of Happily Ever Laughter

His megawatt grin is magnetic. “The boy is smitten, Tanis. Totally smitten. Trust me, there are boatloads of smit going back and forth around here.”

I laugh, then jump up to pour the coffee. “How do you take it?”

“Just black, thanks.”

After handing him a steaming mug, he says, “Thanks. You’ve already got his system down perfectly. I guess that means you’ll be staying around here a lot.”

My hand shakes slightly as I pour my own coffee. “I hope so, I guess.”

He laughs, and I realize I really do like him. His positive energy is infectious. “Well, I hope so too. You certainly seem to make Felix happy.” Before I can even think of a response to that, he asks, “Hey, before you sit down, could you take a look in the left cupboard and count the granola bars?”

I set my mug on the table, then find the box. “Three. Did you want one?”

“Nah,” he chuckles, blowing lightly against his mug. “Just wanted to make sure that Oliver is still alive. Sometimes he goes for days without eating, so we have to bang on the door and hand him some food.”

I sit down and take a sip, allowing the warm, rich taste to start to wake my brain up fully. “Is Oliver…um, does he need supervision?” I ask clumsily. Damn. I should have had more coffee before phrasing that question.

Dan shakes his head. “Oh no, not officially or anything. He just seriously loses all track of time, space, and reality when he’s into his work. When he really falls down the rabbit hole, we babysit him a little.”

“That’s kind of you.”

He shrugs. “We all do our part. When he has writer’s block, he cleans the loft like a demon, and he’s an incredible cook.”

“I guess it all evens out then,” I smile at him.

“It takes a village to make our loft run, or...something like that,” he says. Then he tilts his head. “So, how are things going with you and Felix?”

Warmth rises to my cheeks as I quickly try to think of something to say that is both vague and honest. “Wonderful, I think. I hope. I guess. I don’t know.”

His head cocks to the side again as he studies me. “You haven’t had many relationships.”

Funny how it isn’t a question, simply a statement. His self assurance is unusual. I can’t help wishing that a tiny shred of it will rub off on me.

“You’re right,” I finally comment. “This is only my second, um, whatever.”

Dan smiles, clearly pleased that he called it. “I probably shouldn’t say this, but Felix hasn’t had a girlfriend in years. Hasn’t even shown any particular interest in a woman. Nobody else seems to notice, because he’s so friendly with everyone. But he hasn’t had that spark in a long, long time.”

His eyes meet mine as he adds, “I hope you’re in this for the long haul, Tanis, because I think he certainly is.”

I have to pull my teeth out of my lip as I nod. “Yeah. I am. But it hasn’t even been a week yet, so…”

“You’re nervous. Of course you are.” He takes a big swig of coffee then stands up. “It’s natural, so try not to worry about it. But I have a really good feeling about you two.”

“Thanks.”

“No problem. Thanks for the coffee. Time to open the gym.”

He strolls back to his corner of the loft, as I fill another mug and bring it into Felix’s room.

The second I set both mugs on the desk, I hear him stir. “I already knew that you were the best girl in the world for me. But coffee in bed?”

That thick dark hair is rumpled, making him look even more adorable. He sits up and reaches out for the mug, making weird spaceship noises as I pass it into his hand.

“Whoa, you even help me be telekinetic. Thanks.”

He drinks half of it in three big gulps. “You’re hired. Stay with me every single night so I can wake up to your coffee and that gorgeous face.”

I slip into bed beside him, realizing that he is still naked.

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