“The department’s understaffed, so they might need me for an incident. And there is this matter of a girl.”
“You’re worried that after a few drinks, you’ll tell Dispatch about how awesome she is?”
“Pretty much. Should I drunk dial Jacen who thinks I’m a heartless bastard?” He grimaced.
Erin chuckled, envisioning that conversation. “You can drunk dial me and leave me long, weird, rambling voicemail messages. Wax poetic about whether you think the Star Wars prequels are better than the sequels.”
“I’d rather spend my free time eating cupcakes.”
“You are not eating cupcakes on that dusty counter.” Erin pointed to the glass doors facing the back yard. “Do you have a pool?”
“I have a yard. A barren, frozen wasteland of a yard. Just like where I grew up except no ski slope.”
“No pool and you ski?”
“I’m from Wisconsin. I ski cross-country or downhill. I used to hit Alpine Valley or Brandywine. Though, we could spend a weekend at Seven Springs.” Erin was vaguely aware of those places, but was he suggesting they have a getaway together?
“I’m from Seattle. It rains, so I play basketball indoors. My next dream vacation involves a beach and a hoop. I’m willing to invite you if you go shirtless.”
“I’m not brave enough for shirtless skiing.”
“What’s that door for?” Erin noticed there were two doors past the back patio.
“Half bath and the hot tub.”
“You are forgiven for the no pool.” She rushed over to the door and saw the edge of a white trellis. There was a panel in the wall to turn it on. No dust on this one. “How often do you use it?”
“Not as much as I’d like.”
She flounced closer to him, “Shirtless? Naked?”
He caught his breath. “I might have jumped in naked on occasion, alone.”
“Is it on?”
“Yeah, I have to keep it on or it freezes.”
“Does neighborhood kid shovel the path?”
“No, I did… and I turned on the towel warmer.”
“That’s very presumptuous of you. You think I’m a sure thing?” He hesitated, and Erin answered for him, “Your secret sexy girlfriend showing up with an overnight bag is a sure thing. Strip.”
“Right now? Can we finish the tour?” Noah tried while Erin hung her jacket on a hook and toed off her boots.
“Do we have to?” Erin smiled flirtatiously. She flipped her cashmere sweater over her head, displaying a jewel toned emerald bra of the same brand he’d found delicious on his fake-birthday.
“Yes, you need to know your way to the bathroom.” His eyes were raking her with hunger. “And my bed.”
“On with the tour.” Erin grabbed her bag and package, passing another door.
“This goes to the finished basement. It has my mancave—bag, home gym, full bath, and extra guest bedroom down there.”
“This one?” Erin saw the left side only had one door while the other side had three doors.
“Master bedroom.” He opened the door and ushered her in.
“How many uniforms do you own?” Erin wasn’t sure what she had expected, but this wasn’t it. His king-sized bed wasn’t made, and there was clutter and dust bunnies accumulating on the edges of the room. These were signs of a person who accumulated stuff but didn’t care about it. Erin’s rowhouse had everything with its own place, mostly because if it didn’t, she would trip over everything in her small space.
