“I am great at cooking. I could cook everyone at this bar under the table.”
He frowned. “What does that mean?”
“It means I’m a great cook. And someday when my YouTube channel has a bazillion followers and I have a cookbook and a show on TV, you’ll regret you never tried to get sexy with me.”
He just stared at her. Then he sighed. “Yeah, you’re done. Wait here.” He left and returned moments later.
She’d been stacking pretzels on the plate, no longer hungry. She felt a little sleepy, a little loopy, and dang it all, happy. For once she hadn’t been wallowing alone in her apartment watching reruns ofThe Great British Baking Show.
Smith loomed over her like a thundercloud.
“Man, are your eyes pretty.” A hiccup came out of nowhere and made her want to laugh again. “Whoops. Not sure where that came from.” She paused. “I need to pee.”
“Time to go.” He gently helped her to her feet, not hauling her around, as she’d expected. He marched her toward the restroom and waited outside while she did what she needed to. Afterward, he walked her to his truck. He had to lift her into the thing since she had a tough time getting in herself.
“Do they make these for giants or what?”
“Good thing I drove,” he muttered.
The drive back to the apartment building didn’t take long, but it was enough to even her out. “I’m not drunk, Smith. I’m happy and enjoying myself, for once. It’s been a while since I went out.”
“I didn’t know that. So, you’re not a barfly?”
“No.” She grinned at the thought. “I’m pretty much what I look like. A homebody. I like my family. I like to cook. I like reading and finding new things to try. I had a bunch of friends at home, you know.”
“So why did you leave?”
“I was bored. Cody and I were never together much. I did think I loved him.” She blinked back useless tears as he parked the truck.
But she must have missed one because Smith wiped her cheek with a finger. “Aw, don’t cry.”
“I’m not sad. Well, I am a little. But I’m more angry I let him get to me. When I think about how much I tried to be good and let him be the all-important part of our relationship, it just makes me mad.”
He helped her out of the truck and walked with her into the building toward their apartments. But he paused in front of his unit, glanced at her, and frowned.
“Well, thanks for—” She stopped when he opened his door.
“Still game for some conversation?” He nodded for her to enter.
Curious about his place, she preceded him inside. He shut and locked the door behind them, but he didn’t worry her. She trusted Smith on a level she’d have to consider later, when she wasn’t so affected by him.
To her shock, his apartment looked homey. He had laminate floors that looked like hardwood, not crappy tile, she noted with envy. A big brown sectional couch and chaise sat over an area rug and faced a large television mounted to the wall. Two bookcases flanked the TV, filled with books. She walked up to one and touched it, stunned to find it a real book and not a place holder. Fiction and nonfiction lined the shelves.
“Wow. You read?”
He glared. “Yeah, I read. And I can count on more than my fingers and toes too.”
She chuckled. “Who would have guessed?” She walked past him, studying her surroundings.
“Make yourself at home,” he said with no small amount of sarcasm.
“Thanks.”
The apartment had a lot more space than hers. She noted a bathroom off the hall that led back into his bedroom. Knowing she’d probably never be allowed back in after annoying him tonight, she peeked inside to find the small space dominated by a queen-size bed, which must be tough for such a large man to sleep in. But she didn’t think a king would fit. He had one dresser and a closet. Everything looked neat, dusted, and the bed had been perfectly made, not one wrinkle on the comforter.
The bathroom had towels hung perfectly straight, no messy toothpaste all over the counter, nothing but a cup and toothbrush holder with one toothbrush standing straight in it. A picture of a comic book hero had been framed and set on one wall of the small area. He had a full tub and shower, as opposed to her tiny standing corner shower. The toilet had a fuzzy blue cover to match the blue floor mat and blue towels.
“Huh.” She never would have expected Smith to be so neat. Or so color coordinated.
