“By asinine, you mean … incredible? Beautiful? Clean? Perfect?”
Thank God I picked up before I left. But most of the place’s cleanliness is owed to Elizabeth, my housekeeper, who comes by once a week.
Taking in the tall ceiling, the obnoxiously large kitchen and sitting area, she moves deeper into the place toward the main living room, where the real star of the show is.
“Oh. My. God,” she murmurs breathlessly as she walks into the living room, getting a good look at the view of the city through the floor-to-ceiling glass panels. “This is incredible.”
Crutching up behind her, I look out into the dark city, the skyline lit up by building lights. It’s really something special at night. But she should see it at sunrise or sunset; that’s when it’s really magical.
“Isn’t it?” I whisper, and she jumps out of her skin. I step back. “Sorry, didn’t mean to scare you.”
She chuckles and brushes it off, but I don’t. I’ll remember it the same way I will the comment she made in the car. They all tie back to something. Maybe she really is just jumpy today; maybe I’m reading too much into it. It’s hard to tell when it comes to her because I notice every tiny thing.
“Hungry?” I ask, my stomach rumbling between us, showing my selfish intention behind my question.
A laugh escapes her as she turns around and looks up at me. “I could definitely eat.”
“Good. Pick something out on my phone. I’ll be right back. I want to change.”
She nods slowly, looking at my phone in her hands hesitantly. “O-okay.”
I don’t give her a chance to disagree, and I crutch over to the laundry room, propping my crutches against the dryer. I snatch a hoodie and shorts from the clean basket I have yet to put away.
Balancing on one foot, I lean my hip against the washer, my back to Lainey. I bunch the shirt at the back of my neck and pullit over my head. Pushing my sweats down my legs, I guide it over my wrapped knee to the floor, carefully balancing to get them completely off.
Justthatwas a workout in itself. God, this is going to fucking suck.
Grabbing my black Nighthawks hoodie, I shake it out, plucking a dryer sheet from my sleeve as I hear Lainey approach behind me.
Looking back over my shoulder, I find her lips parted and eyes devouring my back, shoulders, and arms, her head cocked slightly to the side.
A fire erupts inside of me, pooling in my core, and my dick twitches. I don’t clear my throat or make a sound. I let her enjoy the view the same way I am.
“Umm …” She gulps and blinks rapidly before walking over to me. “Umm, you—your phone is locked.”
Lifting the sweatshirt up, I stick my head through it and pivot around to face her. Those hungry blue eyes of hers drop to my torso, and, dear God, the way she’s looking at me has me ready to try to walk on this fucked-up knee just to close the distance between us.
God, I want her so badly, more than I’ve wanted anything in my entire life.
She catches herself, straightening up. She juts the phone my way, and I push it back to her, giving her my code.
“Two-five-five-five-two-five.”
There’s a lot she’s going to have to get used to when we’re together. I have no secrets when it comes to her, nothing that she isn’t privy to. I know that may come as a shock to her compared to her last relationship, but it’ll be her new normal in no time with my help.
“Is pizza okay?” Her voice is timid.
“Perfect.”
She hands me my phone after adding hers to the cart, and I’m not surprised to find a Hawaiian pizza when I add a double pepperoni to the order before placing it.
“It’ll be here in about thirty. One of the front desk tenants will bring it up.”
“Fancy.” She chuckles, backing up so I can crutch out of the laundry room.
We make our way to the couch, and I set myself up on the L of the sectional. She grabs a couple of throw pillows and props them under my knee without asking.
“Thank you,” I murmur, patting the spot on the couch next to me.
