Waiting for the reply I roll over and manage to find myself back in the bed sheets. I close my eyes and try to fall back to sleep, but it’s no use until I get confirmation. Finally, my phone vibrates with a message from Katy.
KATY: The bakery is fine. Stop asking about trash bags and enjoy your day with the hottie.
With my livelihood’s safety confirmed I attempt to sleep, but it’s too late. My mind has already processed images of my burning building. Even if I believe Katy that everything is fine, it’s much too late for me to fall back to sleep.
The house is noiseless. I haven’t heard a single noise while I’ve waffled about getting up.
“Bennett,” I lightly call, my hands cupped around my mouth.
There is no answer. There’s also no sound of a small child running up and down the stairs or a TV with cartoons. I think it’s safe to say they’ve all abandoned me.
There’s plenty of time for me to grab a quick shower, but when the warm water hits my back, I decide to add a few minutes to the plan. I let the warm spray fall over my head for longer than normal.
As I’m leaving Bennett’s large master bathroom, I stop and stare back at the deep garden tub. Running a handle on the porcelain edge I promise I’ll be back one day. It makes my tiny little standup shower in the apartment seem so…small. I wrap a towel around myself and walk out to the bedroom in search of the bag of clothes I packed.
The bedroom door opens and I tighten the towel around my chest, not relaxing until I confirm it’s Bennett. I’m not used to living with a small child. Who knows if they walk around just opening doors whenever they want.
“Why did you let me sleep so late?”
He laughs not sounding upset at all. “It’s a day off, remember?”
“Well yeah, but I can do stuff.”
“No, the point of a day off is not to do anything.”
I wave a hand to him who is fully dressed and even wearing a pair of hiking boots. “Well you took a day off too and you’re up and about.”
He sits on the edge of the bed, kicking off his shoes. “Maybe I just like having you sleeping in my bed.”
“Really?” I manage not to blush this time when he gives the compliment, which quite frankly is a huge improvement.
“Yeah, it makes me feel all possessive.”
“Because you need help feeling possessive, right?” I laugh from my question so he doesn’t take me too seriously. Although, if questioned I’m a little serious.
“I can’t help it with you. Why don’t you take off the towel and show me your moves?” He makes a little circle with his finger.
But I’m not that kind of girl. It’s not that I have a problem with taking off my towel and dancing around for a man, especially my man, it’s just that he might look at me. And that’s scary. It’s daylight. And even though the blinds are closed it’s light in here. “You should put on your navy uniform and dance around for me.”
“Done.”
I laugh. “Would you really?”
“For you, of course I would.” He leans back on the bed propping himself up with his elbows.
I put a hand to my chin in thought. “Can I buy you a marine uniform?”
Bennett’s smirk falls and he shakes his head no. “Flour, you don’t want a Jar Head. Those are just men who couldn’t pass the IQ test to be a SEAL.”
“Will you wiggle around in your uniform? Stick out your butt?”
His eyes widen in surprise. “Maybe. Drop the towel and we’ll find out.”
I look behind me to check to be sure the doors close. It is. “What about Liam?”
“I sent him and Dolores to the bakery to check in on the girls for you. Make sure the place was still standing.”
I smile, this time my cheeks turning pink. “You know me so well.”
