“Are you hurting?” He nodded toward the hand I was flexing, slowing, and attempting to soothe.
“No, just nerves.” I lied again. He stared at me suspiciously before making his way to the door.
“Is there anything I can do for you before I head out?”Don’t head out.That thought caught me off guard. I wasn’t ready for our nearly perfect night to end. I wasn’t ready for him to be out of my presence.
“Can you stay?”
His brows lifted like he wasn’t expecting me to say that. “You sure?”
“I just… I don’t know. After all that, I don’t really want to be here alone.” It wasn’t like I feared Shawn returning tonight, but the thought of Quade leaving bothered me. “Just for a little bit.”
He stared at me like he was fighting against himself before nodding his head.
“Just let me go clean up the mess outside, then we can chill a minute.” The door closed behind him, and I sat there, my heart pounding in my chest. I’d just asked this man to stay, and he’d agreed. This whole night felt like something from my old life, the one I thought I’d never get back. Presenting at a gallery, going on an impromptu date, a fine man walking me into my house. It all felt surreal, like I wasn’t broken.
The door creaked, and Quade stepped back inside, the takeout bag and plastic container Shawn had thrown dangling from his hands. He tossed them in the trash can by the door like they didn’t matter and turned to me with the sexiest look on his face.
“Alright, the mess is cleaned up. I’m all yours.” He locked the door behind him and stepped fully inside. His eyes roamed the space as if it was his first time entering. I stared back at him, still trying to massage the cramp out of my hand, using the motions to calm my nerves.
“You sure you good?” he asked, voice softer now. “You keep doin’ that with your hand.”
“I’m fine,” I said quickly. “Just… a little tight.”
He stared at me suspiciously, but he didn’t call me on my lie. “Where you wanna be?” he asked. “Bedroom? Couch?”
“The couch is fine. I don’t think you’re ready for my bedroom, Mr. Quade.”
“Nah, I don’t think you’re ready to have me in your bedroom, Miss Green,” he replied, making me smirk. If this man did or said anything else with that big dick energy, I was going to climb his tree. Watching him snatch up Shawn already had my pussy purring for him.
“Let me clear a spot real quick.” He glanced toward the living room, then back at me, and I nodded. My living room was a construction mess. Drop cloths and tool bags he’d placed there mostly covered it. I watched as he cleared a small space at the end of the couch, folding a blanket over the backrest and scooting some painting supplies to the far corner. It wasn’t perfect, but it was enough. I wheeled myself over without another word.
“You want help?”
I hesitated for half a second because I hated needing help, but Quade did something to that quiet strength. I nodded.
“Yeah. Just… grab the push handles. I’ll transfer once I’m lined up.”
He didn’t hesitate, just stepped behind me and gently turned the chair toward the couch. I leaned forward, bracing my hands on the frame.
“Take your time,” he said quietly. I did, and when I settled onto the cushion, he grabbed the cup I’d left from earlier and disappeared into the kitchen. When he came back, he handed me a glass of water and lowered himself onto the couch next to me.
“Thanks,” I said, taking the cup and taking a sip.
He nodded. “You want anything else? Blanket, pain meds, heating pad?”
“You tryna be my nurse now?”
“I’m tryna be whatever you need me to be tonight.”
I laughed, not because what he said was funny, but because it made me nervous and hot all at once.
“You wanna watch something?” he asked, running his hand down his beard awkwardly. He was trying his best to be a gentleman. I wasn’t sure if I wanted him to be, though.
“You tryna distract me or distract yourself?”
“Maybe both. It depends.”
I looked at him, and our eyes met. I could see that line we’d been teetering on since day one start to blur. Quade was looking at me like he could already taste me, and the feeling was mutual. So, I did something I hadn’t done in a long time. I took charge of the situation.
