“I do. I’ve never had a pet. My mother wouldn’t allow it. And I like Barney. He’s pretty cool. He’ll love it there. I’ve got huge windows.”
I just bet he does.
ChapterTwenty-Seven
HUDSON
She’s here.In my condo. Honestly, I can’t believe she agreed. I suspect it was the part about Barney that convinced her to do it. Although the second she let him out of his pet carrier, he slithered beneath the first piece of furniture he could find and stayed there.
Will wasn’t concerned by his need to hide. She reassured me with “He’ll be okay. It’ll just take him a little bit to get comfortable.”
I was pleased with her reaction when she stepped into my main room. I believe I heard a gasp, and why wouldn’t she? I’ve got views of Lake Michigan from my floor-to-ceiling windows. I’ve also got a balcony off the main room, but it’s damn windy out there most days you can’t spend much time out there.
I’ve placed her suitcase in the guest bedroom. I wasn’t sure how to handle that because we haven’t done more than kiss and touch a little bit. I want her in my bed, but I know pushing the envelope with Willa Clariday is the last thing I want to do. That step will be a big one for her, for us, and it needs to be her decision when that happens.
Not that I won’t broach the subject with her. I will. Just not right now when she’s going through so much shit. That would end up biting me in the ass for sure.
“Let me show you around.”
Willa’s been gazing out the windows since we walked in a few minutes ago. “All right.” She’s smiling, but it’s not the genuine one, which means she’s nervous. Meeting her halfway, I take her hand in mine. “We’ll start with your bedroom.”
“My bedroom?”
Facing her, I kiss her lips. “I know you’re not ready to share my bed, and that’s okay. I can wait. That’s why I put you in the guest bedroom.”
She nods but doesn’t say anything. Not that I expected her to comment, but now I don’t know how she feels about this decision. We need to work on communicating better. Maybe if I lighten things up…. “You can also sleep in my bed. I promise to be on my best behavior. I’ll just require spooning.” For now.
“Spooning, huh?”
“I’mthe big spoon.”
That gets a laugh out of her. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
“Let me incentivize that option a bit more for you.” This could be the edge I need. “I’ve got a smart TV in there. We can stream mystery shows and cuddle.”
Now I get a genuine smile. “I like the idea of that.”
“Excellent.” Taking her small hand in mine, I show her around the apartment. I point out the laundry closet, one of the three bathrooms, my office, and the guest bedroom. The last place we visit is my bedroom. I’ve got it painted a dark blue. My bedding matches as well. I wanted to keep it simple in this room.
“Your home is cool, Hudson.”
“Cool.”
“Very masculine.”
I nod in agreement.
“Modern.”
It is. Everything in my place has a mid-century vibe to it. My interior designer told me I’d like it, and she’s right, I suppose. “I like it, but it feels a bit cold to me. It isn’t homey and colorful like your apartment.”
Willa giggles. “Well, that’s easy to fix. We’ll get rid of all of this and replace it with thrift store furniture.” Then she snickers.
I’ll be honest, I’m not opposed to the idea, except I’d prefer new furniture. Call me a snob. “Maybe I’ll take you furniture shopping. You can help me warm this place up a bit.”
She’s stopped laughing. “Are you serious?”
“Yes. Absolutely. This isn’t my taste. It was an interior designer’s.”
