“How long have you been sitting there?”
Bryce’s voice, thick with sleep, interrupted her writing in the most toe-tingling way.
Beth glanced over at his handsome, drowsy face and decided—why not? She could try her hand at flirting.
Running her fingers slowly through her hair, she brushed it over her shoulder and smiled.
“Long enough for my hair to be almost dry—and,” she paused, attempting what she hoped was a flirty grin, “long enough to discover that you snore when you’re all cozy and… sprawl-y-ing… like in a manly, man-like sorta way… on… the… couch…”
She trailed off, realizing too late that she had no idea where she was going with that.
Bryce just stared at her.
Losing her nerve, Beth quickly cleared her throat. “Do you want some coffee?”
Bryce nodded.
“I don’t snore,” he called after her as she walked to the kitchen.
Beth laughed. “Trust me. You do. But don’t worry—it’ll be our little secret.”
She felt his gaze on her the entire time she walked back from the kitchen. Watching her. Studying her.
When she handed him his coffee, she let her fingers graze over his as he took the mug. Wishing, not for the first time, that she was a little more like Lynn—someone who knew how to flirt without overthinking it.
Instead, she stood there awkwardly, staring at him.
Bryce’s lips twitched. “Where are you sitting?” he asked, his voice low, warm, sending a shiver down her spine.
“In my chair?” Beth asked hesitantly.
“You could do that.” Bryce leaned back against the couch, all easy confidence as he casually stretched his arm along the top. “Or you could join me over here. It’s pretty cozy.”
Beth hesitated, then slowly lowered herself onto the opposite end of the couch. She turned toward him, clenching her coffee cup like a shield.
Bryce’s slow head shake told her exactly what he thought of her seat selection.
Lifting a single finger, he beckoned her closer. The confidence in that small gesture made her blush.
A lazy grin crossed his face as he leaned over, plucked the mug from her hands, and set it on the table. Then, with a simple pat of the cushion beside him, he wordlessly commanded her closer.
Hesitantly, she scooted toward him.
The second she was within reach, Bryce pulled her flush against his side.
All she could hear was the drumming of her heartbeat.
Without a word, he handed her coffee back, then tucked her into the crook of his arm.
It was the most tantalizing thing she had ever experienced. Not that she had much to compare it to.
“There. Isn’t that better?” Bryce murmured, nuzzling his nose into her hair and inhaling deeply.
Beth stiffened.
“I—I don’t know!” she squeaked. “I’ve never close-talked with someone’s body before—um, I mean, I’ve never been thisclose to someone’s body before… like while on the couch… talking close.”
Her voice wobbled between octaves as she rambled, each word making her turn a deeper shade of red.
