“The living room,” he stated, pausing just for a moment so I could take it all in.
I found myself mentally re-positioning some of the furniture and adding a bright painting or photograph to the bare wall opposite the TV. And maybe some plants.
After a few seconds, he turned, still holding onto me, and headed toward the staircase. “I have an office on this floor but we aren’t going in there because it’s a disaster right now.”
“Why is it a disaster?”
“I bought a new computer system and there’s stuff everywhere. Wires, monitors, and everything else. One of us will end up tripping and breaking an ankle and I have plans for tonight that don’t include a trip to the ER.”
I laughed as we climbed the stairs. The loft at the top was large and also held a sofa, two chairs, a coffee table, and another television, also mounted to the wall. It was smaller than the one downstairs but still bigger than the one I had at my apartment. Two hallways split off from each side of the loft.
Landen lifted a hand and gestured down the longer hall. “Those are the guest rooms. I have four but I converted one into a home gym.” That explained why he was in such good shape, I realized. As he was speaking, he moved toward the end of the hall to our left, which was shorter and ended at a set of double doors. “And this is my bedroom.”
He reached out and pushed the doors open and I froze just inside the doorway. A huge bed sat in the center of the room. It must have been specially made because it was bigger than a king-size. It had to be. It looked as though it could comfortably hold five or six people.
“What the hell?” I asked, gaping at the monstrosity.
Landen laughed, pulling me into the room. “It’s huge. I know. I wouldn’t let the interior designer order it at first. I mean, who needs a bed larger than a king? But in the end, I admitted she was right. This room is too big. Even a king looked too small.”
His arm dropped from my shoulder as I wandered toward the behemoth mattress. I stopped at the foot and just stared.
“Have you ever lost anyone in this thing? I mean, will some other woman pop out from under the covers if I pull them back?”
He laughed again and this time I joined him because it was a funny mental image.
“I haven’t had anyone here since I got it, so I can promise that won’t happen.”
His statement shocked me. I twisted around to look over my shoulder at him. “What?”
Landen tucked his hands in his pockets, his jacket open to reveal his black shirt. He looked like he belonged on the cover of a men’s magazine. Then he shrugged. “I’ve been too busy to date,” he said. He didn’t seem the least bit uncomfortable with this admission.
I studied him. “Not even a one-night stand.”
“I think you overestimate my ability to pick up women,” he declared with a chuckle.
My brows lifted. That was bullshit. He wouldn’t have to pick up women, they probably threw themselves at him with glee.
At my expression, he grinned. “Unlike you, I don’t like to be chased.” When my eyes narrowed, he took a step toward me and his amused look faded. “I’m not the kind of man who has sex with a woman just because she offered. I got my fill of meaningless fucking in my twenties. I want more than that now.”
I read between the lines of his words and understood he wanted a relationship. Over the past few years, I’d met so many men who were always looking for something else, someonebetter, that I’d given up hope of finding a partner. It seemed Landen was searching for the same thing.
A tiny thrill raced up my spine at the way he watched me. I decided we’d talked enough. For now.
