She blinks at me, then yawns. "What time is it?"
"Seven-thirty."
"Why are you awake?" She shuffles toward the coffee pot like a sleepy zombie. "It's Saturday."
"Old habits." I watch her pour a mug, add way too much creamer, and take a long sip. "You should still be asleep."
"I woke up, and you weren't there." She says it as if it's the simplest thing in the world. Like it's a given that I should be in her bed. "I couldn't fall back asleep."
My chest tightens. "Sorry."
"It's fine." She leans against the counter beside me, close enough that our shoulders brush. "I like waking up with you."
I set my phone down and turn to face her. "Yeah?"
"Yeah." She takes another sip of coffee, gaze drifting to my mouth. "Even if you steal all the blankets."
"I don't steal the blankets."
"You absolutely steal the blankets." Her lips twitch. "And you snore."
"I do not snore."
"You do. It's cute."
I narrow my eyes. "Cute."
"Very cute." She grins, and it's the first proper smile I've seen from her all week. Open. Unguarded. "Like a grumpy bear."
"A grumpy bear," I repeat flatly.
"Mm-hmm." She sets her mug down on the counter and steps closer, tilting her head up to look at me. "A very sexy grumpy bear."
Heat punches low in my gut. "Is that right?"
"That's right."
We stare at each other for a beat, and I can see the shift in her expression. The way her pupils dilate. The way her breath quickens.
"I should apologize," I say.
She blinks. "For what?"
"For breaking the rules."
Her eyebrows lift. "Which rule?"
"All of them." I reach out, tucking a curl behind her ear. "Especially number ten."
"Number ten," she echoes, voice breathless.
"No flirting." I let my hand drift down, fingers tracing the line of her jaw. "I've been flirting with you since the day I moved in, Ainsley. Every single day."
"I know." Her hand comes up to rest on my chest, right over my heart. "I've been flirting back."
"I noticed."
"Good." She rises on her toes, bringing her mouth close to mine. "Now shut up and kiss me already."
