I can’t stop my chuckle. “If you say so.”
“I do,” she insists, looking back up at the ceiling. “They installed carpet in my bedroom, the second bedroom, and living room today, and they’ll be back tomorrow to do the kitchen floors.”
“What about the bathroom?”
She groans and shakes her head. “I can’t do them until I figure out what I want to do about the rest of the room. It needs everything, and my dad thinks it would be best to wait on the flooring until the bathtub, vanity, and toilet are being replaced.”
“Probably smart,” I reply, realizing how comfortable I am. Not just the carpeting—whichisnice, by the way—but just lying here and chatting. It’s…relaxing.
“I was moving the couch and knocked over my sofa table.”
I turn my head. “What?”
“That was the thud you heard. I wasn’t falling, though I do appreciate your knight-in-shining-armor theatrics.”
“Theatrics?” I ask, fighting a grin.
She snickers and turns to face me. It’s the first moment I realize how close our faces are. We’re practically shoulder to shoulder, and it wouldn’t be too difficult to shift my position and take her lips with my own. “It was very noble.”
“Next time I find you sprawled out on the floor, I’m just leaving.”
Lizzie bites down on her bottom lip, sending every ounce of blood in my body to my crotch. Considering I’m wearing athleticshorts, it’s a reaction I won’t be able to conceal if she happens to glance toward my groin.
Grandma, grandma, grandma…
“You wouldn’t,” she says, slowly starting to sit up, so I quickly do the same. “It’s not in your DNA.”
“True,” I reply, bringing my knees up and resting my arms on them.
“So, what brought you here, besides your desire to rescue a damsel in distress?”
“I—” The images that plague my brain come back, playing out the traumatic scene all over again. “Uh, I was out for a run and stopped by the bar. We heard the crash, so I thought I’d come check on you.”
She nods and glances around. “I was being all brave and independent and decided to move some of my living room stuff up from the moving truck.”
“Want some help?” I blurt out, knowing I should just head home but not wanting to.
A look crosses her face. “Oh, I don’t want to take you away from your run.”
I shrug. “I hate running,” I confess, carefully standing up and reaching my hand toward her.
She gently places her hand in mine, which causes a bolt of electricity to slide through my veins. She must feel it too because her beautiful green eyes widen, and her delectable lips form the cutest little O. She quickly clears her throat and glances away for a brief moment before returning her gaze to me. “I, uh, am not exactly a fan of it myself. I don’t think I’ve run since high school.”
“Then you understand my pain,” I state easily with a lift of my shoulders. “What do you need to bring up?”
Again, she nibbles on her bottom lip as she thinks. “Not much, but I’d love to bring my end tables up. My brothersoffered to come this weekend and help bring the heavier stuff up.”
I already have my phone out and start typing. “What kind of heavier stuff?”
“Uhh, a recliner, the rest of my bedroom furniture, and maybe a few more boxes.”
Me
Can you come to the bar and help me take some of Lizzie’s furniture up to her apartment?
Cade
What are you doing at her apartment?
