Her mouth opens and closes.
“You don’t have to say that.” She finds her voice.
“I’m not one to bullshit people. I say it like it is. I mean every word, Harley.”
She tightens her arms a little more around my shoulders.
She’s been short changed by all the men that have come before me?—
This stupid fake arrangement doesn’t make sense anymore.
I push the thought away.
Now isn’t the time to make things awkward between us.
We reach the top step, and I trail down the hallway until we stop in front of a door. I drop her to her feet.
“I’m not sure why, but I feel compelled to say this before even knowing what you have in store for me. You are––bar none––the best roommate I’ve ever had.”
“You say that because I don’t bring questionable people over from hookup sites.”
She laughs. “I don’t think I’ll ever get used to your unexpected sense of humor.”
I boop her nose. “Ready for your surprise?”
“I’m dying with anticipation.”
I open the door and guide her inside. “All right, you can remove the mask.”
I hope she likes it.
With one swift hand movement, she yanks it off her face.
Her eyes are enormous as she takes everything in.
After a few long beats, she flips around to face me. “Kazimir Lindström, what have you done?” Her eyelashes flutter like crazy.
“Last week, I was busy with the Grazie Mille drama”—and doing a damn good job at avoiding you—“while you kept My Little Bookish Heart in business?—”
“Excuse me.” She hooks a closed fist at her waist and adopts a defiant stance. “Do you know the percentage of people who forget to use gift cards? Huge. I wasn’t going to be another statistic and turn you into one by default. You’re welcome.”
I roll my eyes. “I’m a neat freak?—”
“Didn’t notice.”
My lips flatten in a thin line.
She cringes. “Sorry I interrupted you.” Her tone is sheepish.
“During the renovations, I insisted on having multiple storage rooms throughout the house. Chaos gives me the hives.” I rub a hand at the back of my neck. “I figured I’d transform this room into a library. The designer called it a reading nook.”
“When did you do this?”
“I contacted my designer on Wednesday. She asked me for measurements and photos. I waited for you to get into a taxi and head to Number 22 to capture photos of the brunch. The designer arrived half an hour after you had left––to play it safe.”
She does a little happy dance. “I can’t believe you did this for me.”
“Even though the design team worked at lightning speed, it isn’t finished. The designer still needs to get more lighting, and pretty curtains for the window. The area rug she ordered won’t arrive for another two weeks. Since this is your room, she suggested you select the chair and ottoman. Artwork will be here mid of next week.” Right now, her reading nook is nothing more than a room with bare shelves. “And her team needs to come back to install the rolling ladder.”
