Bridget sits up with a start. "What time is it?"
She wraps the sheet around herself awkwardly, looking for her purse. I reach for it and pass it to her. Digging out her phone, her thumbs fly over the screen. "Just have to let Mom know that I'm out for dinner with a friend, and will be home a bit late."
She sits back on the bed, looking at me carefully. "I'm sorry, I haven't quite told her that we're…"
Grabbing her hand, I kiss it with a flourish. "Together? Dating? However you want to say it, beautiful. But…I get the sense that your Mom is pretty protective?"
Bridget nods, then awkwardly reaches toward the floor to get her clothes. "Lie back," I gently order.
I jump up and yank on my shorts, then slowly dress Bridget piece by piece. She's much more relaxed about letting me see all of her now, thank goodness. It's disappointing to cover up her soft, smooth skin, but I don't know when Corbin is coming back.
Once we're dressed and down in the living room, we have a lively debate on what to order. Bridget says she is open to anything, but the second I realize that she really wants chow mein, I decide that I'm hungry for sweet-and-sour pork myself, and forget the pizza.
When the delivery arrives, Bridget jumps up to fetch plates, serving spoons and napkins, quickly setting the dining room table. Having her so comfortable in my new house is important. I can already picture her moving in with me. Already imagine waking up with her in my arms, and showering together under the pretense of saving water.
A deep longing rolls through me at the thought of soaping her up under the hot water. Of being with her all the time.
"What's that little smile for?" she asks.
"I like you being here in my home. It feels right."
She blinks, her head tipping to the side as her long golden brown hair falls across her shoulder. "You're strangely romantic for a lumberjack."
"Well, I've only recently become a full-time lumberjack. Previously I only put in a few weeks a year."
"I think it's in your heart," Bridget says softly, ignoring my joke for once. "The way you look at the forest, study the trees, talk about the wood. It's in your blood."
Reaching out to take her hand, I kiss her thumb, then turn it toward her. "Did you ever notice how fingerprints look like the rings inside a tree?"
She giggles sweetly. "See? Romantic."
"Is it romantic that every time I look into your eyes, I need to kiss you?"
She nods, leaning closer. We both taste faintly of sweet-and-sour sauce, as our slow, heartfelt kiss feels like it's echoing through every inch of my body.
There's a knock at the front door, and Bridget jumps. I smile reassuringly when I hear a key in the lock. "That's Corbin."
My brother seems surprised to see us in the dining room, but recovers quickly. I jump up, and Bridget follows, unsure of how close she should stand. Wrapping an arm around her, I pull her tight against me. "Bridget, this is my big brother Corbin."
He smiles politely, coming over to shake her hand. "Nice to meet you, Bridget."
As her chin tips up, I can feel her surprise. We're all big guys, and I'm six foot four, but Corbin is over six foot six, and built like a grizzly bear.
"Nice to meet you," she says. "So, you're the third brother?"
"Yeah. I'm the one you call when you need a piano moved." His eyes shift to me. "I see you've ended up with the runt of the litter."
I stage whisper to Bridget, "Should I let that one go, or send you to the kitchen while I smack him around?"
Her hand lands on my chest, dramatically holding me back. "You can't beat him up. There's an entire order of Kung Pao chicken in the fridge for him."
Corbin blinks. "Kung Pao chicken? Thanks, I'm starving."
"Anyway… I should get home," Bridget says, her eyes darting to the clock between the kitchen and dining room.
"I'll drive you."
"And I'll take care of all of this," Corbin says, waving to the half carton of leftover rice, and small amounts of noodles and pork.
