Twenty minutes later, I’m back on the road.
When I park in the drive next to her car, I take a deep breath to calm my racing heart.
I’m not asking her out tonight,I remind myself.We’re just going to get to know each other a bit better.Be cool.I’ve got this.
My little pep talk doesn’t help, but I thinkfuck itand climb out.Grabbing the pizza boxes, I walk to the door.I can hear Beans barking happily as I hit the first porch step.I grin, shifting the pizzas to pull open the door.
“Hey, boy,” I greet.
He licks my hand as I pet him.
I relax as I close the door behind me.This is nuts.I like order and control, and I have none of that here.I wanted to spend my leave enjoying some peace and quiet, and instead, I’m here in this old house with my messy, distracting, beautiful roommate and her crazy dog.
So why am I so damn happy?
Daisy comes out of her room a minute later; her dark hair still damp from her shower.She’s wearing fuzzy pajama pants with dogs all over them and an oversized t-shirt.A man's shirt.
Every muscle in my body tenses, and I glare at the garment.
“Whose shirt is that?”The question comes out harsher than I intended.
“Uh, mine,” she says, looking confused.“Why?”
“It looks like a man’s shirt.”
“Oh.”
Daisy looks down at the shirt and blushes, looking suddenly uncomfortable.I wrestle with the need to rip the shirt off her and burn it with the desire to put her at ease.The latter wins.For now.
“Are you hungry?I grabbed us some pizza.”
“Oh, you didn’t have to do that,” she protests.
I smile.“I know.I wanted to.”
Daisy follows me into the kitchen.I’m not that hungry after eating with Lula and Koa, but I still grab a slice and sit across from her at the kitchen table.
“Thanks,” she says.
“How was work?”
“Good.We’re closed today, so I went in to handle inventory and prepare for my clients tomorrow.”
“That place keeps you busy.Is it just you working there, or are there other hairstylists?”
“Just me for right now.I’m hoping to get some new people in soon.”
“Must be a lot to handle.”
She shrugs.“I love it.I know everyone in town, and it’s fun to catch up on the gossip or read in my downtime.”
“You read a lot,” I observe, looking at all the books.
“Yeah, all the time.”
I spy some of the titles on the books closest to me.“Romance?”
“Yeah, that’s my favorite genre.What about you?Do you like to read?”
