“You were invited,” Micah growled out, frowning at me. “He just hasn’t had a guest in our home before.”
“Not even Benjamin?” she asked.
“Not even my dad,” Nathan confirmed. “Calix is a germaphobe.”
“Notcompletely.” I cleared my throat, my cheeks burning as I called attention to myself. “I’m sorry for the hostile welcome. I just have to have things a certain way or it makes me anxious.”
“I can imagine,” she murmured, empathy shining in her eyes. “I’m sorry the world is the way it is. I can’t imagine the anxiety you deal with daily. I’ll do everything I can to make you comfortable with me being here.”
My mouth fell open, and heat streaked through me. I’d never had anyone be so open to making adjustments to suit my needs—aside from Micah and Nathan.
My chest fluttered at her kindness. “Thank you, Tori. It’s incredibly appreciated.”
She smiled hesitantly before holding out her dainty hand, but I winced.
Even with her smooth clean skin, a pit formed in my gut at the germs she could possibly have crawling on her.
She jerked her hand back to her side a moment later. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t think.”
“It’s fine,” I croaked, stumbling back a few steps. “Where are we going to have her sleep?”
“I usually sleep on the couch,” Nathan admitted to her as he went over and pulled out the worn leather pull-out sofa until a full-size bed took its place. He grabbed the pillow and a couple of blankets from the wicker basket beside it and threw them over the mattress. “But you’re more than welcome to sleep with me.”
“Or you can sleep in the bed with me,” Micah offered as a smirk came over his features.
“Or Micah and Nathan could sleep together, and you could take the bed,” I added the suggestion. “You know, in case the woman wanted the option of sleepingalone.”
Both smirks on Micah and Nathan’s face wiped off as concern replaced them.
“That’s definitely an option.” Micah scratched his beard.
“Yep. It is.” Nathan cleared his throat. “Completely up to you, killer.”
“How about I sleep on the couch, and you two can have the bed?” She gripped the edge of the flannel, which reached mid-thigh, and I swallowed hard.
“That’s fine.” Nathan shrugged.
“I don’t mind if you want my bed,” Micah offered again, but she shook her head.
“You’ve given me a safe place to stay. I’m not taking your bed. Besides, this is a nice pullout, and I am more than ready for sleep.” She yawned, stretching her arms up over her head, and the flannel rose up.
Her skin lookedso soft.
I turned my head before it went any further. “If you wouldn’t mind disinfecting the toilet with spray and wipes every time you use the restroom, I would be in your debt.”
“Of course,” she replied easily, the pull-out squeaking as she crawled on top of it.
“Night,” I murmured before turning and booking it out of the living room and to the safety of my room.
Once the door shut, I tore my mask off and peeled off the gloves before tossing them on the floor as I inhaled a deep breath.
I’d neverwantedto physicallytouchanother person before. I could handle Micah and Nathan if I knew they’d cleaned themselves right, but I’d never truly desired totouchsomeone.
Crawling back into my bed, I pulled the heavy comforter up and glanced at the door.
Tori would be sleeping just beyond that door for a few days, and it was abnormal just how much I didn’t hate the idea.
7
