I was greeted by Lucy, who came bounding into the entryway like a hurricane. Her butt wiggled with excitement. I set my bags down and knelt to give her pets.
“Hi sweet girl,” I cooed, grateful that she wasn’t jumping all over me.
Lucy licked my face, making me laugh.
“Luc, give Badger some space.” Machine laughed as the dog sat in my lap and tried licking me to death.
It was strange to hear him call me Badger instead of Bunny. I should have appreciated that he had listened to me for once, but part of me didn’t like it.
After several more moments of Lucy mauling me with kisses and Machine telling her to stop, I finally stood up and walked further into the living space.
“I’ll, um, show you where your room will be,” Machine mumbled awkwardly as he walked past me and started down a long hallway.
I followed, impressed by how clean and organized the entire penthouse was. Nothing seemed out of place, and tasteful art pieces on the walls added to its allure. Machine stopped at a door, placed one of my bags down on the ground, and motioned for me to walk inside.
The room was enormous, with a king-size bed draped in a dark gray comforter and plush pillows. Off to the side was a reading chair, bookshelves lined with books, and a weathered dark-gray dresser and end tables. Had I not known better, I would have assumed this was the primary bedroom due to the en suite bathroom and walk-in closet.
“This is your room. Your bathroom is right through that door. It has a big soaking tub and a shower. I stocked it with some… um, feminine products as well.” Machine was still standing in the doorway. His cheeks were tinged pink.
“Thank you,” I said quietly, touched by his thoughtfulness.
“My room is across the hall.” He pointed over his shoulder. “If you need anything, just, erm, let me know.”
He carried my bags into the room, stood awkwardly for another minute, then turned to walk away.
I stopped him. “Machine?”
“Yeah?” He paused in the doorway, his expression concerned.
“I mean it. Thank you.” I gave him a half-smile, which he returned with a small nod of acknowledgment before walking away.
As I began to unpack my belongings, Lucy bounded into the room with a squirrel toy in her mouth. Before I could greet her, she jumped on the bed where all of my clothes were strewn andlay down on the pile. I let out a chuckle as the pup fell asleep instantly with the toy still in her mouth.
Maybe this wouldn’t be as bad as I thought.
TWENTY-ONE
MACHINE
I walked into the penthouse after a harsh workout to the smell of something delicious baking. It had been three days since Badger had temporarily moved in, and I was starting to lose my mind. The woman would not stop baking, and she was avoiding me like the plague. When I tried to sleep at night, I was accosted by dreams of her in the alley with her lips on mine. During the day, I found myself wanting to be near her, craving her fruity scent.
When I turned the corner, Badger had two dozen cookies cooling on cookie racks, and I could see a cake rising in the oven. She was in the middle of stirring some sort of batter. Flour dusted her nose and her baggy black shirt. My heart flipped. She seemed so comfortable in my kitchen; it seemed so normal to have her there, and I couldn’t figure out why.
She looked up, seemingly startled by my presence.
I put my hands up in surrender, not wanting to get my ass handed to me. “Easy Bunny, it’s just me.”
She rolled her eyes at the use of her nickname. This was usually the extent of our “conversations,” but this morning she surprised me.
“You should try one of the cookies that just came out of the oven.” She picked one up and handed it to me. It was warm to the touch, and chocolate chunks oozed out of the sides.
I looked at her skeptically. “Are you trying to poison me?”
She rolled her eyes again, took a cookie, and stuffed it in her mouth. I found myself surprisingly aroused by the action.
“Nope. Quit being a baby,” she said around the cookie.
“Is this the same recipe from the other day?” I asked.
