I want to inspect his private space, but I curb the urge and examine the living area. The walls are white, and I would be willing to bet that’s how it was when he moved in. His sectional is a little large for the room, but it looks like something youcould sink into comfortably. The fabric is a deep shade of gray and looks velvety soft. I turn slowly and spy the TV. It’s huge and takes up most of the wall above a console table that has a fireplace built into it.
“You’re so quiet.” Boone’s hands are in his pockets, making his shoulders seem high. He looks nervous, and it’s kind of adorable.
“I was afraid to open my mouth and breathe in all the dust,” I joke. He looks around, glancing at the corners of the room. “Tell the truth. You have a cleaning service, don’t you?”
One side of his mouth curls up, and he does a single shoulder shrug. “Worth every penny. In my defense, I forgot she would be here while I was away. There is also something I didn’t mention earlier.”
Oh boy, I can’t read the look on his face, but he almost looks a little nervous. “Well?” I prompt when he doesn’t immediately continue.
He grabs the nape of his neck and winces. “I don’t have a spare.”
“Spare?” It takes my brain a second too long to catch up with his meaning.
“I’ll take the couch. I fall asleep there most nights anyway. I just didn’t want you to think or assume I was?—”
“You’re kind of cute when you’re all flustered.” His brow dips suddenly, and he frowns. “Don’t like being called cute?” I guess, still teasing him.
“I don’t think I do.” Boone sounds truly affronted.
It makes him even cuter, which causes me to laugh. “If it’s your virtue you’re worried about, I think I can manage to share the bed without taking advantage of you right away. We did pretty much sleep next to each other last night, if you remember.”
“Right away?” Of course he would choose to focus on my hopeful slipup.
I hold up my hand palm up in a mockery of a vow, but the sentiment is true when I say, “Or ever. I’m a consent girly, promise.”
Boone rumbles something under his breath that’s too low for me to hear, then louder, he adds, “It might have been a good time to tell you that I only have a twin bed.”
Shock hits me before realization that he has to be joking. There is no way someone of his size and stature would sleep in a twin bed. I won’t—no, Ican’tbelieve it. “Liar, liar,” I sing.
“You considered it for a second though.” He seems proud.
“If that were the case, I would have taken the couch and left you to your little race car bed.”
Boone chuckles. “I wanted one of those so badly when I was little.”
I make a mental note to find out when his birthday is. That would be an awesome gag gift.
He shakes his head as if dislodging a memory and says in a more serious tone, “Make yourself at home. I have a few things I have to do.”
“Are you leaving?” The swell of unease catches me off guard.
“Not right now. I’ll just be in my office, but I will eventually. You aren’t going to make me worry you’re going to run off the minute I do have to leave, are you?”
“No.” My scoff is petulant and defensive. I just wasn’t expectinghimto run off and leave me alone right away. To be honest, I didn’t think about Boone leaving me at all, and I know that’s dumb.
“I know it isn’t fair that I’m asking you to sit here and do nothing, but it’s the safest place for you while we get this sorted out.”
“If I was concerned about what was fair, then I wouldn’t have dragged you into this.”
“Can’t be dragged when I came willingly,” he counters, but he’s already walking back toward the office.
“Hey, can I… Do you have a tablet or something? It would be nice to have more thanyour clotheson my back.”
Boone turns to face me. “Let me talk logistics with Frank and our tech guys. They will know a hell of a lot more on how to avoid detection so we can keep your digital footprint light. The last thing we want to do is tell him exactly where you are because he got a text alert or email confirmation from any of your accounts.”
“That makes sense.” I sink into his sofa, feeling defeated yet again when I realize I still have no idea how deeply this psycho has tangled himself in my life. It makes me look at everything in a new light. I thought I was being so diligent before when it turns out I was clueless.
“If it makes you feel any better, I like you in my clothes. It’s cute.” He grins, as if he’s recalling me telling him girls don’t like being called cute and he’s doing it on purpose.
