Page 21 of If You Like It, I Love It

“You’re sneaking out? Typical.” She rolls her eyes and laughs.

I laugh, too, because I know it’s not at all typical for men to be sneaking out on her.

Planting a kiss on her forehead after I buckle my belt, I say, “Just getting out of your way so you can get on with your day. I had to force myself out of your bed.”

“It’s okay. I need to get up, too.”

“You working today?”

“No, but I’m meeting Sabrina and Glynnis at Grin’s this morning, and I promised Oliver he could go.”

“And what exactly would he do if you broke that promise?”

“You’ve obviously never seen an alpaca pout.”

“You really think he’d know you went without him?”

“Oh, he’d know. And he’s been extra sensitive lately, so he’d probably go on a hunger strike to punish me.”

“Well, it’s a good thing I’m leaving. I don’t want to be the reason your alpaca stops eating.” I button my shirt, enjoying the way the morning sun through the curtains makes her eyes sparkle.

“I was going to kick you out any minute, anyway.”

“Right. I could tell by the way you were snoring.”

She tosses a pillow at me. “Listen, whatever it takes to get rid of you.”

I kiss her on the cheek this time. “It’ll take more than your cute little snores. When can I see you again?”

“As soon as you have that permit approved or my appliances show up, I guess.”

“No, that’s too long.”

“I thought the project was at a standstill until one of those things happens.”

“We can install the island whenever it’s ready, and your new lighting still needs to be hung. But I’m not asking to come back around to work on your kitchen, Joni. I want to see you again. Soon.”

Her shoulders contract. “Last night was great, but we both know the age thing is still a problem.”

“Age is nothing but a number.”

“Maybe we should just play it by ear.”

“Okay. I’ll call you later, and when your ear hears the phone ring, pick it up. I’ll come over, and we can play.”

“You’re incorrigible. Go to work. Flirt with one of your other clients.”

“I don’t flirt with other clients. And you’re only a client when I’m here as your contractor. Right now, we’re a woman and a man who have just started to date, agreeing to play it by ear, seeing where it goes.”

“We are not dating.”

“We went on a date.”

“One date.”

“So far.” I sit next to her on the bed and put on my boots, and then I stand to look at her one last time before I leave. “But I’m not a one-and-done kind of guy.”

Her sigh follows me down the hall, but I shake it off. If she doesn’t want to go on another date with me, she can turn me down when I call to ask. But I’m damn sure calling.