it would be just the two of us. With the sun sinking low behind the skyscrapers and the sky ablaze in the soft oranges of sunset. Like it’s not the most romantic time of day.
While I recognized his need for comfort, I also recognized my own needs. And they were all for him.
Boy. This is probably a really, really bad idea. But hey, it would probably feel pretty darn good.
Chapter 14
DANE
“Welcome to my humble abode,” I said as Leah and I walked into my place.
The lights came on as we went, and I heard her cursing softly as she took it all in. “This isn’t exactly humble.”
“You should’ve seen my other options.” I grinned at her, reaching out to grab her hand before dragging her through the entrance hall and into my kitchen. “Would you like something to drink?”
She let out a low whistle, leaning with her lower back against the counter and planting her palms on top of it as she looked around. “I’ll take anything that comes out of a kitchen like this.”
When I glanced at her on my way to the fridge, I saw her gaze slowly raking over every inch of my kitchen and the rooms visible beyond it. My place was open concept downstairs, with the kitchen, dining area, and living areas all leading to a large balcony with a bar in one corner and a hot tub in the other.
Inside, the place was all hardwood flooring, old-school pressed ceilings, and warm tones. When I’d been looking for someplace to live, I’d been shown a ton of glass and metal monstrosities of modern design. None of that was for me, though.
My kitchen here was more farm style than bachelor, but it also held every modern appliance and had been renovated to look fresh and clean. There were three fireplaces in the penthouse, it had come with area rugs, and when it was spring or summer, like now, the entire front wall panel opened up to create indoor/outdoor living space.
I’d fallen for the place in the first minute, and I’d paid through my ass for it. To this day, I didn’t regret the purchase, though. It was the kind of place where I could live alone for the rest of my life, or I could fill the three extra bedrooms with children one day and still have enough space.
“The kitchen was a definite selling point,” I agreed, pulling a jug of freshly squeezed juice from the fridge. “If you’ll take anything out of it, how about this? I just made it yesterday.”
“You’re offering me orange juice?” she asked, her lips twitching like she was trying to hide a smile. “I’d love some. Thank you.”
“I like to keep things interesting.” I snagged two glasses from the cabinet above me and filled them. I handed hers over with a smirk on my lips. “Try it. I think you’re going to like it.”
I watched her carefully as she brought the glass to her lips, suppressing a laugh at the look on her face when she realized it wasn’t just orange juice. She swallowed the sip she’d taken, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand as her eyes watered.
“You could’ve warned me that it was a screwdriver.”
I shrugged. “Like I said, I like to keep things interesting.”
She laughed but took another sip before cradling the glass in her hands and walking out of the kitchen to explore the rest of the place. I put the jug back in the fridge before joining her, but I could still hear her loud and clear.
“This is quite the place you’ve got here,” she said. “It’s not what I was expecting at all.”
“What were you expecting?” I asked, carrying my glass out with me when I went to her.
She looked at me over her shoulder when she heard me approaching, her green eyes warm and filled with curiosity. “I don’t know what I was expecting, but it wasn’t this. I thought it would be more… impersonal? You’ve got actual printed pictures on your walls and it looks like you live here instead of just sleeping here.”
“I do live here,” I said, grinning as I winked at her. “But thanks.”
“You’re welcome,” she said, turning in a half circle to face the balcony. “You keep surprising me, Dane Oliver. I honestly wouldn’t have expected you to live in a place so homey.”
Since I’d been honest with her about a lot of things today that I hadn’t spoken to anyone else about, I figured I