to talk about it.”
“Thanks.” She smiled. “Do you want a cup of tea or something?”
“Do you mind if I have a shower? I think that might be my only hope of warming up. I feel as though I’m frozen to my core.”
Instinctively, she took his hand and held the back of it to her cheek. She pulled it away again quick. “You’re like ice!”
“I know. I’m fairly certain the temperature inside my house is colder than outside.”
“I think you might be right. Help yourself to the shower. There are towels in the cupboard in the bathroom.”
“Thanks.”
After he went upstairs, Lexie wasn’t sure what to do with herself. She wandered to the kitchen, listening to the sound of the water running through the pipes. It was just over six months since Leana and Alasdair had moved out. Since then, she had got used to living in a quiet house. Listening to someone else move around was oddly soothing.
“Are you warm?” she asked when Nick came back downstairs and joined her in the kitchen.
“Just about. And I managed not to fall down your stairs this time so that felt like an achievement.”
“Those stairs are a nightmare. I’ve fallen down them loads of times.”
“That’s nice of you to say.”
“I’m not just trying to make you feel better. It’s the truth.”
He leaned against the counter. “I fall over my own feet sometimes.”
“I’ve seen,” she said, smiling lightly. “Do you want a hot drink? Or I’ve got beers?”
“Are you having one?”
“I will if you will.” When he nodded, she popped the tops of two beer bottles and handed one over.
“Thanks a lot.”
“It’s just a beer.”
“I meant for saving me from the cold.”
“You’re welcome,” she said as they went back to the living room. They settled at opposite end of the couch.
“You’re going to ruin my teeth,” Nick said.
“What?”
He ran his tongue along his front teeth. “I didn’t bring my toothbrush and you’ve got me drinking a beer before bed. Last night you had me eating biscuits in the middle of the night. My dentist would have a fit.”
“I think the biscuits were your idea.”
“Maybe.” Smiling, he sank back onto the couch. They chatted easily while they drank their beers. He told her about work and about his students.
“I hope you weren’t too late this morning?”
“Ten minutes,” he said with a shrug.
“Not so bad then.”
“No.” He finished his beer and checked his watch. “I should probably go to bed. I want to be up early to get on with the house.”
Lexie stood when he did. “I’ll come and find some bedding.”
It felt a little strange for him to sleep in the spare room when he’d shared her bed the night before. There’d been other occasions when they’d ended up sleeping in the same bed too. One night there had been a storm and she’d suggested he stayed at the bunkhouse rather than drive back to Portree. They’d had a few drinks in the pub after closing time, then crept up to her room together, tipsy and giggling as they tried not to wake Leana.
There’d also been a night in Portree when she’d stayed at his place instead of getting a taxi home late at night. It’d always been very innocent. She was tempted to suggest he just sleep in her bed rather than make up the spare room.
Except he might get the wrong idea. Pausing on the landing, she turned back, smiling nervously when she caught his eye. Would it be so bad if he got the wrong idea? And would it be so wrong for them to share a bed and not keep things innocent?
“Do you miss having Leana around?” Nick asked, snapping Lexie out of her trance.
She followed Nick into the spare room. “Sometimes. At least, I miss the days when it was just me and her. It wasn’t so much fun when Alasdair was around.”
“Oh.” Nick sounded surprised. “Don’t you like him?”
She shook her head and smiled lightly. “I didn’t mean it like that. I think he’s great, but this place is too small for three people. Things weren’t the same.”
Opening the wardrobe, she stood on her tiptoes but still couldn’t reach the sheets on the top shelf. Nick wasn’t much taller than her but he managed to get a hand on them and pull the whole pile down. Laughing, Lexie grabbed what they needed and threw the rest into the bottom of the wardrobe.
“I can manage that,” Nick said, stepping in when she moved to make the bed.
“Watch this,” she said with