sporting nose tampons. That’s good enough for me.”
In retaliation, he tickled her ribs until she gasped with laughter. Then he unlocked the door to his apartment and stepped aside to let her enter first.
In hopes she might visit, he’d spent a few minutes earlier that afternoon straightening up the kitchen, where he’d left some dishes soaking the night before. The rest of the apartment hadn’t needed help, since he didn’t tend to spread out much. The consequence of too many years spent living out of suitcases, he supposed.
Even tidy, the apartment wasn’t much to brag about. She could see most of it from the doorway, and she took a moment to scan the area before moving inside.
She made a noncommittal noise. “Utilitarian, but cozy.”
After setting down their bags, he tried to evaluate the space through her eyes. The small galley kitchen, the clean beige carpet, the white walls, the nubby blueish upholstery on the couch. The huge TV dominating the living room. The shiny oak coffee table.
All generic. Reflective of exactly nothing about him or his interests and tastes.
That wasn’t good enough for him anymore. Once Tess left, he’d—
No. He wouldn’t think about that now. They had tonight and more nights to come, and he was hoping they could make the most of their time together.
He swallowed back a twinge of panic and nodded toward the narrow hallway leading off from the living area. “The first door on the right is a half-bath. The other one is for the master bedroom and bathroom.” Master bathroom was a grandiose name for the tiny space with its claustrophobia-inducing shower, but technically correct. “And that’s about it. The apartment came with the job, completely furnished, and I don’t need much room for my stuff. All those years on tour, I never accumulated a lot of furniture or knickknacks or whatever. I know it’s not much, but—”
“Lucas.” She tugged his arm until he faced her. “You don’t have to defend your apartment to me. I understand why it looks like a hotel room. It doesn’t reflect who you are, because you chose not to have it reflect who you are.”
She got it. The deliberation with which he’d failed to insert himself into this space. Into this half-life he’d created on the island. Perceptive as hell, as always.
He let out a slow breath. “Yeah.”
“So…what now?” She was watching him, her hazel eyes bright.
Raising a hand, he smoothed the fine hairs at her temple. “Are you hungry?”
“Nope. Are you?” She tapped the bridge of his nose, her finger light as a whisper. “And is your nose still bleeding?”
“I’m not hungry either. But give me a minute in the bathroom to figure out whether I can remove my…” Her eyes brightened even more in anticipation, and he sighed. Whatever. He could use that damn name if it made her happy. “Whether I can remove my nose tampons yet.”
He started for the hall. “Make yourself at home in the meantime. The remote’s on the table, and it’s pretty straightforward to use. There’s juice in the fridge. A few snacks too, in case you change your mind about being hungry.”
He could really use a quick shower. If this evening progressed how he hoped it would, he didn’t want to subject Tess to Eau de Sweaty Balls.
As he opened the door to his bedroom, though, her hand on his arm brought him to a halt. He jumped a little, startled.
“Uh-uh.” She shook her forefinger at him. “I still want to see your injury in decent lighting. And if you think I’m getting naked with you before I wash off some of this sweat, you’re vastly mistaken.”
At the confirmation of all his most fervent hopes, his heart seized in his chest. “You said you were spending the night, but I didn’t want to assume…”
“Oh, come on.” She rolled her eyes. “I told you I liked you, and I’m a grown woman who enjoys sex. It’s not as if we’re going to spend the evening alone in your apartment together and do nothing but watch baseball.” Her grin plumped those cute cheeks of hers. “Although I do intend to round a lot of bases.”
“Tess.” He covered her hand with his. “I don’t want you to think this is casual for me. We can wait a few days.”
Her smile didn’t falter, and not an ounce of wariness clouded her gaze. “Is this casual for you?”
“No.” His hand squeezed hers. “Not in the slightest.”
“And you want to sleep with me?”
“You’re the sexiest woman on