don’t you? I promise I’m not. I’m just a little in love with my Christmas Trees is all. I’m perfectly stable the other nine months of the year.”
“Not insane…passionate.”
She captures her bottom lip between her teeth, and my blood flows to areas it shouldn’t.
“That’s a good thing, right?” she asks, blinking up at me with those tantalizing eyes.
It’s the same look she gave me in the bar.
Impish and sexy.
Inviting.
I want to reach over the table, pull her into my lap, and finally get a taste of her lips.
Fuck. I can’t be thinking like this.
If Maya is going to be staying at my place for two months, I can’t be conjuring up images of kissing her or anything else my brain has cooked up over the last week…like that fantasy of—
No! Nope.
Not going there.
“Sure.” I swallow, working hard to talk my dick down. I clear my throat and cast my eyes anywhere but her. “So, I guess we should talk about the details of your lease.”
“Right.” She retreats to her side, pressing her shoulders back. “Like I said last night, it’ll only be for two months while they finish up the new apartments over off Burrow Street.”
“I know the ones. That land was bought by a rival company. I didn’t realize they were leasing already.”
“They had opened up a few rentals around when we got the notice of the demolition, but they filled up fast. I guess they’re ready to move on to phase two soon.”
“Lucky for you then.”
“I’d be even luckier if I didn’t have to do this at all.” She waves her hand. “Whatever. It’s all finally working out.”
I see it again, that relief in her gaze.
Darlene brings breakfast out: French toast sans syrup and powdered sugar for Maya and a stack of syrup and whipped-cream-covered pancakes with a side of bacon and sausage for me.
We tuck into our food, taking a break from talking to get some fuel in our stomachs.
“You can charge me more, you know,” Maya says after a few minutes of silence. “I’m good for it.”
“I don’t doubt that, but I can’t in good conscience charge you more when you’re only staying for two months. Especially not when you’re going to have to put down a deposit and everything else that comes with a new apartment so soon.”
“But your savings…”
“Will be fine,” I tell her.
She doesn’t need to know the money I have in there hasn’t been touched to cover the extra expenses the apartment upgrade cost me. I make enough to cover the rent without digging into it and can still get by.
In truth, I was in no real hurry to get a roommate, which is why I’ve been dragging my feet about it the last few months. I’m enjoying having such a big space to myself for the first time.
Besides, I haven’t done anything except work for the last ten years. I don’t go out often, and I don’t spend money on frivolous things. Even with the added expense, my savings account is doing fine.
“If you’re sure…”
I don’t bother dignifying that with a response.
“Right.” She wipes a napkin across her lips, then tosses it next to her plate.
“Are you not going to finish that?” I ask, nodding toward the leftover French toast.
“Just taking a break.” She sinks farther into the booth, expelling a heavy breath, and points a finger my way. “Don’t even think about reaching over here and stealing it. I will stab you.”
“That’s the second death threat I’ve received from you. And you were worried I’d be the murderer.”
“I’m still not convinced you’re not. But speaking of our arrangement…I promised Sam his own room. I wasn’t wrong to do that, right?”
“He’ll have his own room.”
Now that I’m thinking about it, maybe Maya should be the one to bunk in my library. I’d rather not have the kid’s grubby hands all over my collection.
“How old is Sam?”
“He’ll be thirteen at the end of next month.”
Her eyes light up again, this time for a different reason.
This time it’s with pure love and devotion.
“If you’re wondering if he’s a little shit, the answer is yes, sometimes. He likes to roll his eyes and whine and sometimes talk back, but in general, he’s a good kid. Quiet, keeps to himself mostly, and, barring the stray pair or two of socks, picks up after himself.”
I chuckle. “That’s good to know. I’ll make sure to watch out for the socks though.”
She tilts her head, studying me. “You’re not a kid person, are you?”