her home.
A person could tell a lot about someone by looking at where they lived.
Turning to take in the immediate area, he saw she was a coffee drinker. And not so good of a housekeeper. There were no less than three mugs with various levels of coffee still inside scattered around the living room.
He resisted the urge to gather them up and carry them to the kitchen, sure that act wouldn’t earn him any good will or gratitude. More likely, he’d get a lecture. Probably about the unfair expectations regarding the role of women as housekeepers in society.
Although, he did enjoy when she slipped into professor mode and lectured him.
If she would put her hair in a bun, dress in a tight little skirt, a low-cut shirt, and glasses and crawl on top of a desk while delivering some psycho-babble, even better.
That wasn’t going to happen but a guy could dream.
Further inspection confirmed she was as brainy as he’d first assumed. There wasn’t just the typical bookcase that most homes had, filled with dust-covered books indicating that if anyone had ever read them, it hadn’t been in decades.
In Alicia’s house, there were also stacks of books on every flat surface. Some open, as if she’d been interrupted in the middle of reading. Others with papers sticking out of them, to mark important pages, he assumed.
He moved closer to the bookcase and perused the titles. He spotted that series she’d recommended to him and his eyes widened at the size of those suckers. Yeah. No chance he was getting through even one of those.
But as expected as the books were, he found something completely unexpected as well. Half of one shelf was lined with vinyl records.
Old school. He liked it.
Yes, pretty much every song in the world could be gotten digitally, but there was something about listening to an album in vinyl that made it different. Special.
He pulled out one to see how her taste in music ran, and was further surprised at what he saw. He pulled out two more and again, found more of the unexpected.
“Okay. I’m ready.”
Turning, he saw Alicia wearing a long top over leggings and boots. She was indeed ready to go. He had to admit that casual Alicia was just as attractive as the sexy psychologist version had been in his fantasies.
She cocked up one brow at the albums in his hand. “I see you made yourself right at home.”
He ignored the sarcasm. “You own not one, but at least three albums of sea shanties. I need an explanation.”
“I inherited them. They were my father’s. He used to sing them around the house.” She spoke softly, as if lost in her memories as she recalled those times..
He didn’t miss the word she’d chosen. Inherited. “I’m sorry for your loss.”
Scowling, she moved forward and took them out of his hands. “It was quite a few years ago.”
“Still a loss.”
Turning back from the bookcase where she’d replaced the albums, she said, “Ready to leave? I don’t want to be late.”
It might have been the most he’d ever gleaned from the other side of the wall she hid behind, but now the moment was gone.
“Sure. We can go.”
They drove to her sister’s house in his Jeep, without the argument about who would drive this time. And unlike last time, she didn’t try to give him directions at every turn either.
What was also different was the big hug he got from Jen and the warm handshake he got from Jason, and the slobbering welcome from what was apparently the family dog, all before he’d even made it through the door.
Brian squatted down and ran a hand through the long golden hair of the retriever. “And who are you?”
“That’s Chester,” Alicia supplied. “He was locked up for the party so he didn’t bite our mutual friend Andrew.”
“For some reason he really dislikes Andrew,” Jason said.
Brian snorted, not at all surprised by that information.
“Chester. Very nice to meet you.” He leaned closer and whispered near the dog’s ear. “And you have very good taste.”
The dog treated him to a wet tongue kiss that had him laughing.
He stood before he ended up on his ass with a hundred pounds of dog on top of him and wiped the slobber from his face.
“Sorry about him,” Jen apologized.
“No problem. I love dogs.” He noticed Alicia watching the interaction with interest.
“And they obviously love you,” she commented.
“Yeah. Usually.” Now that he’d disengaged from the show of familial affection from all members, including the canine, he