I set the stack of sheets on the half wall that overlooked the rest of the apartment, and ran my hand over the pristine whiteness of the fabric. “Oh, my God, Beck, are these sheets linen?”
He emerged from the last stair and—oh, mama—his handsomeness took the air out of my lungs. Something about those tortoiseshell glasses on the bridge of that strong nose really worked for me.
“So what?”
That made me smile. “So you’re such a diva, Beck.”
His mouth was firm but his eyes were amused. “It’s summer, Liv—linen is perfect. Light and breathable so you don’t get hot, but they feel heavier than a traditional sheet. You’ll love them.”
I knew he was right, because I’d lied; when he’d gone to Boston, I had slept under his covers. I hadn’t known it was because of the sheets, but I’d been enamored with the feel of the cool bedding on my skin. “I promise to return them after I buy some.”
I’d ordered a sofa and a TV from Amazon earlier in the day, so why not add bedding? I had a stable job now, after all.
“Consider them a gift. I washed them after I bought the set, but they’ve never been used.”
“Um, thanks.” I unfolded the bottom sheet—of course Colin had folded it perfectly—and shook it out. “But I’m still not sure why you’re doing these nice things for me. It’s so unlike you that I’m a little terrified.”
“First of all, it’s not unlike me. I’m a super-nice guy.”
“Except to me.”
“Granted.” He stepped over and grabbed an end, pulling the sheet toward the bed. “Second of all, this is my insurance policy that you never return. If all it takes is a mattress and a sheet and you’re forever out of the nest, it’s a tiny price to pay.”
“See?” I moved with him toward the bed, holding my end and being a little distracted by the sight of us doing such an intimate, domestic thing together. “That’s exactly what I needed to make myself not feel guilty about being a charity case. You’re actually kind of being a jackass by buying me a luxurious bed just like yours, then.”
“It is not just like mine,” he muttered, tucking his side under his corner of the mattress, “it is a much cheaper version.”
“Sure it is.” I tucked the sheet around my corner of the mattress, then moved down toward the foot of the bed with sheet in hand.
“Believe what you want, Marshall.”
“Oh, I will, Beck.”
He grabbed the top sheet from the stack and shook it out while I cracked open a beer. I watched in amusement as he not only laid it over the mattress but went around the bed four times, straightening the sheet and tucking in all the corners.
It was so white and crisp that it looked like a hotel bed.
Then he tossed a pillow on the mattress and just stood back to survey his work.
“Thank you so much.” I couldn’t be nonchalant anymore because my heart was overflowing with warmth for Colin. “I don’t care if getting my irritating ass out of your apartment was the reason. This is like the nicest thing anyone’s ever done for me.”
He swallowed and I was transfixed by the sight of his throat moving. Such a solid, tan, masculine column of neck.
“Everyone deserves presents sometimes.”
“Wow.” I blinked. “I hadn’t expected that to come out of your mouth.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Nothing.” I grabbed the beer and started down the stairs. “You just don’t strike me as the gift-giving sort.”
“You calling me cheap?” He followed me down, his voice right behind me. “What the hell is that?”
“Not cheap,” I said, setting the beer on the island and turning to face him. “Just a little too cerebral to think of thoughtful gifts.”
Just like that we were close. He took another step, bringing us even closer. “I’ll have you know that I am an amazing gift giver.”
“Is this where you’re going to tell me what an amazing lover you are? Spare me the orgasm count, Beck.”
That made him smile, but it was a slow one that started in a naughty look and turned up to full-on sexy. “Fine.”
“Fine.”
“But you know I’m a numbers guy.”
“Come on, Beck, don’t.”
He gave a little chuckle. “I wasn’t going to.”
“Good.”
“But we both know.”
“The number?”