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“You.”
He leaned in like he was going to kiss me but stopped just short. “And after I change?”
“We’ll make a list of things we’d like to do over the next two weeks. Together.”
***
The following evening, walking into Rafe’s apartment felt less like stepping into forbidden territory and more like coming home.
I opened the door and found the table set, though not for dinner. There were two wine glasses, a bottle of wine in an ice bucket, and in the center sat what looked like an old photo album—the kind kids born not too long after us didn’t get anymore because everything had gone digital.
Rafe walked into the kitchen and smiled. “Welcome home, milady.”
I smiled and pointed to the album. “Is that what I think it is?”
“Depends. Do you think it’s evidence that I’ve been this adorable since the day I was born?”
I chuckled. “I don’t need evidence to be certain that’s true.”
He took my work bag from my hand, set it on the counter, and walked over to open the bottle of wine. “I hope you don’t mind, but I went upstairs and grabbed some of your things. I thought maybe you could change here, and it would feel a little more like home.”
“You went through my drawers?”
He nodded. “Unfortunately, I didn’t find anything too salacious. I was kind of hoping for at least a vibrator in your underwear drawer.”
“That’s hidden in a box in the back of the closet.”
Rafe stopped working the cork loose. “Why is it hidden?”
I shrugged. “Calder found it once when we were in college, and he was sort of insulted by it. Like I needed it because he couldn’t get the job done or something.”
“Well, I promise you, I do not consider toys competition. In fact, I’d love to use a vibrator on you.”
My cheeks heated. Calder and I didn’t really talk about sex. Not so openly and casually, anyway. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
He tugged at the cork, and a loud pop sounded. “You can bet it’ll be on my mind now, too.”
I laughed, and Rafe’s smile did something stupid to my chest. He poured two glasses of wine, handed one to me, and nodded toward the album.
“Come on. Let’s start at the beginning.”
“The beginning beginning?”
“Unfortunately for you, yes.” He picked up the album and carried it to the couch. “We’re starting with my wrinkly newborn face and the hospital bracelet my mother stuck to the page. You’re lucky she didn’t glue the umbilical cord.”
I followed, sipping the wine. “You really know how to seduce a woman. Khakis last night, umbilical-cord talk tonight.”
He sat and patted the cushion next to him. Rafe set his wine on the coffee table and crossed one leg over the other to balance the album. I smiled when I spotted his blue toe.
The first page held a faded hospital photo of a chubby newborn wrapped in a blue blanket. His tiny mouth was wide open like he was yelling at someone.
I rubbed my finger over the plastic page covering. “Oh my God. You were so chubby.”
“Nine pounds, twelve ounces. My mom says I should buy her two cards each year on Mother’s Day.”
“Oh my. That’s a big baby.”
He winked. “Well, the cannon I was born with would’ve looked strange on a skinny, five-pound kid.”
