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“I can’t believe I’m going to sleep in a real bed,” I said, and flopped on my back with a laugh.
Clint coughed and left the room, jogging back down the stairs.
I sat up and looked at Theo, who had an odd look on her face.
“Thanks so much,” I said. “This is incredible.” I reached up to smooth one of the bed posts. It was cool and silky under my fingers.
“Amanda Carr is making a canopy for it,” I said, looking up to the top of the bed where the canopy would hang.
“Well, I’m glad you’re happy. I’ll have an update for you on everything else soon,” she said.
“Oh, great,” I said, as she backed toward the door. “Do you want something to drink before you go? It’s a warm day.”
The temperature in the state had spiked in the past day and finding relief was hard. I had all the windows open but had been looking up air conditioners online.
“No, we’re fine,” she said, her eyes darting around as if she was looking for escape.
“Let me get you a glass of lemonade, please. I have a working fridge now.” It had ice in the door and everything. I was planning on getting groceries today to fill it up and cook my first meal in my kitchen tonight.
“Or I have iced tea,” I said. “Or I can mix both.”
Theo looked like she was going to refuse, but then she nodded.
“Clint is more than welcome, too,” I said, not wanting to leave him out.
“He’s probably taking a nap in the van,” she said. “His wife is pregnant right now and she’s having a rough time, so he’s exhausted.”
“The least I can do is get him a cup of coffee or something,” I said.
Theo and I went back downstairs, and I couldn’t stop the little thrill I had when I pushed the button to fill the glasses with ice. It really was about the little things.
Theo requested iced tea, so I got her that and fixed myself an Arnold Palmer, and pulled out some cold brew for Clint. As Theo had thought, he was asleep in the van.
“Let him sleep. He can chill out and when he wakes up, it will be waiting for him,” I said.
I had the folding chairs in the living room, and the folding table, so I sat with Theo and hoped she wasn’t judging me or the house.
“Someday soon I’ll have real furniture,” I joked as Theo tried to get comfortable in her chair.
“I’m working on it,” Theo said.
“I know you are. That wasn’t a dig at you. I still need to get a couch, too,” I said. “Any suggestions?”
Theo thought about that and pulled up her phone. “This is a guy I met at a design show. He’s really good, and I think you’ll like his stuff.”
She sent me a link and I took a look at the couches. They had a sleek look with wooden legs and an option for different kinds of fabrics and sizes.
“Yeah, I like this. The dark blue one is especially pretty,” I said.
“I thought you’d like that one,” she said.
“I guess you know me a little bit,” I said. “Not that I’m trying to hide anything. I’ve been told I’m kind of an open book.” My cheeks felt hot with that admission.
“It’s not a bad thing,” Theo said in a soft voice, and I met her eyes. They really were extraordinary. I’d never seen anyone with green eyes like hers. Her brother’s, I noticed, were more on the side of hazel.
“It doesn’t make me very mysterious or sexy,” I said.
“Mystery can be overrated. And you’re plenty sexy,” she said, and I almost gasped.
“You think I’m sexy?” I asked.
Theo rolled her eyes. “You know you’re sexy, princess.” The combination of words made me turn into a puddle of gay goo. I was surprised I wasn’t sloshing around on the floor.
Clint decided at that moment to make his entrance.
“Um,” I said, my voice strangled, “let me get you some coffee.” I couldn’t stay in the same room with Theo, her eyes on me like that.
I stumbled to the kitchen and had to remind myself how hands worked as I got Clint his cold brew.
“Cream or sugar or anything?” I asked, but he shook his head and took the glass outside. I braced my hands on the counter.
“I should get going,” a voice said, and I jumped. Theo had snuck up on me.
I turned around and found her looking at me with a look I could only describe as…want. Desire.
My fingers dug into the counter until they ached.
“I’m making my first dinner tonight in my kitchen,” I blurted out. “I could pay you back for the other time.”
“You don’t need to pay me back,” Theo said.
“You can bring Scout. He’s more than welcome.”
Theo opened her mouth and then closed it before she nodded.
