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“So, what sort of interior design do you do exactly?”
She forgot that she was meant to be interviewing him as she talked about some of the projects she worked on and her ambition to start her own company.
“I’ve always wanted to travel, but there was never an opportunity. I went from high school to university, and I met my husband while I was still in school. We got married shortly after I graduated. He had a good job, but there was always something bigger to save for, you know? Our first house. Paying down our student loans. And then the baby stuff came up, and . . . Well, that was the end of that. But I have all these inspiration boards that I make based on different places I want to see someday. I would love to start my own design firm based on that idea, that you can create a whole world within one finite space.”
She flushed again when she glanced up to meet his eye, the soft expression on his face making her stomach flip-flop.
“So six siblings, that’s a whole lot. I’m an only child, so I cannot relate.”
“Yeah. It’s a lot. We have weird age gaps too, so it’s like these built-in hierarchies. My eldest brothers are barely a year apart, then there’s only like two or three years between Gray and Trapp. Then six years before my brother and I were born, and more than a decade between us and the youngest. The baby is closer with the older ones than with me, because they were already in university when he was born. By the time he was school-aged, they were already a few years into their professional careers and moving back closer to home. I moved out of the country when he was in middle school. Being an only child still sorta sucks, though,” he said thoughtfully, earning her outraged laughter. “I’m serious! I wouldn’t want to be an only child, especially with my parents. No way. My mother already loves us way too hard. If I were the only one, I would’ve never been able to move away or do anything that didn’t involve her holding my hand. She would be here with us right now, giving you the third degree.”
Moriah laughed. “Hey! I’m probably going to have an only child, don’t curse me that way. Maybe your mom is just extra worried about you because you live so far away.”
“It’s because of how she was raised, and objectively, I know that. It doesn’t make it any easier, though,” he murmured. She raised an eyebrow, waiting for him to continue. “She grew up in a wolfpack, you probably don’t know what that is, but it’s. . . it’s a hard life. Everything you have belongs to the pack. Your house, your jobs. Your kids, really. You’re raising them in the way of the pack, so someone else is always calling the shots. She left when she met my dad and was basically starting her life from scratch at twenty years old. So I appreciate why she is the way she is, and I can forgive her for being a little overbearing sometimes. She loves us so hard because we were the first things that were truly hers. So I get it, but sometimes it’s just too much. For me, at least. My older brothers are all mama’s boys. But I wouldnotwant to be an only child.”
Her insides felt like a pool of melted butter.You can’t resist a guy who loves his mother.
“I get what you mean. Yeah, I guess you’re right. I spent a lot of time around adults growing up. I don’t come from a big family at all, so there weren’t a lot of kids to play with. I’ve always been the mom friend, ready with everything, because that’s how my mom always was. I can’t even imagine having five brothers or sisters. I don’t even have five cousins!”
“Now, imagine being in the middle. I never got any attention; no one ever noticed me, and I practically raised myself. Everything was always about my three older brothers. I would have needed to commit murder to be the center of attention. And then my youngest brother has the absolutenerveto come around and get whatever he wants because he’s the baby! I never got to be the baby! Unspeakably unfair. I got to be the baby for exactly four and a half minutes; what is that?! Nothing, that’s what.”
She was sure they would be asked to leave, as hard as she was laughing again. He asked her if she had already designed her nursery, wrinkling his nose and shaking his head to dispute her choice of mint and grey with ducklings.
“Dinosaurs. Kids love dinosaurs. My nephew can play with dinosaurs forhours. You need to rethink your whole concept.”
“Kidslove dinosaurs!” she laughed in agreement. “Not newborns! That’s too scary.”
He was still shaking his head, face scrunched up in thought.
“No, I’m not so sure about that. Dinosaurs transcend gender and species. I don’t know where you’re getting your data, but I think it’s questionable.”
She had written down questions. She’d written down serious interview questions to ask him, but so far, he hadn’t stopped chattering, and there wasn’t a single thing on the little folded piece of paper in her bag that was worth interrupting him. It was the best first date she’d ever been on so far, and her questions were unimportant.Too bad it’s not an actual date. He’s funny and charming and handsome. Which means he probably has a girlfriend.
“So what made you decide to do this?” she blurted suddenly, her thoughts catching up
with her mouth, neck heating. “Is – is your partner okay with it?”
His cheeks pinkened adorably.
“No girlfriend, no partner. I genuinely don’t know anyone here, not anymore. I didn’t keep in touch with the people I went to school with here and I went to university on the coast. Before you ask, I didn’t have a partner back in Tokyo either. With my lifestyle, it’s hard. I’m gone so much, and I know that’s not fair to the person left at home. Plus, I know myself well enough. I may look extremely intimidating, but don’t let this tough guy exterior fool you. My heart is a little candy gumdrop. If I had someone I loved sitting at home waiting for me, I don’t know if I would be able to do what I do, and I really love my job.”
Moriah laughed again, squeezing her thighs together.
“I’m glad you said something because you’re right. You areextremelyintimidating looking.” Lowell laughed at her words, dragging a huge hand over his not-at-all intimidating baby face.Handsome, charming, and single. A little candy gumdrop. You love gumdrops! And this isn’t a date. He’s just your sperm donor. What are the fucking odds?
“I probably look like I might rob you in the parking lot for spare change. I desperately need a haircut, but I’m worried that if I go to the guy who cuts my brother’s hair, I’m going to walk out looking like him.”
“Is your brother, like, super ugly or something?” she deadpanned, gratified by his immediate laughter. “Because I don’t think they can do that with just a haircut, so you don’t need to worry.”
“He’s actually obnoxiously handsome, but if we look too much alike, then I’ll be the homely one, and I can’t handle that sort of comparison.”
“I maintain I don’t think they can do that with just a haircut. Besides, I don’t think they could make you look homely if they tried.”
The tips of his ears reddened and her clit tingled in response.He’s so fucking cute.
“Also, when you’re having out-of-body nightmare adventures in sensory deprivation tanks, you don’t need to wear pants, so this felt like getting dressed to go to the ball. I apologize if I look like I’m supposed to be replacing your air conditioner or something. I thought the tuxedo would be too much and the swim trunks maybe too casual, so I tried for the middle.”
The middle, for him, had been artfully distressed jeans and a button-down, trendy and casual, she thought, the opposite of what she probably was.
