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A hand reached out and gripped his fist, squeezing until he loosened his fingers. Ryder lifted his eyes to find Gideon smiling at him. “But I appreciate the offer. Really.”
That helped a little.
He turned to stare into the open doorway from the kitchen through the small dining room to the living room. Gideon had emptied some boxes. There were more colors and soft things, as if a rainbow had exploded across Gideon’s living room. He was making some progress.
“You like…shopping and decorating, right?” Ryder asked softly.
Gideon released him and tugged his shirt on over his head. He shoved both hands through his hair, smoothing it into place as if nothing had happened. A bright smile spread across his lips and his eyes shone. “Well, yeah. It’s fun! There’s checking out all the different styles and fabrics. Making your place reflect your personality. And then just the adventure of finding fun stuff.”
Ryder was good at precisely none of those things. The idea of buying furnishings and decorations was overwhelming.
“I’m bad at that. Would you be willing to help me with my place?”
He didn’t think it was possible, but Gideon’s eyes got even wider. He gripped Ryder’s forearm with both of his hands. “Are you serious? You’d let me help you?”
“Please.”
Gideon squeezed and started pushing him toward the door that led to the secret stairs. “Let’s go! Let’s go! I need to see your place!”
Ryder smiled, caught up in Gideon’s enthusiasm as he let Gideon nudge him toward the stairs. “We don’t have to do this now. You still have boxes to unpack and your own place to get settled. I can wait.”
“No, we need to do this now. I’m dying to see how you and Rafe designed your place. It’ll give me an idea of what I’m working with.”
Keeping the rest of his very skeptical thoughts to himself, Ryder opened the door and led Gideon into a kitchen with black appliances, charcoal gray countertops, and black cabinets on dove-gray walls. The same color continued through the rest of the place. The living room and dining room had deep-green accents.
“Whoa,” Gideon exhaled in a whisper. Ryder didn’t know how to take that sound. “It’s like living inside a Japanese rock garden. It’s so peaceful.”
Ryder followed him into the living room, where he watched Gideon turn slowly in place. “You…like it? But your place is colorful.”
The vampire grinned at him. “Yeah, but that’s me. I’ve always wanted all the colors and bright things. But this condo is so you.”
“You don’t think it’s cold?”
Gideon twisted to face him, his mouth gaping open. “Cold? No! It’s calming. Relaxing. Everything about it is peaceful, like you could fall into this meditative state. Just like you.”
There were no words. Gideon thought he was peaceful. Calming.
He was insane.
Gideon cackled and leaned his shoulder into Ryder’s chest, wrapping an arm around his waist. “Yes, I think you’re relaxing. You’re very relaxing to be with.”
Before Ryder could soak in that touch, Gideon was pulling away to search the empty room. He looked at Ryder, confusion cutting lines through his forehead.
“I thought Rafe said he had your stuff delivered?”
Ryder led him to the bedroom, where he waved at the box of books, mattress, and duffel bag.
“What? That’s it?” Gideon screeched.
“I’m used to traveling light.”
“But-but-but you don’t have furniture! Or blankets! Do you even have towels?”
“I think I have one.”
Gideon stormed out of the bedroom, moving toward the living room. Ryder followed behind him, picking out Gideon muttering, “This won’t do,” under his breath.
“I’m not good at decorating. I don’t know what to get or how to make things match,” Ryder said to his back.
