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She shrugged. “You start to get used to them. And learn to wear slippers,” she added with a grin.
“Unacceptable. First thing tomorrow, we’re finding you a new place.”
“I still have five months left on this place.”
“Don’t worry. With the list of health violations I’m going to throw at your landlord, he’ll be all too happy to let you out. I would insist you stay with me in the meantime, but I’m kind of in between places.”
“In between? Aren’t you staying with Conner?” she asked, remembering him mention that he and Tyler were living in Conner’s fixer-upper.
“I am, but it was always going to be temporary while Tyler finished getting his master’s and I got more grounded in my business. And with me up and leaving all the time, I’m barely there, so it’s worked out. But now that he and Avery are getting married, it’s about time I start looking for something of my own.”
“We can look together. Maybe Saturday?”
He nodded. “That could work.” He looked at the floor. “Now to make it to the fridge without getting carried away by those critters.”
He got up and, stepping quickly, opened the door. Immediately Mouse ran in and chased the coaches back under the bed. “Good kitty,” he said in approval and strode out.
She smiled again as she lay back in bed, listening to him in the other room put together some food.
Roaches or not, she could get used to this, for however long she might have it.
Chapter 26
“This chicken piccata is amazing,” Waverley said Sunday evening before taking another bite, enjoying the crispy, buttery flavor of the crust.
“She’s right, you outdid yourself this time, Mom,” Tyler said as he grabbed another chicken filet from the dish.
“Why, thank you,” Kim said. “It’s an old family favorite.” A sudden breeze blew across the table, sending some napkins blowing to the patio floor. “I hope you’re warm enough. It’s so sunny and warm that I couldn’t resist having our dinner out here today. But if you need a blanket or a sweater, let me know and I can grab one.”
“I’m fine, thanks,” Waverley said.
She actually had been a little chilly when they first came out and took a seat around the large table, but once Reynolds took the seat next to her, the length of his leg pressed against hers, and his hand resting on her knee, her inner temperature had soared, enough that she was hoping the flush on her face wasn’t giving anything away to the rest of the group.
Since Reynolds had taken her home Wednesday night and she’d woken up the next morning with him still sleeping next to her, there hadn’t been many occasions when the two of them weren’t together or finding some excuse to touch or hold each other in the time since.
She never would have imagined that the stoic, grumpy guy next to her would be so generous with his attention. And although his mouth might not turn up into a grin every time he saw her, the flash of warmth, tenderness, and oftentimes heat in his eyes was more than enough to send her stomach fluttering.
Especially when he followed up with a long, leisurely kiss like he had this morning when he got out of bed to take a shower. Or a more ravenous kiss, like Friday’s that had left her breathless and the fire burning low in her belly as he leaned her back against his office desk and she’d clung to him to stop from keeling over.
Who knew he’d been hiding such a passionate and affectionate nature underneath that grumpy facade?
Even now, his fingers were lightly caressing her knee, making it hard for her to concentrate on the conversation going on around her.
“I’m glad you were able to get away and join us, Meg,” Avery said, adding a few more spaghetti noodles to baby Lola’s plate, who immediately grabbed a strand and sucked it into her mouth. “You always seem to be working.”
“Poppy didn’t give me much choice,” Meg said, giving Poppy a meaningful stare. “Something about confirming details for the bachelorette party.”
“Hey, can I help it if I want to make sure it’s a memorable experience?” Poppy said defensively. “Not to mention an experience that shoots the guys’ little shindig out of the water. What did you guys settle on doing? Some basket weaving? Maybe an afternoon painting at Color Me Mine?”
“Cute, sis,” Landon said, grinning at his sister. “But our party is going to make your little soiree look like an octogenarian quilting bee.”
Avery looked at Conner and rolled her eyes. “I knew it was a mistake to have these two act as our best man and maid of honor. They take sibling rivalry to a new high.”
“Hey, I won the straw pull fair and square,” Landon said.
“And I’m just trying to make everything perfect. You’ll thank me later,” Poppy said and nodded reassuringly. “Besides, it helps me take my mind off missing Damon. He’s in St. Louis through the next week then off to Pittsburgh. Once school’s out for the summer and I can join him on the road, I’ll have other things to occupy my time.”
“Just as long as you’re back for the wedding,” Avery added.
