Chapter Nine
Marti
“Wow,” I whispered a few hours later when he led me into his house. “Do you have a girlfriend?”
I wasn’t sure what I’d expected, but his house was freaking adorable and clean. It was decorated minimally, but I just couldn’t get over how it didn’t look like a single man lived here.
Still waiting for an answer, I turned to look at him, but he was already watching me, smirking with a raised eyebrow.
“Oh! No.” I felt my face flush unflatteringly, and I shook my head, tempted to hide again. “I’m not hitting on you. I was just worried some girl might show up and find me here and beat me up.”
“Not even a little, huh?”
“Huh?” A little what?
He shook his head, still smiling as he headed toward the hallway with my bag. “No girlfriend. Or wife. It would be pretty irresponsible of me to bring you out of one bad situation and put you in another, wouldn’t it?”
“But your house is so clean.” I didn’t mean to sound so put out by that.
“I have a lady who comes and cleans. The only reason she might beat you is if you run the dishwasher with food still on the dishes. She cussed me out once for that.”
“Ew. I don’t blame her.” I followed him down the hall, shoulders slumped in defeat. I was pouting so hard, I almost ran into him when he stopped in front of a door.
He didn’t go in, just stuck his finger under my chin and lifted my face to meet his gaze. “What’s wrong.”
If I thought his hand felt nice holding mine earlier, it felt amazing when his callused thumb rubbed lightly against my chin, just under my bottom lip. “Well, I was kinda hoping your house would be messy.”
I zeroed in on the twitching of his lips. I knew he was laughing at me about something, but I didn’t really care. His lips were so nice.
“You were?” He sounded amused, his rich voice deepening slightly. I nodded stupidly, and his smile grew. “Would you feel more comfortable in a messy house?”
Was he asking me something? With those kissable lips? He could talk all day long if he wanted to. I’d just sit here and watch.
“Marti?”
“Uh huh?”
“Why do you want me to have a messy house?”
I wrinkled my nose and groaned. “Sorry. I just feel like I should do something for you. I don’t have a ton of skills, but I can clean. I was just hoping I could clean for you to show you how much I appreciate it.”
“Well, I appreciate your appreciation, but let’s not worry about any of that right now. You might as well take advantage of it while you can. Who knows what I’m going to ask for when it comes to that favor.”
I smiled, feeling almost giddy. He still hadn’t released my face, and we were standing so close. I wouldn’t do anything crazy like lean up and kiss him. I wouldn’t. That could only cause problems.
Clearing his throat, he released my chin and turned his head, reaching for the knob to the door. “My room is just across the hall. I’ll leave the door open. This place is decked out with everything Pace could get his hands on. You’re safe here.”
I nodded, a little disappointed our moment had come to an end, while also being grateful. The only thing I could do right then, was be a complete mess. I wasn’t relationship material, and Sutton Walsh was way out of my league. Hadn’t I reminded myself of that less than a week ago?
Hope was such a sneaky jerk sometimes.