Chapter Seventeen #2
The air between us changed. It became more charged. I swallowed hard as we moved on to the next room.
“This one’s actually completely empty. I’ve been toying with the idea of having a home gym. Most of my brothers do, but it makes no sense for me. I like training at work. It would be very easy to convert this into a playroom for the twins.”
How was he so effortlessly swoonworthy?
“What do you have in mind?” I asked.
“There are all sorts of towers and climbing things we could mount on the wall. My brother Spencer has something like that at his house, and my nephew loves them.”
My eyes were stinging. I was going to tear up soon. Nick had always been thoughtful, but this was something else. He cared for the twins a lot!
Suddenly, I wished our fake marriage could be real.
“I think they’d love it too,” I replied.
He smiled proudly, as if he’d been hoping I’d react just like that.
We moved to the next room, which consisted of a couch and a large screen. The walls were bare, which was the same pretty much throughout the apartment. I could easily see some modern art on the walls, bringing a splash of color to the rooms.
“This is a movie room? But you already have a huge-ass TV in the living room!”
“At one point, I was thinking I needed to fill up the space somehow. I don’t really use it, so one of the twins could have a bedroom here, or both if they want to stay together.”
Again, Annie and Jack. My heart was feeling so good about Nick, about us.
“You really gave this a lot of thought.”
“I was just thinking how logistics would work if you three came here. The next room could be yours. Then there’s one with a pool table that we could use in case the twins want separate bedrooms. There are also two bathrooms in the hallway.”
“No en suite?”
He winked at me. “Only for the master bedroom.”
“Oh, silly me.” I smirked, then glanced back down the hall. “Nick, this penthouse is amazing. I bet your bedroom is enormous.”
“It is.”
He walked down to the very last door, and I followed him even though I wasn’t sure I wanted to peek into his bedroom. It seemed far too intimate.
When he opened the door, my jaw dropped. “You know what? I could move in here, no problem.”
He started to laugh.
“And you have a separate dressing room. I don’t know how this could be any more perfect.”
Like the living room, this was also done in gray tones. Wait, they weren’t gray—they were more woodsy. I realized the difference because it gave the room a warmer feeling.
The bed was exquisite. It was huge and had a leather headboard.
Sighing, I looked up at Nick. “You will never survive sleeping on a pull-out.”
“I promise I’ll manage.”
“When you can no longer take the couch, you can come here and spend some time at your apartment.”
Nick shook his head. “That would confuse the twins.”
I felt like the worst aunt in the world. Nick included the kids in all his plans, and I hadn’t even thought about them.
I dipped my head. “You’re right.”
“I was thinking that I wouldn’t bring too many clothes. I can come here a few times a week and just take what I need for the next few days. Or Frances can do it.”
“That sounds like a lot of hassle,” I replied.
“I really don’t mind.”
“Can I take a peek in your dressing room? From here it looks to die for.”
The corner of his mouth quirked up. “I’ll give you a tour.”
I didn’t understand how I’d need a tour until I actually stepped into the dressing room. I’d only seen a small glimpse of it from the bedroom, but it stretched in an L-shape to my left.
“Nick, this is like your own private store. I’ve only ever seen something like this in movies.”
He had drawers down below and hanging racks on the upper levels. All the lights came on as we moved in front of each unit. He was very well organized too: suits on one side, shirts on the other. T-shirts carefully folded.
“I think the best word to describe this place is sexy.”
I only realized I’d said it out loud when Nick turned around and replied, “That’s an interesting choice of words.”
I shrugged. “Just what came to mind. And it perfectly fits you.”
“So, you think I’m sexy?”
The flirty tone was back. We were very close to crossing the line once again.
I had a flashback of us in the steam room. Judging by the way his eyes darkened, he was thinking along similar lines.
“Nick…,” I whispered.
“Fuck!” He closed his eyes and then opened them again. They were even darker. A shiver went through me at the sight.
Without even realizing, I stepped closer, and then so did he. He tilted my head up, cupping the side of my face and threading his fingers through my hair.
I instantly got wet. I had no idea how it was possible, but I was already on edge with need. Then again, maybe it wasn’t such a surprise. The tension had been building between us for some time. Last night, it had increased exponentially.
“I’ve been fantasizing about this for weeks,” he murmured against my temple.
Every word only turned me on even more. “What exactly?”
“Touching your hair. Especially after last night.” He exhaled briskly, and his breath shook. “I nearly canceled today.”
I gasped lightly.
“But then I couldn’t because I needed to see you.”