I nudged her with my shoulder. “I’m a hunter, and I have a gun safe inside, I’m always safe.”
“Really? I bet you one hundred bucks your gun safe has the same combination.”
I stared down at the suddenly serious woman in front of me.
“So you could have a stalker who gets into your apartment and your guns. How safe does that make you feel?”
“Not extremely. So maybe the code should contain a haiku, capital letter, gang sign, and the blood of a virgin? That would be better?”
She pointed up at me. “Okay, if you’re gonna be a smart-ass, first you have to be smart. Otherwise, you’re just an ass.”
“I feel that being a smart-ass is my duty.” I grabbed her waist and tickled as she screamed. “The pay sucks, but it’s quite rewarding.”
She laughed and pushed me away, “If you tickle me, I’m not responsible for your injuries!”
“Well, you’ve made some valid points here this morning, Fern. I will take your suggestion under advisement and let you know when I render a verdict.” I leaned over and kissed her forehead. “It’s nice you care about my beating heart.”
Her eyes rolled, which was something I was growing way too fond of. “Do whatever. Your beating heart is your business, not mine.”
“Ouch.” I pushed open the door as she shook her head.
“Are you serious right now?” She slapped my chest as she walked past me. “This is stunning.”
I closed the door and leaned back against it. She was in my apartment, and it felt right. How could I keep her forever? “It’s okay.”
Her laughter bounced off the walls. “Okay? This should be on a Selling Minneapolis real estate show.” She cleared her throat and spoke in a TV narrator’s voice. “The wall of windows overlooking the city skyscape is breath taking while the sleek and modern décor screams stately elegance from high above the city.”
She did a model walk toward the kitchen as she held her arms out and did a twirl. “The open concept kitchen provides vast entertaining opportunities from the top of the line appliances to the floor to ceiling sleek stone fireplace to heat up your Minnesota nights.”
I stood in the doorway as she hopped up on the counter. “The smooth granite is the perfect surface for your holiday baking.” She lay on her side and suddenly flicked her feet as both shoes went flying across the room. “Or many other activities.”
I had to stop myself from taking out the wall as I flew into the kitchen. A gasp escaped her as I grabbed her and pulled her to the edge of the counter. I opened her knees with my hands and took my place while she wrapped her arms around my neck. “You have an insatiable appetite, Fern Ethel.”
Her baby blues pierced me. “Only with you.”
An arrow to my heart. I pressed my lips to hers as a small sigh escaped from her mouth to mine, and I suddenly wanted to lock her in my apartment forever. She would be waiting for me right there on the kitchen counter every day, and I’d bring her flowers and chocolate. We’d live happily ever after. Really?
She wrapped those legs around my waist, and I held her ass while I carried her into my bedroom like a caveman. She was mine. Well, for now. I would relish in the beautiful, tough, beer-drinking gal clinging to my body.
I tossed her on the bed as her television-narrating voice reappeared. “The bedroom looks as if it’s hopped off the pages of Architectural Digest with a rugged yet classic design.”
I pulled my shirt off over my head and tossed it onto the floor as I looked down at her. “And the penthouse apartment boasts so many amazing amenities it would make you blush.”
I jumped next to her and reached out to make sure she wasn’t going to be launched into the air, but instead she rolled over on top of me. “Once you’ve been in this bedroom, all others will fail by comparison.”
Her hair spilled onto my chest as my hands found her waist. She moved like only she could, and that was the second my phone alarm screamed from my pocket. “Shit, it is already eleven?”
She rolled off me, and my whole body cried. “You have to get to practice, Mr. Gabe.”
“Maybe—”
“Nope, you go.” She stood and grabbed my hand. “Come on, let’s get out of here.”
“Fine. But you’ll meet me later.”
“We’ll see.” She glanced in the mirror and ran her hands over her hair. “I’m a very busy lady, you know.”
I stood up, reached out, and took her hand. “No, you cancel anything or anyone else for me tonight.”
