27
Martin was right.His fever was broken the next morning and he looked slightly less haggard. I got up and tiptoed to the kitchen so I could make him some breakfast. Good food, chicken soup, and rest were the best things for the flu or whatever this was. And properhydration.
I was bent over his fridge when I heard him stir. "Don't get up! I'll bring yousomething."
Warm fingers caressed my spine. I stiffened even as I didn't dare to move another muscle. "How does scrambled eggssound?"
His fingers crept underneath my shirt and tank top and he spanned the width of my waist causing me to suck in a breath and crack my head on the top of hisfridge.
"I can think of somethingbetter."
I rubbed my head and backed out, only to turn and be smashed against his rock hard chest. "Don't be ridiculous, Martin. You were half deadyesterday."
His eyes gleamed. "You likeme."
I scoffed. "You're delusional. And still feverish." I reached my hand up to feel his forehead, but Martin grabbed my arm and slowly kissed the inside of mywrist.
"You like me," he saidagain.
I was a rabbit cornered by the fox. I shook my head, wondering why in the hell I was so stubborn that I just couldn't tell him that I wanted to wake up everyday next to him and I couldn’t even explainwhy.
His mouth worked its way down my arm and my heart beat like a drummer. I couldn't step away even if I wantedto.
"Admit it," he said again as his head dipped to place a hot, wet kiss on the place where my shoulder met myneck.
I let out awhimper.
"Tell me," hewhispered.
I did him onebetter.
I showedhim.
Epilogue
Four monthslater
My house was finished.Finally. Martin admitted a few weeks after the incident in his kitchen that he’d purposely moved like a turtle because he wanted to spend more time with me. It was sweet. A little weird. But still verysweet.
We sat outside under one of the large maples enjoying the landscaping Helen’s husband, Hank, had finally finished. Everything he put in was blooming like crazy, sending my yard into a riot of color. Our lawn chairs were turned toward each other and my bare feet rested in Martin’s lap. I studied him as he rested his head against the back of his chair completelyrelaxed.
“You’re staring at me,” hemurmured.
“It’s because I want to kiss you all over yourface.”
A smile peeked out from his mouth before it became a full blown chuckle. “Have you thought anymore about what I askedyou?”
I had. “I just gave you almost all of my savings a few months ago and you want to know where I want to live?” I made a harrumph noise and sipped mymargarita.
“Not exactly. I want to know if you want to live with me. Or me live with you. Either way, one of us is living with the other person. I demand it.” His strong and capable fingers rubbed into my sore arches making me moan withcontentment.
“You demand it?” I looked at him with arched eyebrows even though he couldn’t seeme.
“Yes. Demand.” His eyes opened and he pinned me with his dark gaze. “If you don’t decide soon, I’m going to park a tent in youryard.”
“Move in then,” I said, my voice deceptivelycasual.
He sat up straight in his chair, a desperate hope on his face. “Say it again,” hebarked.
