by AM Hartnett
She squeezed his hand, then let it go and giggled. ‘Your face is so weird now.’
‘I can put a bag over my head if it makes it easier.’
She shook her head. ‘No, I like it. I can see all of you now.’
He pushed the window down. ‘I’ll get the beer. You get comfortable.’
April looked around and laughed. ‘I don’t think I can. Everything is so new. There are no butt prints in the sofa.’
He wasn’t kidding when he said he’d been busy. The walls that had once been an off-white were now an attractive sage green. His old recliner was gone along with the sofa, replaced by a matching black leather set. A new desk and new bookcases, too, with one shelf dedicated to formerly hidden photos of Rita.
Peeking beyond into the bedroom, she spied a whole new set, including dark wood furniture, dark-blue and white bedding and even a docking lamp for his phone.
The cats passed her, Marco jumping on the bed and Elf making a few unsuccessful attempts before putting her claws in the bedding and climbing up the hard way.
April wandered back into the living room. ‘Do you like it?’
‘Actually, yeah, I love it. I spent all day in the store making up my mind. It cost me a good chunk of savings, but this was sort of a once in a lifetime thing so I figured, what the hell.’
‘And throw pillows.’ She lifted one up, green to match the walls with a white dandelion across the front. ‘Are you trying to compete with my awesome decor?’
He laughed as he returned to the living room. ‘I admit it, I did think of you when I went shopping for new curtains and stuff. Instead of going for the cheapest, I went for stuff that matched.’
‘So I’m a good influence after all?’
‘My bank account would disagree, but yeah.’
The leather creaked as he sat back down. He twisted the bottle caps off, and a flutter exploded in her stomach. In addition to the smile, she had missed getting a good look at the way he moved. In short sleeves with a neck that dipped down to show off the hair on his chest, and now the clean-shaven face and short hair, he looked better than the bad boy. He looked like the nice guy who did bad things when he had you alone – which pretty much summed up who Seth was, and was part of what made her crazy about him.
She took the seat next to him, leaving only a little space between them, and tucked her feet under her.
‘Cheers?’ he asked, offering the second bottle.
She took hers, then joined his toast. After taking his drink, Seth regarded her. April couldn’t drag her gaze away, and when she couldn’t stand it any longer, she kissed him.
It wasn’t the fireworks of every other kiss they’d shared. His mouth moved slowly over hers, tasting but not teasing, a slow burn that went on and on.
He tucked her in his arm and held her there as he lifted his head and rocked her world with his smile.
‘We need to talk a little more,’ he whispered.
April shook her head and cuddled closer to him. ‘Yeah, we do, but not right now. Right now, this is good.’
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About the Publisher
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