I lifted her limp noodle body off the kitchen counter. I wasn’t doing much better, but oddly, I was starting to feel reinvigorated after our little interlude. Very unusual for me. I had to admit I usually was ready for a nap.
“You’re not the napping bear kind of guy?” She curled into me, her face in my neck as her breath tickled my ear.
I secured her tight against my chest. “Normally, yes. Right now? I’m just going to take care of you, all right?”
“If you take care of me any further, I’m going to have to be hospitalized for dehydration.”
I brushed a quick kiss along her temple. “You’ll like this.”
“Oh, I liked the last one just fine, Fortress.”
“Fortress, huh?”
She linked her fingers around my neck. “Well, you are built like one. Very fitting name.”
I grinned. “This man is built to shelter you, girl.”
“He so is.” She kicked her foot up. “Onward. I could get used to this carrying thing.”
“You fit in my damn pocket.”
“I’m not that small.”
“You are.”
“I’m not six…what?”
“Three.”
“Mercy.”
I laughed. “You should see my brothers.”
“The famed Masterson brothers.”
“Yeah, my older brothers. Me? Not so much.” I walked down the hall to my master suite at the back of the cabin.
“Oh. You weren’t kidding about the fireplace.”
“No, ma’am.” I’d had the option to do a gas fireplace, but I was more of a crackling wood guy. Even if it was messy as hell.
“And the chaise is real too.” She met my gaze. “You’re the real deal, huh?”
I shrugged and veered off from my king-sized bed to my bathroom. “I’m just a guy, Veronica.”
“I doubt that very sincerely.”
“Lights.”
She gasped. “Did you just talk to your bathroom?”
“I have a smart house.”
“Like one of those sci-fi kinds? You know, where the shower attacks you with scalding water?”
I laughed. “Not quite that AI, thanks.”
“Sure, until the robots attack.”