Checking Every Box

“Great. Thanks, sis. Give me a shout when you can.”

I put my phone away, and followed Steve to the huge living room window. “This space is definitely less boxy,” he said. “It also has a better view of the water.”

I tried to look around the room analytically, but my heart was still racing. “It seems a tiny bit smaller than the first place,” I said thoughtfully, “But I think that’s mostly because of the gigantic dining room table. Seriously, how often does someone have twenty-eight people over for dinner?”

“Good point,” he said, staring at the monstrosity. “Christmas, I guess?”

“Sure, but if it’s just once a year, you could rent a table for that day. Get a normal eight or ten-person table for the rest of the year. Don’t you think?”

He nodded. “That’s a good point. I guess I’ve never thought about renting furniture.”

“This home is staged right now to appeal to people who want to feel like billionaires for buying this place. Try to look at it as yours,” I suggested. “What would you do to make it specific for your own tastes and needs?”

Steve grinned. “Well, now that you mention it, I would certainly change that table.” I followed him over to the far corner of the living room. “If you have friends over, everyone usually congregates on the couches, don’t they?” he pondered. “There’s really no need for four separate easy chairs. A smaller couch would look better there, especially if it was backless.”

“Exactly,” I said. “The chair backs close off the conversation area.”

We went through the rest of the space, mentally rearranging and changing some of the furniture. The massive master bedroom was actually perfectly gorgeous, and was attached to a glorious walk-in closet.

I spun when I heard Steve chuckle. “To me, this is just a closet,” he said. “But from the way your eyes lit up, I assume this is important for women?”

I felt my cheeks burning. “It might seem silly, but having an illuminated shelf for your shoes and handbags would certainly make a lady feel glamorous.”

I turned back to stare at the perfectly arranged racks and shelves, while Steve came to stand directly behind me with his arm casually around my waist.

It was impossible not to lean back into his chest. He smelled absolutely incredible, which was one of the things from my perfect guy list. I didn’t think it was cologne, which usually prickled my sinuses and made me feel dizzy. It was just his natural pheromones, or maybe his soap. It was slightly woodsy, and just made him seem sexy and masculine.

His lips brushed the top of my hair. “I’m completely aware that I’m being far too forward,” he breathed. “I am inexplicably drawn to you, and am finding it nearly impossible to maintain a professional distance.”

“I don’t know if I want you to.” Did I just really say that?

Placing his hands on my shoulders, he stepped back. “Alright, I swear I’m concentrating,” he said briskly. Turning around to face him, his eyes were softer when he laughed. “I’ll need both your personal and professional opinions, please, because I think this might be the one.”

“Why are you in such a hurry to close today?” I asked, as we stepped into the enormous white and light gray marble bathroom.

He shrugged those broad shoulders, and I was filled with a very specific urge to see him shirtless. “I want to set everything in motion. I guess I just want to check it off the list.”

Nodding, I grinned. “I understand that completely.”

Stepping into the huge glass shower, I looked around. “I could certainly see this being a wonderful way to start the day.” Peering up at the big flat shower head, it was weird being fully clothed in this space. Glancing to Steve, I asked, “Do you want to check it out? It’s sort of fun in here.”

His lips quirked to the side. “If I’m with you in that tiny space, I don’t know if I can be held responsible for my actions.”

A tremor of lust shot through me. He wasn’t teasing. The intensity of his gaze said quite clearly that he wanted me. I wasn’t sure what I should do with that information, but my body seemed to be taking over for my anxious mind today, as my hand shot out to swing the door out for him.

CHAPTER SIX

* Steve *

Just two steps, and I’d have Heather in my arms. I knew that there were spaces and beds everywhere in this space, but the only thing I could truly focus on was kissing her. There was something about her sweetness, her vivacity, that was sparking things inside me I hadn’t thought about in years.

Striding into the shower enclosure, I grabbed her, tilting her back as I kissed lightly along her silky throat. Her soft little cry made my pulse surge. Moving up to those precious, perfect lips, I kissed her gently, slowly. The echoey shower made it feel like we were in our own private bubble, away from the entire world.

Her lips parted, filling me with absolute joy as she welcomed me deeper. Her delicate hands clasped around my neck, twitching and moving against my skin.

Sliding my hands down her back, I cupped the glorious curve of her firm, round ass. Pulling her against me, I lifted her, pressing her back against the tiled wall as she wrapped her legs around me to hold on.

She kissed me with a fire I wasn’t expecting, and her soft whimper in my mouth clearly told me that she might be open to the idea of tearing our clothes off right now.