Page 47 of Obsessed Fox

"I wouldn't consider boiling water for pasta cooking. It's more like a basic skill."

"Don't forget the Texas toast."

I pointed the wooden spoon at her. "Ah, yes. How could I forget the toast? Also a basic skill in my mind. Preheat the oven, put the toast on a tray, and bake for the time recommended on the box. A toddler could do it."

Maisie giggled. "I'm pretty sure a toddler shouldn't be playing with an oven."

Huh. That made sense. "Fine, a teenager could do it."

"Glad to know you first compared yourself to a toddler and then a teenager."

I gave her my dazzling smile. "If the shoe fits and all that."

Maisie giggled again. I liked seeing her this way; hair still wet from her shower, makeup-free—not that she wore much of it, my clothes hanging off her body. But it was the carefree vibe she was giving off that I loved the most.

"Well, if I forget to tell you later, thank you for dinner. I have a tendency to skip it most days because I just fall into bed."

That explained why she was so tiny. "You're welcome. Now tell me about your day."

"Oh, shit, I almost forgot!"

I braced for bad news but the mischievous smile on her face allowed me to relax some.

"I might have let it slip to the town-gossip ladies that we’re moving in together." She scrunched her nose up in a cute way. "Actually, there's no might about it. I absolutely told Ms. Dixie I moved in with you."

“Kati’s neighbor, Ms. Dixie.” I just wanted to be sure I had the right lady. When Maisie nodded her head, I mentally rubbed my hands together. This was perfect.

"That's fine by me. Pretty sure that was my goal this entire time."

She stuck her tongue out at me before taking a sip of her water bottle. "Yes, but that led to a conversation with Janie about my apartment."

"Okay . . ." I wasn't sure where she was going with this, so it was always best to wait to get all the information.

"Janie needs a place. She's twenty-four and still lives with her parents. I told her I would talk to you about when we can get my stuff out and then she can move in."

"We can grab all your shit tonight and have her moved in tomorrow if that's what you want."

"Who's thisweyou speak of? Do you have a mouse in your pocket I don't know about because I'm too tired to grab stuff from my apartment tonight."

"Cheeky woman, and no, I don't have a mouse in my pocket. Not that I know of anyway. I meant me and the guys."

Maisie held up her hand. "No. I like your friends, I really do, but there's no way I'm letting them pack up my stuff. I don't need anyone touching my panties."

Like I would let anyone else near her intimate items. "No one but me would touch your panties, but you tell me the day and I'll make sure we have help."

"It's just some clothes and a few other things I've collected over the years. I figured the furniture can stay for Janie. We don't need it here."

She turned around and glanced toward the living room. "Okay, maybe we could use more in there but what I have is too small for the space."

She was still turned around, so she couldn't see the huge smile on my face at her using the word “we” when talking about our house.

"Feel free to pick and change whatever you want."

That got her attention back on me. "You don't mind me changing things?"

"Sweetheart, change everything if that's what you want. I'm not attached to any of it."

Her eyes softened. "Hurry up and finish dinner so we can finish this night in bed."

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