Page 34 of Sins of Leo

“You’re probably also handy grabbing things off high shelves,” she added, her lips curving in humor.

“The best. I can also change light bulbs in hard-to-reach places.”

“But do you take out the trash?”

“All the time,” he drawled with a wink.

“Wait, are you talking about monsters?”

“Who me?” he asked, feigning innocence and failing, judging by her laughter.

They completed the savory part of dinner chatting amiably, devouring the delicious meal, which was followed by a fluffy mousse that had him groaning. The entire meal was incredible, but more than that, it filled a strange void he’d not realized existed.

Companionship.

Since the deaths of Kylie and Olivia, Leo had avoided social interaction. He treated his need for food as a chore that had to be tolerated a few times a day. He often chose to dine alone, or, if cajoled into joining his brothers, shoveled whatever sat on his plate as fast as he could to escape—and drink.

With Ruth, he found himself leaning back in his chair, sipping on the iced tea that remained cool no matter how many times he poured from the pitcher. He enthusiastically devoured food not conjured out of thin air but made by her two hands. Remarkable hands that would look great wrapped around?—

Scree.

He put an abrupt halt to that train of thought and rose from the table. “It’s getting late. We should get a good night’s sleep before we tackle the journal tomorrow.”

Her gaze moved to the oversized bed, which could easily fit two, but a suddenly sweating Leo blurted out, “You take the bed. I’ll sleep in the chair.”

“That won’t be comfortable,” she remarked.

“It reclines.” He should know, since he’d passed out in it more than once.

“I’ll take the chair. After all, this is your apartment.”

“You’re my guest.”

“Not by choice.” She stood to argue.

True. Still, he wasn’t that big of a dick. “I am not letting you sleep in the recliner.”

“And I am not taking your bed.” She moved closer as they bickered.

He leaned down to growl, “I insist.”

Bad idea. It brought her lips much too close for comfort.

And that perfect mouth uttered, “No.”

“Why must you be so stubborn?”

“Says the goat,” she snorted.

The floor rumbled underfoot, startling them both. It led to his gaze slipping past her to the far wall. A chuckle slipped out of him. “Looks like Tower has a solution.”

She glanced behind and gasped. “It split your bed in two.”

More like slightly shrunk the one and added another with a nightstand in between.

“Guess Tower doesn’t want us fighting.” It also obviously wasn’t trying to get them together like he’d feared. Good. No relationships, remember?

“It’s a perfect solution,” she declared. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to wash my face before I lie down. Do you have a spare toothbrush?”

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