Page 199 of Hidden Nature

“You can crochet a throw?”

“I have hidden skills. It’ll take me forever, but I can crochet a throw. I’ve got some art from my apartment I haven’t put up. Add a little splash, and done.”

“I guess you want to haul that dresser back in.”

“Yes, I do. Theo and Drea had that late-afternoon meeting with the caterer, right?”

“Yeah.”

“Where’s Tic?”

“At your parents’ with Mop. Theo calls it, and it just makes me sad, a playdate.”

She lifted her end of the dresser and grinned. “Well, they will play. Right under where I rehung the mirror.”

“I figured.”

They brought in the nightstands, the lamps, and since she had him, she enlisted him to help hang the art.

When he went out to check with the electrician, she remade the bed, fluffed pillows, smoothed the duvet.

And with an incredible feeling of satisfaction, stepped back to take it all in.

“I did this. By myself, for myself. Next time I feel like taking a couple days, I’ll tackle the other bedroom.”

More an energy color in there, she considered, since for the foreseeable future she’d use it as her gym.

She walked out, found Nash getting a Coke from her fridge.

“I’m helping myself.”

“Great, help me to one, too.” She stepped out, saw the rough electric in. “He finished already?”

“It’s not that much. Washer, dryer, lights, a couple outlets, the split for heat. You don’t have AC.”

“That’s why they invented windows. I’m ordering those stackables. The crap machines can stay in the serial killer basement for now.”

He brought her the drink, then stood with her. And understood she saw it finished as he did.

“Got a little paint.”

He rubbed some speckles off her cheek, then left his finger there another moment.

“Why don’t you clean up, and I’ll take you out to dinner.”

She looked up at him with those wood nymph eyes. “Out? As in out?”

“Yeah, out as in. You know, where they bring you food you didn’t have to cook, then you don’t have to do the dishes.”

“I’ve heard of the concept.” She continued to watch him as she sipped her Coke. “Would this be another date?”

“You could call it that.”

“Then I believe I will. Would this be a jeans and sweater date or more a little black dress date?”

He’d figured the first, and changed his plans.

“I wouldn’t mind seeing you in a little black dress.”

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