Page 59 of Crazy Love

“It’s actually not. Andthatis what’s weird for me…how happy I am to have you here, in my space.”

“Well, I can totally give you more space.” My hand flies out. “You’ve got a zillion bedrooms and I can even go to my condo if you’re needing a break from me altogether.”

His head tilts and he shakes his head slightly. “I won’t want you to go to your condo. Except just say when you need to go get your things.”

“I’ll need to get my car and a few boxes while we’re out tomorrow.”

“Okay. You know…you don’t have to keep the condo unless you just want to.” He puts his hand on my waist and I go still. “I’ll respect whatever you need to do to be comfortable, but like you said, there are a zillion rooms. I thought you’d stay in my room with me…you know, so no one suspects anything.” His hand drops like he’s suddenly realized he was touching me.

“Right,” I say, sounding winded. “Yeah, that would probably make it most convincing.”

“I promise I’ll be the perfect gentleman,” he says.

My teeth scrape over my bottom lip and his gaze drops there.

I’m not sure I want him to be a perfect gentleman. Pretty sure I don’t.

I clear my throat. “Okay. Lead the way.”

He shows me around some of the rooms upstairs and then opens his door with a flourish.

“Welcome home,” he says.

“Your house is really pretty, Penn. I know I told you the other night, but…I love it.”

“Thank you. I’m glad you do. I hope you’ll be comfortable here.”

We sound a little stilted, but when he sets my suitcase down and motions for me to look at the huge his and hers closets, a massive bathroom in the middle, I’m blown away. There’s a gorgeous chandelier in my closet, with a big island in the middle with drawers, and all the shelves lining the walls are empty.

“All yours,” he says simply.

I peek into the bathroom again. The huge tub is big enough for three or four people, and the exquisite glass shower…the lap of luxury. My parents’ house is stunning, but it’s not anything close to this. There’s a separate small room for the toilet, which I’m happy about.

“You think you can make do with this?” he asks.

“Um, yeah.” I laugh.

I get my toiletry bag out of the suitcase, and when I walk into the bathroom, Penn is brushing his teeth, his electric toothbrush buzzing in his hand. I decide to brush mine too, and we stand side by side, brushing away.

I try not to laugh, but it bubbles up anyway. “I can’t believe we got married,” I mutter.

Penn looks at me in the mirror, a little toothpaste on his lips as he keeps brushing. “This is feeling very domestic.”

I laugh harder. “Definitely a first for me too.”

“You’ve never lived with a boyfriend or anything?”

I shake my head. “Never.”

“It’s like we’re virgins or something,” he says, snorting before he’s gotten it all the way out.

“Not exactly.”

“No, not at all.” He chuckles and moves toward his closet.

I wash my face, then change into a cute short pajama set. When I walk into the bedroom, Penn is walking out of his closet and he’s in pajama pants, no shirt. My mouth goes dry and I try not to look at him, but it’s impossible. He is a perfect, ripped, beautiful specimen of a man. He has a sleeve of tattoos and a few on his chest and torso. I drink him in. It’d be a crime not to enjoy the view.

He turns off the main light, so the only light comes from one of the lamps on the bedside table. The house is quiet, much quieter than my condo.

---