Page 26 of Joy
Silas didn’t move.
“Come on, let me do it,” I whined.
“Give.”
“This isn’t romantic.”
“No, it’s practical and time efficient. I’ll start your laundry. You put some pants on so we can go.”
I huffed and handed over my duffle bag, sans yesterday’s clothes. Silas went to another door beside the bathroom and disappeared down a flight of stairs to the basement. I went and hastily dressed and brushed my teeth, but Silas was still at the front door with Ben and a leash before me.
“I’m coming, I’m coming,” I grumbled, pausing to tug my Converses on. I stopped. “Oh. Phrasing.” I looked up and Silas was smiling. “Not intentional.”
“Not yet anyway.”
“Ooo, look at you. Is George the big brother? What would he think if I told him you said that?”
“Don’t tell him,” Silas replied before opening the door and letting Ben out.
“Does he tease you?” I asked playfully, following Silas outside. “Big, strong, bridge repairman Silas Bright?”
“Stop it,” Silas warned.
“Or what?”
“You’ll be in trouble.”
“With who,you? I can take you,” I continued.
“Yeah?”
“Yeah,” I insisted. “I’m not afraid of you. You’re all warm and gooey in the center.”
Silas grabbed me suddenly, moving a hell of a lot faster than I thought his big form could, and held my arms pinned at my sides.
He wrapped his hold around my middle and looked down. “Still going to take me?”
“Phrasing.”
“You’re awful.”
I grinned. “You make it easy.”
Silas returned the smile and leaned down, giving my lips the lightest kiss before he let go of me. He walked over to Ben and put the leash on before leading the way to the road. “What would you like to do for a date?” he asked after we had been walking for several moments.
“Anything,” I said. “Dinner and a movie?”
“Kid’s movie is playing at the theater this week.”
“Just dinner?” I amended.
Silas shrugged.
“Any fancy places?” Then I remembered I was broke. “I mean, free places.”
“My treat.”
“No—”
