Page 16 of More than Paper

“Are you getting in your pajamas, or am I the only one?”

“Sure. I sleep naked.” I take my shirt off and unbuckle my pants, and her mouth drops open. Her head bounces from my bare chest to the wall, to my chest again. I try to stifle laughter.

“What is so funny.”

“You look like you’re going to have a heart attack. I’m just teasing you. Not about sleeping naked, but I’ll go put some clothes on.” I wink and hand her a bottle of water as I pass her. “If you want something else besides water, let me know or help yourself.”

“Water is good. Thanks.”

I throw on a pair of shorts and a T-shirt.

When I come out, Quinn is standing in front of the window, nervously tapping her fingers against her thigh.

I walk up behind her and put my hand on top of hers so it’s flat against her thigh. I wrap my other arm around her waist, and she inhales sharply.

She fits so perfectly against me.

I lean into her ear. “I won’t bite. Promise. Unless you want me to.”

She releases her breath and turns into me.

I could kiss her.

I want to kiss her.

I need to kiss her.

But her eyes flick left and right, so instead, I stroke her cheek. “Let’s go talk.”

“Talk?” She reddens again.

I chuckle. “Yeah. I speak. You speak. We talk.”

“Funny.”

I guide her over to the couch then open up the ottoman and pull out an oversized fuzzy blanket. I slide the ottoman up against the sofa so she has to put her legs on it then I sit on the couch next to her, throw the blanket on us, and put my arm around her.

“Didn’t expect you to have a big, fuzzy blanket. Is it yours or Chase’s?”

“Mine.”

“Impressive.” She grins at me.

“Quinn, Quinn, Quinn...” I put my legs on the ottoman.

“Jamison, Jamison, Jamison...” she mocks me and places her legs on top of mine.

“What’s your story?” I ask.

“My story?”

“Yeah. Your story. Not the stories you edit, although you can tell me about those later.” I wiggle my brows.

“Ha, ha!”

“Tell me all about you.”

She shrugs. “What do you want to know?”

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