“Your arm seems to be gaining mobility.” Though she winced with every movement, the fact that Jaya could now lift her arm meant she was on the mend. I wondered if she would move on when she healed completely.

“It’s slow going but I can’t complain. Much. Your apartment is great,” she began in that way that said she had more to say.

“But?”

“No buts. It just looks like a bachelor lives here.” She gazed around the open floor plan from her seat at the breakfast nook and I wondered what she thought of my penthouse filled with expensive furnishings.

“A bachelor does live here.”

She turned that green gaze to me and sighed. “And it looks like it. Don’t be so sensitive, it’s nice. But it doesn’t make a woman want to stay.”

“You’d be the first woman to say that.”

She froze. “Then you shouldn’t worry about what I think,” she said and turned her gaze to the view of Lake Michigan, at least what she could see of it on this grey cloudy day with a nonstop drizzle.

Shit. Why did I have to go and say that to her, of all people? Though it was true, plenty of women had been reluctant to leave my bed and my home, that had more to do with my wealth than me. Jaya had just been honest and I scanned the place from her perspective. Everything was in its place, large screen television mounted on the wall, several large and comfortable pieces of furniture and even a decorative area rug. But I could also see what she meant. There were no throw pillows, no photos or art decorating the white walls. A few red-light fixtures and lamps were the only spot of color. It was expensive and luxurious but also cold and lifeless.

“I’m sorry Jaya, I didn’t mean it the way it came out.”

“Don’t worry about it Colt. I’m well aware of what a catch you are.” Still her gaze lingered on the view through the floor to ceiling windows that dominated one wall of the apartment. Though her posture looked relaxed I could read the tension in the way she held the coffee mug, around her mouth.

“I think you mean my money makes me a catch,” I told her cynically but honestly.

She whipped her head around, green eyes wide with shock. “Oh come on Colt. Don’t go fishing for compliments with me. Sure your wealth is nice but you’re…a catch on your own,” she said reluctantly.

Reluctantly but she’d meant every word. I could tell by the red flush on the back of her neck she couldn’t hide. And that gave me an idea. “What do you have planned for today?”

She shrugged and turned back to me. “Laundry. Cooking. I’ve been here since Friday night so I’m sure there’s other stuff. Why?”

I grabbed my coffee and the plate of waffles I’d made for us, taking a seat right beside her instead of across from her. Hand on her thigh I leaned forward and kissed the line of her jaw, licked a path across her collarbone. “I was thinking maybe you could help me make this place more welcoming.”

“Why?”

“Isn’t it obvious? If you feel comfortable here you’ll come over.” And never leave. She leaned forward and kissed me slow and sweet before pulling back.

“That’s sweet Colt but you don’t need to do that.”

“That’s the beauty of it Jaya. I want to.” The smile she hit me with made my heart swell. And my cock.

Her hands slid up my bare thighs and under the boxer briefs I’d thrown on to make breakfast, skimming her fingers across my sack before stroking me. She smiled and her gaze darkened to a forest green as she leaned in to suck on my earlobe.

“I’m going to say no because I want you to convince me.” Pulling back, she stood and slipped my t-shirt over her head, tossing it in my lap before walking back to the bedroom. Completely naked.

I left breakfast on the table and went after my woman. She might not know it yet, but Jaya was mine. And I spent the next few hours making sure she knew it. Over and over again.

She grinned, half her body sprawled on top of mine and let out a long satisfied breath. “Okay you convinced me. Let’s go shopping.”

After stopping at her place for a change of clothes and another round in bed, we finally made it to exactly one store. “Why do I need pillows when the couch is one big damn pillow?”

She laughed, the sound like music to my ears. “Because you need color in your apartment throw pillows finish the room. Just like this blanket,” she handed me a red and white striped blanket. “For the back of your sofa.”

She picked up all kinds of things that I would have never bought because it was junk. Clutter. Two vases for flowers I never had. A candy bowl for the candy I never ate or bought. Candle holders, oil burners and an ottoman. “Seriously? Is this a joke?”

“Nope. What do you hate? We’ll put it back.”

Damn how could I possibly hate anything when she was so reasonable? “The oil burners have to go because I’ll never use them. And the candy dish?”

She shrugged. “We can use the small one for your keys by the door and the big one we can fill with marbles or sand or whatever. Anything else?”

“Not if you find a use for those vases,” I told her, imagining her stopping by at least once a week to fill the vases.

“Sure,” she rolled her eyes. “And we’re done.”

I sagged in relief.

“For now.”

“Evil woman,” I muttered as we made our way to the register, the sound of her laughter at my back.

“Payback Colt. It’s been said she can be a real bitch.”

In that moment I realized just how great things were between us. How great they could be if we made this official. But she wasn’t there yet and I didn’t know what to do to get her there. Something held her back and until I figured out what, we would be stuck. Not that here was bad, here had earth shattering sex, lots of laughter and great conversation. Here had me spending copious amounts of time with Jaya. Naked. Clothed. All over the damn city.

“Dinner at your place?”

She smiled and moved in close, wrapping both arms around my waist. “Desserts on me.”