A mini home décor shopping spree and take out dinner later, and they were back at the penthouse, relaxing and settling in. Cori had only been kidding about pillows and something pink, but Nick insisted so she would feel comfortable there and threatened to charge Eve with the task if she wasn’t willing. She begrudgingly gave in.
Getting acquainted on a whole new level, as roommates, they enjoyed their time and talked about everything from what to eat for breakfast and sharing bathroom time to get ready for the day. The one thing they hadn’t discussed was sleeping arrangements. It was clearly only a one-bedroom apartment, despite the space, and that also meant, one bed.
“So, I will take the couch.” Nick offered.
“The couch?”
“Sleeping. Unless you want to share a bed, I will take the couch,” he clarified with an awkward chuckle.
“Nick, no. I can’t let you do that. This is your place – I’m just…visiting. I’ll take the couch. It’ll be fine.”
“Exactly,” he confirmed, “You are a guest and a lady. You get the bed.”
“But it’s your apartment and your bed. I can’t.”
“It’s our apartment, and our…well, your, bed, too. At least for now. Please take the bed.”
“As comfortable as this couch is to sit on, I can’t imagine it being as comfortable to sleep all night on – you won’t even fit on it – you’re too tall. I think we are having our first argument,” she teased, trying to make light of the situation.
“Hold that thought. Actually, meet me in the bedroom. We are not having an argument.” Nick turned on his heels and headed toward the bedroom, himself, but stopped just shy, turning into the laundry room.
She couldn’t tell what he was doing in there when she passed the doorway, headed to the bedroom, but heard clanking and shuffling, followed by an “ah ha”.
Joining her in his room where she was sitting at the edge of his bed, he held up an unopened box and said, “Problem solved. I’ll sleep on this.”
“A box?” she joked.
“It’s an air mattress. I was going to go camping once but ended up at the Ritz and never used it. I’ll just blow it up on the floor and slide it under the bed in the mornings.”
He did just that, quick to unroll the blue, flat, plastic mat and plug in the electric air pump. Within a couple of minutes, he had his own makeshift bed and the solution – though not the one he wanted – was sleeping next to her bed when he would rather sleep in her bed. He promised chivalrous and gentlemanly, so this was his compromise.
They took turns in the bathroom, each getting ready for their first night as a fake engaged couple living together. Ladies first, Nick waited his turn in the bathroom before turning in for the night. When he returned to the room, he paused in the doorway at the sight of her, sitting in the middle of his bed. He’d give anything to be one of the two dogs lying next to her – hell, he’d even be the small one with a pussy name. He would have to settle for lying next to her…on the floor.
Closing the gap between them, he stood at the edge of the bed, each taking the other in. “So, do we hug, or…”
She laughed, “I think we do whatever we want to do. Nobody sees this part – except Bronco and Bunny – but they won’t tell.”
With him still standing there, awkwardly staring at her, she broke the ice and scooted to the edge of the bed, raising to her knees. She leaned in, as did he on her cue, and raised her hand, throwing him for a loop. “High-five. Put’er there, Blackthorne.”
A boisterous laugh erupted, and he met her high-five before laying down on his new air mattress – on the floor – where he couldn’t see, hear, or feel her.
It was quiet for a few moments, and they both found themselves lost in thought. Cori was self-shaming, mortified with her choice to high-five a super-hot guy, standing before her, half dressed in only low slinging sweats, broad shoulders and abs for days proudly displayed. He was already uncomfortable, and it had nothing to do with the mattress and everything to do with a hot little brunette, sleeping in his bed with nothing but a thin white cotton nightgown that was a little snugger, than she probably realized, across the chest.
***
Nick was the first to wake the next morning, and he was as uncomfortable then as he was when he went to sleep – he was hard as a fucking rock. What was worse – both dogs had left her in the big comfortable bed, and crowded in with him on the much smaller mattress, creating an unnatural tilt to the mattress. He felt like a snob for a moment because he missed his big expensive, comfortable bed.
Finding his way to the bathroom without embarrassing the hell out of himself might make for a tricky feat. Especially since he didn’t know if she was still asleep or if he would run into her, or his goods rather, in the hallway. It took some cajoling to get the dogs to quietly move just enough so that he could carefully and slowly sit up and peek over the edge of the bed to see if the coast was clear or not.
Still snuggled up, hugging his pillow, she was sound asleep and the sweetest thing he had ever woken up to. Messy bed head, smeared left over make up, and a little drool – she was still the prettiest, sweetest thing he’d ever seen. There was something special about her, and it was becoming more and more obvious as he was becoming more and more smitten.
With a plan to make a quick dash to the bathroom, he darted as fast and quiet as he could so as not to wake her. He needed a minute to calm his…mood with a cold shower. His morning run would be pretty painful otherwise, and the obscenity he carried front and center might get him banned from the park.
Slightly disoriented, she woke to the smell of woodsy man scent and eggs. Why that turned her on and made her stomach growl was beyond her. It was new.
Fully awake at the realization that she was not in her own apartment, the previous day and night came flooding back. With a glance at the empty floor where the blue air mattress and sexy man once lay, she smiled, remembering it wasn’t so empty last night and that the woodsy smell surrounding her was likely from him.
Refreshed from one of the best night’s sleep in one of the most comfortable beds she’d ever been in, she was reminded of his sweet sacrifice. He wanted her in his bed, and he would take the floor – a gentleman, who made her libido do flips when she thought of him sleeping in this bed every night before her.
He was sweet and kind, thoughtful to a fault. All things she wasn’t used to finding in men, or New York in general. He made her smile with a mere thought, and she appreciated his die-hard desire to defend her honor in a childish ruse that should have ended the moment it started. He was so invested, though, and she didn’t understand why. She did appreciate it.
The smell of breakfast wafted through the air, reminding her that he was here and cooking, which sent her libido into another flip. Running her hands through her tangled hair, she decided a quick shower and more presentable clothes were in order so it felt more natural and less like an odd, we didn’t even have sex I just slept in your bed, walk of shame.
While digging through her suitcase to find something to wear, she decided to unpack while she was at it. She was here for the better part of a month and didn’t feel it sensible to live out of a suitcase for so long. When she went into the large walk-in closet, however, she was shocked to find women’s clothing. A lot of it.
She looked to her left to see Nick’s things, then back to her right at all of the lovely, expensive, items. Clothes, shoes, accessories…a full wardrobe. Anger flared, coursing through her. She was being played. Did he think she wouldn’t notice – for an entire month – that another woman lived here? A wife? Girlfriend? Mistress? It didn’t matter; she wasn’t a homewrecker or the other woman in anyone’s relationship.
She tossed her things back in her bag in a heap, threw on the first thing she found that mostly matched, grabbed her purse, and pulled her suitcase behind her. She parked the suitcase at the end of the hall that led from the living room to the foyer and stood with her hands on her hips, staring through the open living room, straight into the kitchen where Nick stood, making breakfast.
He looked up, sensing her presence. His smile quickly fell. “Where are you going? What’s wrong?”
“I won’t be the other woman, Nick. Err, fake other woman. It’s not right,” she said, flailing her arms in frustration. “Is this all just a joke to you? Is Phillip in on it? He is, isn’t he? So, you’re married? Live in girlfriend?”
She finally paused, giving him a chance to speak. “What are you talking about? There’s no one else, other than Bunny, but he’s new here.”
Cori didn’t find any humor in his half assed explanation. “Why are you doing this?”
“Because I genuinely like you – a lot. We talked about this, Cori.” He was absolutely confused, had no idea where she was coming from.
She froze; he liked her. He said he genuinely liked her, and her heart did the flip this time. Quick to remind herself that she didn’t care, she went right back to angry. “Don’t distract me with your…handsome looks and…charming ways! Fool me once…”
“Cori. I don’t know what’s going on or what you think you know, but I swear to you…I’m the only one who lives here. I take that back. I’m engaged…to you. So, tell me what has you so upset.”
“So, I suppose you like to wear dresses and high heels in your spare time? Clutch, or handbag, Nick?”
“Alright, you really need to help me on this one. Why would I wear dresses?” He moved from behind the kitchen counter and stood in front of her with his hands on her shoulders, honestly concerned. She could see it and believed it.
Her voice dropped to a near whisper, anxious for answers but fearful of them too, which she found interesting. “Whose clothes are in the closet? Did you think I wouldn’t notice them or mind that someone else’s clothes were in there?”
“They’re yours,” he said, plainly.
“Mine? I don’t own anything like those, and…I never unpacked. Whose are they, Nick?”
“I bought them for you. Eve and Gwen actually picked most of them out – had a great time doing so, to be honest – but they are yours. There are a few events coming up that we talked about attending, and I didn’t want you to worry about what to wear…so I…took care of it so you wouldn’t have to.”
“Nick.”
“If you don’t like them, we can get rid of them…find something else. I should have just let you pick them to begin with – but I was afraid you would say no. I knew it. I just wanted to surprise you, and I guess I forgot last night.”
“I still don’t understand why you are doing…so much for me,” she said in a small voice.
“Because nobody else ever has…”
She stood still, unable to think beyond his words, stuck on the idea that he did the things he did for her simply because no one else had. Nobody had ever done anything close to this for her – he was right, nor had she expected them to. Here was a man who had everything he could possibly want in the world, and all he wanted, in that moment, was to give her something she didn’t have.
She had nothing to give in return, and he didn’t ask for anything. All she had to offer was her friendship, some kindness, and unrelenting loyalty – he knew that – and here he was, asking for nothing more. He was thoughtful and kind, warm and generous, smart and beautiful. He was nothing of what the world depicted him as. The tabloids and media were wrong. He was a good man, and he just wanted to see her happy.
“I’m sorry. I should’ve asked,” his hands were no longer on her shoulders but stroking her arms instead as his stare bore into her, his sincerity all she could see. “I just wanted you to feel comfortable in my world…I’m so sorry I upset you and probably even offended you.”
He cared about her. Why, she didn’t know, but he did. The feeling had to be mutual, or she wouldn’t have been so upset or moved by his words. Speechless, unable to find the words to apologize, put his mind at ease, or even say thank you, she let the tears that were threatening spill over.
He wiped away the stream of emotion cascading down her cheeks, and all she could do was offer a small smile, and say, “Your eggs are burning.”
“Oh shit!” He turned and ran to the kitchen, pulling the hot pan from the burner and turning each nob to off. He watched her grab her bag and head back toward the hallway that led to the bedroom and bathroom, feeling a little relieved.
She turned to him and said, “I’m going to take a quick shower.”
“I’ll figure out breakfast.” His relieved smile pinched her heart.
Standing in the closet, wheeling her suitcase to the side, she looked around at the beautiful things hanging on her side of the closet. Overwhelmed by the items as much as her encounter with Nick, she couldn’t seem to focus on any one thing. Well, there was one thing…her reflection in the full-length mirror.
She was wearing an inside out sweatshirt and cropped pajama pants with boots and her hair in a messy twist on top of her head. Cute. In her fury, she hadn’t paid much attention to what she tossed on, and if she was ever grateful for anything, it was that she didn’t leave looking like that. In that part of the city, dressed like that, pulling a suitcase, she was liable to get arrested for loitering or something while waiting for a ride. There wasn’t a cab in town that would have picked up the homeless girl on the corner.
Opting for a bath in the large soaker tub, Cori took her time and relaxed. What was she doing? Why were her emotions so frayed? Why did Nick having somebody or not bother her so much that it sparked a near lunatic reaction? Why were they playing childlike games with two people who didn’t even matter?
Was that their connection – their only connection? She sunk to the bottom of the tub, pulling her entire head under the warm water, and soaked as long as she could while trying to reconcile the thoughts and emotions all of her internal questioning provoked. She was in over her head with her heart on the line, literally and figuratively.