Connor took the cab back to my place and got out…probably force of habit because he was so exhausted.

Now, I was curled up in the corner of my couch, my feet stuck under Connor's leg, one of his arms wrapped around my calves the other holding the glass of the scotch.

“Why have you never had me come over to your place?” It suddenly seemed important now that he'd invaded every corner of my life, I'd never gone anywhere into his that wasn't related to the deal. Maybe he was afraid it would be harder to get rid of me when this was over. “I mean, regardless of the paparazzi-partnering doorman, now that we’re tabloid fodder. Not to stay over, just to see it.”

“Why would you want to go there?” I know he was tired from the insane trip back to go to my launch party, but it seemed like a pretty straightforward question.

“I don't know. I mean, why wouldn't I? Is there a reason you haven't had me over?”

“Yes.”

Oh, dear.

“It's big and spacious and cold. It's much nicer here. I have a nosy doorman. There’s an elevator that you have to be nice to people for like fifteen floors. I’ve barely decorated. And you would mock my TV.” He took another sip and rolled his head to look my way. “Your apartment has made me think about downsizing. As long as I have a guest room for my folks, that's all I need. It's not like I throw big parties or anything. I don't like to bring all that schmoozing home with me. So, you'd probably hate my place.”

Yeah. I'm sure I'd totally hate the three-million-dollar penthouse overlooking the river that was featured on Million Dollar Views last year.

Not that I Googled it or anything.

“So, you like it better here?”

That seemed too simple.

“Yup. Remember? Cozy.” He tilted his head back again, his eyes half-shut.

No matter how happy I was to see him, it was going to have to be bedtime before he passed out and dropped that glass.

I slid my feet out from under him and stretched before getting up to go get his blanket.

When I turned back, he was standing in my bedroom doorway.

“Hails, I'm sleeping in that bed with you. I'm exhausted and jet lagged and I'm keeping my clothes on, but I am sleeping there.”

He stood there, half challenging me, half waiting for me to say yes or no. He looked dead on his feet, partially because he raced back to celebrate with me. My friends and Catherine didn’t even go to my closed events anymore. They were having the launch dinner for me next week. And so, Connor had been the only adult there just to support me for no reason to do with money.

“Fine.”

I grabbed my pajamas and changed in the bathroom, washing my face and brushing my teeth and wondering if I'd lost my mind.

When I came out, Connor was folding down the covers on the far side of the bed wearing those mesh shorts again.

Only the mesh shorts.

“You said you'd keep your clothes on.

“These are clothes.”

“Where are the rest of them?”

“Hails, the important stuff is covered.” He crawled into the far side and fluffed the pillow I usually threw at his head in the living room. “Get in bed.”

I knew it was a bad idea as I slid under the covers and reached for the bedside lamp. Nothing good came of sharing a bed with someone you were attracted to. And darn him. It was bad enough he was so good looking. But showing up at my event, calling me just because, kissing me—no matter how casually—it just wasn't going to end up with me in a good place.

I turned away, hoping to just fall asleep.

“Hails. You need to calm down. I'm not going to molest you in your sleep. If I haven't slapped you on your rear end yet, I think you're safe for one night.”

He was absolutely right. The more I thought about it, the more stupid I felt. Of course he wasn't going to jump me. One, he'd promised. And, two, it wasn't how he was wired. So, everything was good in the world.

I was just getting comfortable as an arm was thrown across me. Before I could say anything, Connor was already pulling me up against him.

“Stop freaking out.” He sounded half asleep, already fading out. “I’m going to end up wrapped half around you once I’m asleep anyway. Might as well get it out of the way.”

Before I could figure out how to respond, he was snoring.

I laid awake, trying to not cuddle back and questioning if it were cuddling if only one person was doing it.

Eventually, I closed my eyes and just enjoyed the feel of his heat at my back and the warm strength of him holding me.

I’d let tomorrow worry about tomorrow.