Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 79597 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 398(@200wpm)___ 318(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79597 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 398(@200wpm)___ 318(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)
“Looks good. Ah, gray? Green?”
“Sort of a blend. Mossy Gray, it’s called.”
“I like it.”
“Me too.”
“Can you take a break and have some pizza?”
“Oh God, I love pizza.”
“Then come and join me.”
“I’ll just finish this wall, and I’m done for the day.”
“Okay.”
She joined me in the kitchen a few moments later, her face washed. I noticed her feet were bare, the toenails painted a deep red. She sat down and picked up a slice of pizza.
“There are hot peppers on it,” I advised. “I should have only gotten them on half, but I forgot. Feel free to pick them off.”
“That’s fine. I love hot peppers.” She took a bite. “Oh, this is awesome.”
I was pretty sure I fell in love right there. She ate her pizza with gusto, sipping a beer with me. There was no pretense about her. She even burped once—a delicate sound, unlike when Brett or I would belch. She covered her mouth, coloring a little. “Excuse me.”
I chuckled. “Pretty lame.”
“I’m easing you in. I don’t want you to kick me out before I’ve even moved in.”
“Not gonna happen.”
She smiled, and I reveled in the warmth of it.
“You got a lot done today.”
She nodded around a mouthful. “My friend Sara came with me to get the paint, and she helped me tape everything and fill in the holes. So once that was done, it was fast. My mom is going to come and help paint the living room if that’s okay?”
“Sure. Does she live here?”
“No, in Toronto. She’ll come out on Saturday. I’ll have my room and the bathroom done by then.”
“Great. I can help too. We’ll get it done.”
“I love all the wood trim in the house. It’s so nice.”
“Yeah, it is.” I took another slice, folding it in half and eating it like a sandwich.
“Have you lived here long?”
“A while. Brett and Stefano were roommates here first. When Stefano got married, I moved in with Brett. Now he’s with Kelly, and it was going to be just me. I thought having another person around would be nice.”
“And you bought the place.”
“Yes.”
She sighed, looking around. “I’m glad. It’s a great little house. So much potential.”
I had never thought to change anything in the house, but I was surprised to find I wanted to hear her ideas. “You mean besides paint?”
“Paint will help. Spruce it up, you know? But you could refinish the floors, update the kitchen and bathrooms, all sorts of little DIY projects to make it really nice.”
“Good thing you’re here,” I joked. “I have no idea about sprucing or DIY projects.”
“I love to putter.”
“Putter away, Hannah. Just keep me up-to-date and in the loop.”
She laughed and stood, taking the empty pizza box to the counter. “I’ll do that. Let me know when to stop.”
She paused in the doorway. “I’m going to go and put everything away and head to my friend’s place and crash on the sofa. I’ll be back tomorrow.”
I carried my plate to the counter and leaned against it. “We could move your stuff in tomorrow, you know. Put it in the living room. You can crash here on the sofa until the walls are dry and we move your bed in. Give me the address, and the guys and I will take care of it.”
“Really?”
“Sure.”
She rushed toward me, flinging her arms around my neck. “That would be awesome!”
I hugged her back, liking how she felt in my embrace. She was shorter than me, but not as tiny as Charly. She was warm and soft pressed against me. She stepped back, still in my arms, gazing up at me. The air grew warm as we stared. “You’re incredible,” she murmured. “I’m not sure how I got so lucky.”
I smiled, my eyes drawn to her mouth. Her lips looked soft. Sweet. I wanted to taste them. To feel them move underneath mine. She shocked me when she rose up on her toes and kissed me. It was a fast, light kiss. But I felt it all the way down to the soles of my feet.
“Thank you,” she murmured, then turned and eased from my embrace. “You’re—” She shook her head, touching her lips. “Thank you,” she repeated, then hurried down the hall.
I touched my bottom lip with my tongue, still feeling her mouth there. I tried not to read too much into the gesture. She was grateful. It was a spontaneous kiss between friends. Roomies.
Except, I had never kissed Brett. Nor had I wanted to.
I wanted to kiss Hannah again.
And much more.
Fuck, Charly was right.
This was going to be complicated.
And yet, I wouldn’t want anyone else here with me.
In the morning, I asked the guys about helping me move Hannah’s possessions, and they agreed without hesitation. Maxx indicated the two larger trucks. “We’ll take both and get it done in one load. You just want it piled in the living room?”