“I’ll start cooking,” Rico says from the other side of the counter.
“You’ll stay, right? I’ll only be a few minutes.” Bear studies my face and I can tell he really wants me to. “I have some stuff I need to talk to you about.”
“Okay. I’ll stay.” I watch tension leave his body at my agreement and his smile is genuine.
“Snoop around if you like. I’ll be right back,” he says as he runs down the hallway.
I glance around his place, taking in the bare white walls. The only thing he has hanging up is a big-screen television. Almost the entire living area is taken up with a large leather sectional sofa. It looks like if you’d sit on it you’d sink, and I can imagine myself cozying up on it under a blanket. Over in one corner there’s a boxing bag hung from the ceiling and a pair of gloves on the floor next to it.
“Hope you like protein,” Rico says. I turn around and walk towards the bar.
“I’m not too picky,” I lie, not wanting to be rude.
I’m more of a sweets and pasta person. Now that I really think on it, I don’t eat much meat at all. Not that I have a problem with people eating meat, I just never order it. Plus, noodles are so easy.
I roam around the room a little more, but the place is really bare.
“I still have some unpacking to do.” I turn to see Bear standing there. He changed into jeans and a plain black T-shirt. His feet are bare and his hair is still damp. He looks around the room and shrugs. “Guess I don’t have much.”
He walks towards me until he’s standing so close I have to look up at him again. It’s then I realize I’m alone in his apartment and I don’t know him that well. I guess I’m not completely alone because Rico is here, but he’s a pretty big guy himself. None of those facts do anything to stop my train of thought. Maybe I shouldn’t have come over without telling someone where I was going. Tasha is always on me about how trusting I can be and that I need to toughen up now that I live in a big city. But I’ve got my phone in my back pocket and I’m just across the hall. And out of all the times that I’ve been around Bear, he’s never made me feel scared or unsafe.
“I saw into your place a couple of times when you had your door opened. It’s really colorful.” He smiles down at me, putting me more at ease.
“Yeah, I like decorating and making things. It’s kinda what I do.”
“Maybe you could help me,” he suggests.
“Really?” Excitement bubbles inside me at the idea. Could he really want me to help him with something like that?
“Yeah, this place could use some color.” He grabs my hand again, leading me towards the kitchen. He pulls out one of the tall chairs at the breakfast bar and I squeak as he easily picks me up by the hips and sets me down on one. “I’d let you have free rein. I know nothing about decorating.”
I try not to show exactly how excited I am as he steps into the kitchen and grabs a bottle of water.
“Do you want one? It’s all I keep in the house or Rico will throw it out.”
Rico shrugs, not denying the accusation.
“Water is fine.”
Bear grabs another bottle and brings it over to me, then leans up against the counter.
“Maybe I shouldn’t,” I say, insecurity getting the best of me. “I don’t have a degree in it or anything. I find things online and make them, or I pull a bunch of different things I like together. I’m not sure it’s for everyone. I have a blog about it if you want to check it out and think it over.” I look around the kitchen, trying to come up with ideas, but I’m flustered because I feel him watching me. I’m completely aware of his open stare, and now I’m fidgeting.
“I bet anything you create would be perfect.” His words are kind and melt my heart.
Rico snorts and Bear kicks out, hitting him on the butt.
“Dude, ow,” Rico yelps and laughs.
I can’t fight my own smile at their banter.
“I can give it a shot. I’ll come up with some ideas and you can have a look. Then, if you like it, we can go from there,” I suggest, feeling like a professional designer.
“If you want to, but I’ll want whatever you come up with.”
For some reason this makes me blush. How can this be the same man I saw in those videos online fighting like a beast? He’s so sweet. He might be hard muscles, but the way he’s looking at me makes me want to cuddle.