He knew she was only joking, but maybe he should do something about getting more furniture and stuff. “I don’t suppose you want to handle decorating this place for me?”
His sister would turn the house into a mini replica of hers with no regard to his preferences. However, he’d seen the inside of Jen’s house. Her style was much more in line with what he liked, and he hated shopping.
Her expression grew serious. “Brett, I’m just kidding. This is your house. As long as you’re comfortable here that’s all that matters.”
“If I’m going to live here and have visitors, it does need more stuff. Leah offered, but she’ll turn it into a place I’m afraid to walk in without taking my shoes off first. What do you say? Do you want to take my credit card and go on a shopping spree?”
“Thanks but no thanks. But I will go and help you. I’ll even hang curtains if you want.”
He’d rather she took his card and bought what she thought he needed. He put shopping and visiting the doctor in the same category. Both were necessary from time to time, but he never enjoyed either.
“I’ll take it. But back to what we were talking about. It’s up to you, but I’d love to have you spend the night tomorrow. The backyard is fenced in, so Bo can run around out there if he needs to, or just hang around in here.”
“Are you sure? My sister would take him again for me.”
“I always mean what I say.” He’d told her the same thing in the restaurant, but it didn’t hurt to say it again now.
“Okay, but you don’t have to come pick me up. I can drive back tomorrow.”
Jen said her sister would take the dog again; did that mean Bo was with her tonight? Since she appeared to be in no rush to get home, it seemed likely. “Is Bo at your sister’s tonight?”
Jen nodded and several strands of hair fell forward. She pushed them back before she answered him. “I didn’t know how late I’d be. Kristen only lives a few miles away from me, so she picked him up after dinner. My niece loves it when Bo spends the night, and she does most of the work.”
If her dog wasn’t waiting for her at home, he saw no reason she couldn’t stay here tonight too. “Then stay tonight. Tomorrow we can drive to your house together. Get a change of clothes, your dog, and come back.”
It’d been a damn long time since he woke up in the morning with a woman next to him. Sure he’d had a handful of women in his bed over the last few years, but he hadn’t asked or wanted a single one of them to stay the night. Jen was nothing like any of those women. He not only wanted her in his bed, he wanted her involved in every aspect of his life too.
***
Jen wrapped her dress around her body and tied it before running her fingers through her hair. Without a brush or comb handy, it was the best she could do. At least she wouldn’t be seeing anyone this morning. Before leaving the bedroom, she made Brett’s bed and tossed the T-shirt he’d let her borrow for the night into the laundry basket. If she’d been at home, there was a fifty-fifty chance she would’ve left it on the bed where she’d first dropped it, but it didn’t take an advanced degree in astrophysics to know Brett liked things neat and tidy. She’d gotten a peek in his underwear drawer when he got dressed this morning. Even in there everything had been folded neatly and stacked in piles. Towels and jeans she folded. Underwear got dumped in a pile in her drawer.
The scent of strong coffee reached her before she entered the kitchen.
“I think I prefer you dressed the other way,” Brett said when she walked in.
She preferred him any old way.
“Coffee?”
“Yes, please.” She yawned as she crossed to where he stood leaning with his back against the counter.
He took down a mug from the cabinet by the stove and filled it. “There’s milk in the fridge.”
She grabbed the plastic half gallon, glad to see he had plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables inside. She’d worried his fridge might be as empty as the kitchen cabinets appeared to be. “Thank you.” Jen reached for the mug, but he pulled it back before she touched it.
“It’s going to cost you.”
Crossing her arms, she narrowed her eyes at him. “Oh, really?”
Brett set both mugs down and advanced on her. “I made you coffee, I think that deserves at least a good morning kiss.”
She’d kissed him on the cheek before he got out of bed. If he wanted another, she’d oblige. Jen brushed her lips across his cheek. “Okay, I paid. Now hand over the goods.” She tried to reach around him to get her mug, but he blocked her attempt.
“Not so fast. I want a proper kiss, not whatever that was.”
If she’d brushed her teeth or at the very least used some mouthwash, she’d treat him to the same type of kisses they’d shared last night. She hadn’t come prepared for a sleepover and hadn’t wanted to go snooping through the drawers in the bathroom. “What you have in mind will have to wait until we get to my house, and I brush my teeth.”
Brett reached behind him and picked up her coffee. “Sorry, can’t wait until then. Don’t worry, I’ve got plenty of extra toothbrushes. Enjoy your coffee, and I’ll get you one.”