“No kittens, though. I’m oddly disappointed.” He glanced back down at his phone, and that made it easier for me to curl up on the sofa again, comfy at last. I groaned. I should have grabbed my mug first. As I started to unfurl my legs to reach for it, he held up a hand, and leaned down to pick it up, offering it to me.
“How did you…”
“I’m observant. It’s what a private investigator needs to be, Julie. Plus you made that cute little huffy noise.”
I wanted to swat him with my hand. “I did not.”
He laughed, closing the app on his screen, and setting it on the table. He turned in the seat, sliding one leg under the other.
“I bet you feel better though, right?”
I chewed my cheek. “It’s weird though. I don’t know you. How am I sitting on my sofa with you, and letting you see the version of me that only my bed sees.” His breath caught in his throat, and he swallowed hard.
“Uh… I’m glad you feel safe around me. You know, to relax properly. Now, I’ve never worn a skirt so narrow, but it didn’t look comfortable, so I figured you’d normally change straight away, and didn’t want to be in your way.”
I found myself smiling. “You’ve never worn a skirt that narrow? As in, you’ve worn a skirt before?”
He shrugged, fighting a grin. “I have layers. I’m not just some PI guy. I’ve had a whole life. Uh… I mean, you know, I’m a lot older than you. Lots of years to get up to all kinds.”
I sipped my coffee, noting his discomfort when he mentioned age.
“How much older are you?”
“You know, it’s so sexist that it’s only women you can’t ask that question. I’m a few weeks shy of forty five. So I guess pretty much twice your age. I could be… Jesus. Clearly I’m rusty when it comes to talking to a pretty lady.”
“You were going to say you’re old enough to be my father. I mean, my father is quite a bit older than you.”
He tilted his head. “Late baby?”
I shrugged. “Mother is younger than him. Younger than you actually, now I think about it.”
His phone buzzed, and twitched a little as it vibrated on my glass table. He closed his eyes, muttering a curse.
“Do you need to get that?”
He shook his head. “It’s probably just some prick, who can wait until morning, to ask me some dumbass question, that’ll get me an asskicking.”
I frowned, sitting up taller. “That sounds serious.”
He groaned, checking the phone quickly, his frown clearing. “Oh. Okay. Not the prick I expected it to be.”
“So a different prick?”
He laughed. “Yeah, exactly. So… am I keeping you from your bed?”
Yes. But I didn’t want to say it, because I really didn’t want him to leave.
I shrugged instead, staying noncommittal. It’s the best way.
“I’m drinking coffee. I’m probably awake for at least another hour.”
He rubbed the back of his neck. “Well… I mean, I can try and keep you busy for an hour, if you like. I have some ideas.” He followed that statement with an almost literal facepalm, while I wriggled in my seat, against the sudden burn between my legs. Dammit.
Whore. You know you’re going to spread your legs for him.
I felt another one of those shameful shudders, that made me squeeze my eyes closed.
“Jesus. I didn’t mean to scare you, Julie. Don’t worry, I’m not going to jump you, or anything.”