Instantly she started looking through the chips and said with no apology, “Maybe next year, Strong.”
Grabbing her out of the chair, he lifted her onto the table, and she dropped her glasses in the process. Amanda laughed at him. Lowering his head, he kissed her neck and bit it lightly as he said, “You better be lying to me.”
Still laughing, she said, “Don’t mess up my paperwork, Hue.”
“Don’t worry about that.” His hand slipped under her sweatshirt, running his fingers up her sides.
“I have to.” She tried to be stern but giggled. “It’s my job.”
“Your job is to see people naked, Nordskov.” He bit her ear lightly as he said it.
She laughed again. “My only goal is to get you in my office, naked, Strong.” Her hands slipped up under his shirt.
“Never, Nordskov. You will have to settle for me naked here.” He groaned as her legs wrapped around him.
“One day.” She sighed and unwrapped her legs from him, then pushed him away. “I really have to do this paperwork by tomorrow. I should have done it yesterday, but I got distracted by something,” She looked at the ceiling for a moment. “Oh yeah, you.”
Letting her go with a growl, he bent and picked up her glasses, slid them on her face, and kissed her nose. “I will let you work. The game’s started.”
“It’s only the pregame show,” Amanda said, wrinkling her nose.
“If you want to get work done, Nordskov, you cannot be making fun of the pregame show or making those cute faces.” He kissed her nose again and lifted her off the table, setting her on her little feet.
Grabbing a bag of chips, he went to the couch alone. He turned on the TV and watched the pregame show for a while as he ate the chips. Every once in a while, he would look over at her, but she was always working. Glasses on, head down, and writing with her black pen.
“Are you at least going to watch the game?” he asked, wondering how long she would work.
“I should be done by then,” she answered, barely looking up.
“Will you change into the shirt before the game? Before the entire team sees you?” he teased, still looking at her.
“If you go get it, I will slip it on before kickoff,” she said, not looking up this time, just writing something down.
Getting up, he went into the room he had slept in for three nights now, three glorious nights. Opening her closet, he was surprised at how few clothes she had hanging in here. Most were lying in a knee-high pile on the floor. Seeing the shirt, he pulled it off the hanger, leaving the hanger hanging there with dozens of others just like it, empty.
Walking out into the main area of the apartment with it in his hand, he said, “Nordskov, you have got to do laundry. Soon, you will have to go to work naked. Not that I would care, but you should maintain a professional image when out and about. Feel free to be naked when home.”
“Ha-ha. I manage to find something every day.” She didn’t look up as she said it, but he could see she was blushing. Maybe she was embarrassed that she didn’t like to do laundry. Maybe he should offer to do her laundry, but he didn’t. Since she didn’t want to tell anyone about them, he didn’t do her laundry.
So far, he hadn’t brought up what they were to each other. He didn’t want to push her, but he wanted to know. He wanted to take her outside of this apartment. Not that being alone with her wasn’t great, but he wanted to share her.
Bringing the shirt over to her, he kissed the top of her head. “I like you naked.”
Back at the couch, he tried to leave her alone—she wanted to work—but he kept looking over to see if she was getting done. But she just kept working. Though she missed seeing the kickoff, she had changed into the jersey with only seconds to spare as he demanded it happen from across the room. Then he willingly watched her change her shirt instead of the kickoff. Just getting a glimpse of her breast encased in a yellow bra had been worth it.
Halfway through the first half, she finally got up from the table, put the folders on the counter, and sat down next to him. Right next to him, not on the other side of the couch like she used to.
“What did I miss?” she asked.
Putting his arm around her and pulling her closer, he kissed her and said, “You don’t care.”
Snuggling into his body, she yawned. “You’re right.”
Within minutes, she was sleeping, but this time it was the first time she was sleeping in his arms during the game. It was so much better with her in his arms.
CHAPTER14
Tuesday dawned bright and sunny.Not warm, but sunny. The first week in December in North Dakota was never usually warm. It was not snowing yet, but you could smell it in the air. By Friday, they would have more snow on the ground.