“You don’t need to thank me. I like taking care of you. Now don’t get carried away and think I’m going to let you sleep in here, but I do have to work some during the day so I might let you take a nap in here. The desk is all ready to go for your laptop. Let me know if you need a printer.”
I shake my head.
“I didn’t bring my laptop. I kind of felt like I was bringing too much stuff with my suitcase, the stuff from my kitchen, and Apollo and his accessories. I didn’t want to overdo it.”
He merely chuckles.
“The cam girl didn’t bring her computer? No, I’m kidding, sweetheart. You worry too much. We’ll take care of the laptop situation later. For now, how about dinner?”
“That sounds perfect. What did you have in mind?”
“I thought we could do some take-out from somewhere that’s trying to stay afloat and support our fellow food and drink industry peers. This room makeover has me craving Indian food. Let’s find one that delivers?”
I nod happily, and Peter leaves me to unpack my clothes while he orders dinner. I hang up my clothes in the huge walk-in closet. There are built-ins for shoes and I tuck the two pairs I brought into the cubbies. Honestly, I could fit everything I own in about a quarter of the space here. I have my own bathroom too. I like sharing Peter’s space but there are some things a girl likes to have privacy for. Some mystery remains if he isn’t watching me do a charcoal facial mask. I’d rather he just think my skin glows naturally with no effort. I set everything in its place and then think how hard it is going to be to go back to my matchbook sized bathroom in my shoebox sized apartment.
“Dinner, babe!” I hear Peter call from downstairs. Hearing him call me babe gives me a warm feeling radiating through my chest. It’s easy to forget we’ve only known each other for a few weeks when he uses such endearments.
We decide to take our dinner to the screening room. Peter shows me the control system with all its functions for the sound system and access to the different services for movies. We discover a mutual love for science fiction and fantasy before picking The Lord of the Rings for our first movie date together. Wow. Spending time with a man who can talk J.R.R. Tolkien and food with me is priceless. Most of the guys I’ve dated haven’t read much more than the backs of video game boxes and subsist on nothing more than Hot Pockets and beer.
I cuddle into my dream guy’s arms and settle in next to his massive form as those strong arms surround me. It’s pure bliss, and all I want is more.
17
Peter
Whitney and I have settled into a comfortable routine during the quarantine. She wakes up at the crack of dawn to make scrumptious pastries from scratch. I’ve told her that she doesn’t have to do this, but she always waves me away with a laugh.
“It’s what I’m used to,” she says. “Besides, my skills will leave me if I don’t keep them up.”
I laugh and let her have her way. Then, we have coffee on the terrace and I retreat to my home office to deal with running my business while Whitney plays mad scientist in the kitchen. Everything she bakes tastes like heaven sprinkled with fairy dust, and she’s been very generous. The lobby staff cheers every time they see her exit the elevator with a tray of cookies or cupcakes. Their favorite so far has been the signature SugarTime sugar cookies iced with a hibiscus mint frosting.
Then later in the day, we alternate between making dinner together and ordering out to support fellow restaurateurs. After eating a meal, we retire to either the library or the screening room for a couple of hours, which usually leads to fun times. The sex has been phenomenal. I sample her curves every evening and she never disappoints. We’ve decided the mattress in the far south corner guest room is the least comfortable, and I’ll be replacing that one any day now.
Today, I’m technically quitting early so we can discuss shake flavors for Shake Place. The shake machine is set up on the counter along with tubs of ice cream and various syrups that Whitney has created.
“What do we have here, beautiful?” I ask, eyeing the paper cups she has lined up. She turns to me with a bright smile, so bubbly and vivacious with her curvy form decked in an apron.
“Well, I thought we needed a focus group, so I told everyone that works in the building that they could be taste testers if they wanted to. And I invited George and Sarah, too. Sarah was crazy about the birthday cake I made her, and when George took me home to get more clothes, he said she was complaining about being bored, so I invited her. I hope you don’t mind.”