“Okay, Clancy. Here’s the strategy: I’ll try to reason with her and straighten this out. I’ll even beg if necessary. If that doesn’t work, you turn on the charm, okay?”
Clancy affirmed with a shrill yip.
Chapter Seventeen
Mia stepped out of the shower much calmer than when she’d gotten in. One day, she’d learn to sit back and wait before she said something. One day, she’d be less impulsive.
Dammit. He’d left her nothing to wear but her outfit for tomorrow or the red dress she’d just worn that was too much for pajamas and way less than clean. After brushing her teeth, she climbed into bed, still wrapped in a bath towel, and pulled the covers to her chin.
Michael had been gone a long time. Too long.
She stared at his suit for the wedding, which he’d hung on the bathroom door. Surely he hadn’t headed back home and left that behind.
She’d replayed their conversation over and over in her head and was now doubting she had it right. He’d really said nothing indicating it was a one-and-done. But, seeing Clancy had reminded her that from his side, this was carrying out a business agreement and that she needed to pull her heart out of the clouds or she’d be gluing the pieces of it back together all over again.
“You misunderstood.”
Maybe she had. He was different than the others—she just knew it. She was the master of impulsive behavior and had let her fear take over. She rolled to her side and tried to empty her mind. Breath in four, out eight. In four, out eight. To her relief, she heard the door open and thump into the bed. He hadn’t left.
Too big a chicken to face him, she pretended to be asleep.
The shower started and after a moment, she rolled over.
“I thought so,” he said with a sly smile from the bathroom doorway. “I found it unlikely you’d be asleep after being so angry.”
Clever man. “I wasn’t angry. I was hurt. And probably rash.”
He reached into the shower and turned the water off. “Definitely rash.”
She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “You didn’t finish your sentence in the hallway and I filled in the blank.”
“Yes, you did.” He sat on the edge of the bed and patted it. Clancy jumped up and joined them. She loved how comfortable he’d become with the dog. “And I can see how you jumped to the wrong conclusion. But it was a very wrong conclusion.”
She nodded.
“I’m not like Jason or anyone else that you’ve dated. You said no sex-first relationship—that you wanted a friend.” He took her hand. “Well, you’ve got that. I’m not going to toss you aside, and I hope you won’t toss me aside because you expect me to screw you over.”
“So how should I have filled in the blank if not ‘that was before I had sex with you?’”
“With, ‘that was before I earned your friendship.’”
Her eyes watered. “That makes a little more sense.”
“Yes, it does.” He squeezed her hand. “I want you to think about something while I shower. I don’t need an answer now or even this weekend, but I’d like an answer before you move to your next housesitting job.”
She held her breath, absolutely unsure of what he’d say next.
Dropping her hand, he looked away for a moment as if it were hard to find the words. “I’d like you to consider staying with me instead of house sitting. I think we get along well and I…” It seemed like he was having the hardest time finding words. Like his mask had completely fallen away and he was struggling to put it back in place. “This is much more difficult than anticipated. I’m trying to word this in such a way that you don’t feel trapped by your financial situation. That I’m not taking advantage of your disadvantage.” He stared at the wall ahead of him and it struck her that he was surprised by his own offer.
But not as surprised as she was. “Are you asking me to move in with you, Michael?”
He shifted on the bed to better see her and studied her face for a moment. “Yes. Yes, I’m asking you to move in and live with me. Not on the sofa, but in my bed. In my life.” He popped to his feet and ran his hands through his hair. “Don’t answer now. Think about it first. I’m going to shower.”
“Wait.”
He stopped in the bathroom doorway, but didn’t face her.
“What will happen if I say no?”
His shoulders rose and fell. “I will be terribly disappointed, but will find a work-around.” Then, he faced her. “I won’t just let you go, Mia. I want to keep spending time with you, however you will let that happen.”
Gone was the placid, cool poker face. Longing, and even fear, shone in his expression, and her heart stuttered in her chest. Holy shit. Michael Anderson had just made a relationship commitment…to her.
And then, he closed the door.
She lay there a moment, hair still wet from her shower and head reeling, then stared at the closed door.
Oh, hell no. She swung her feet off the bed and knocked on the door, clutching her towel to her.