Neighbors with Benefits (Anderson Brothers, #2)(52)
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.
The door cracked open and Michael, still fully clothed except his shoes, peered out, then stepped into the shower to make room for the door to swing open.
Suddenly, what had been all bravado turned into something just north of timid when she looked straight into his eyes.
“So, um…” She cleared her throat and he arched an eyebrow. “Well, you just made an offer and I’d really like to see what I’d be getting in the bargain.”
Dimples appeared and he slid his jacket off and tossed it past her to the bed. “The luggage closet wasn’t sufficient for you?”
She rolled onto the balls of her feet and back down, holding tight to the towel. “Well, I didn’t really get to see anything.”
“So, you want to inspect the goods to determine if they’re to your satisfaction.”
“I bet you do that in your antique business all the time. And hey, you’ve checked me out plenty while I work out.”
He methodically removed his cufflinks and placed them in the pocket of his suit hanging on the door. “Please tell me I will not have to perform Pilates for your inspection.” She laughed and accidentally snorted, which caused his grin to widen. “I would absolutely do that if that’s what it took, Mia.”
Without any rush, he unbuttoned his shirt as if he were simply going through his regular routine, rather than driving her crazy. When he handed her his shirt, it was all she could do to not raise it to her nose to breathe in the starch and cologne scent so specifically him, but forgot all about it when he turned to face her, giving her an eyeful of toned chest and abs. All those workouts paid off. He wasn’t bulky, but the definition was certainly there. Efficiency with no waste. And lots of power, as she’d discovered in the luggage closet. She pitched his shirt onto his jacket on the bed and resisted the urge to fan herself, stopping short when she met his eyes again.
“This is the point,” he said, rubbing his palm over the bulge in his pants, “when you decide whether you want to participate, or simply remain an observer.” He loosened the buckle on his belt and slid it out of the loops, and her mouth watered. “I find in dealing with antiquities and things of value, observation is insufficient, and I actually need to hold the object in my hand…” He rolled the belt into a neat coil and placed it on top of the toilet tank, “…or make a physical connection with it somehow, in order to really appreciate it.”
Oh, she appreciated it all right. And certainly wanted a physical connection with it—her whole body thrummed to life at the mere thought. Still, she loved watching him in action, and couldn’t bring herself to interrupt what was possibly the sexiest undressing she’d ever imagined. Trying to look nonchalant, she leaned against the doorframe, glad she didn’t miss it entirely and land on her butt.