“What’s going on?” Nate asks, scrubbing his hand over his face.
I shuffle on the bed, sit my ass down, and shove my lacy underthings behind me. “A mouse.” I point toward the bathroom.
He looks over his shoulder. “A mouse,” he says to the others, and I hear them murmur to each other, but no one seems at all surprised, and that works me up even more.
“I’ll grab a trap,” Cody says, and takes off downstairs as the others all disperse.
“Yeah, it’s that time of year,” Nate says. “In an old place like this, they tend to find their way in pretty easily.”
“You mean there are more than one?”
“Yup. I’d offer you my room and take this one, but I’ve caught a few in there, as well. Still, if you want to switch, I haven’t seen any in there in a while.”
His offer is sweet, but I’m not going to put him out. He’s done enough for me today as it is. But, my God, I do not like mice or any other small rodents. Or big rodents. I slide off the bed, careful to watch where I step.
Okay, Kira, you’re a big girl here. Pull yourself together.
“I think I might have overacted,” I say, feeling a bit foolish as heat warms my face.
“You should have seen Sam the first time he saw one,” Jason yells out from his room.
“Fuck off,” Sam says. “It caught me by surprise is all. I’m not afraid of a fucking mouse.”
Nate mouths the words, “He is.”
“Is that why Izzy had to remove the trap after we caught it in your room,” Jason goads.
“Don’t make me come in there, Jason. You know full well Izzy likes hunting the mice. I was just helping her out.”
“He wasn’t,” Nate mouths, then chuckles.
“Really?” I ask quietly, and he nods. “You’re not just saying that to make me feel better, are you?”
“Nope.”
I eye him, but there’s nothing in his expression to suggest he’s fibbing.
“Don’t worry, Kira. They’re more afraid of you than you are of them.”
Cody comes back up the steps with a trap in his hand. “What me to set it, boss?”
Nate looks at me. “Kira?”
“Yes, please. It was in the bathroom.”
Cody comes in. “This will just take a second,” he says, and in a very respectable gesture, he puts his hand up to block the sight of me. Warmth moves through me, and I smile. I really like how they’re treating me like a sister.
“If it goes off in the middle of the night, come get me,” Nate says. “I’ll take care of it for you.”
I’ll take care of it for you.
My entire body warms as I imagine all the ways Nate could take care of other things for me.
“All done,” Cody says, and Nate turns to the side to let him exit the bedroom.
Nate wraps his fingers around the doorknob. “We’ll get out of your way. Let you get ready for bed.”
“Thanks.” I take a step toward him to ensure my door is shut tight after he leaves, but as I close the distance, the room vibrates, buzzes with sexual tension, volatile enough to flash the pilot light in my stove without turning on the ignitor. I suck in a fast breath, my chest rising and falling a little quicker than a moment ago. His gaze drops, and I pray to God he can’t see through the thin shirt. But with the way his eyes are darkening, the black bleeding into green as he examines me, I’m pretty sure he can.
And I’m pretty sure he likes what he sees.
“Nate. Get the hall light, will you?” Izzy calls out from her room.
“Looks like everyone is going to bed.” His head lifts to mine, our eyes lock, hold a moment too long. He blinks once, twice, then his expression changes. He backs up, and I grip the door, putting my heated face on the cool wood.
“Night, Kira.” With that he walks to his room and shuts the door behind him.
What the hell just happened?
I don’t know, but I’m sure as hell not going to get any sleep now.
Chapter Six
Nate
I toss restlessly, thinking about Kira. Sweet Kira with that adorable yet sexy blush on her face as she stood inches from me at her door. It took everything in me not to gape, slack-jawed, as I took in all the beautiful, visible skin. Fuck, when she gave that breathy little whisper, all I wanted to do was drag her to me, press my lips to hers, and explore her mouth with my tongue. My cock twitches at the visual, and I almost take it into my hands.
Treat her like a sister, my ass.
I want Kira in my bed. I’m not sure what it is—her sweetness, her innocence, or all that sexiness veiled under that oversize T-shirt that I’d love to get my hands and mouth on.
But am I going to do anything about it?
Hell no.
I have work to focus on, and besides that, it’s clear she’s not the kind of girl who indulges in one-night stands—everything about her says white picket fence—and I’m not the kind of guy who can give her more.
I roll and check the clock to discover that it’s after midnight and I still can’t sleep. Grumbling with sexual frustration, I kick off the blankets and a chill goes through me. The fire downstairs must have gone out. Kira’s room has propane, but the main level is heated by wood.
I tug on my jeans and pad quietly to my door. I listen for a moment, but the house is asleep. I take the steps, careful to avoid the squeaks, and make my way into the big living room.
There are only a few embers burning in the fire. I grab a big hardwood log and toss it in. Flames flare and I stand back and cross my arms over my chest. Satisfied the wood has caught, I’m about to head back upstairs when the sound of the old kettle singing stops me.
Who the hell is up?
Flames dance on the walls as I head to the kitchen. I poke my head in and see Kira dipping a tea bag into a mug as she examines something in her other hand. The under-counter lighting is on, bathing her in a golden glow, making her look soft and delicate.
“Couldn’t sleep, either?” I ask quietly, not wanting to startle her. “Mice?”
She turns, alarmed at first, but smiles when she sees me. She shoves something into the pocket of her pajama pants, something she clearly doesn’t want me to see.
“Partly, but I just have a lot on my mind.”
“Don’t worry. We’ll get that mouse, and tomorrow I’ll check the foundation and patch any holes they might be coming in through.”