7. Colder

Blushing madeher entirely too cute.

I was trying really hard not to think about Naomi and any part of that scene she'd been reading. Male authors definitely didn't write those kinds of love scenes in the books I'd read. They were more perfunctory with a paragraph of detail and then it was back to the action.

Not that kind of action, either.

Blood, death, and war were what I was used to in my books. Love was a subplot at best.

"I bet you could do it." I sipped my coffee then looked over my shoulder at the shelves and shelves of romance novels with a fantasy bent. The covers were definitely more intricate than the ones I'd seen. I was pretty sure I was going to have to give a few of them a try.

"It's not just that part. The stories I want to write require a knowledge base I don't have."

"You make it up, right?" Her cheeks had those twin flags of red again. God, she was so fucking pretty. I wasn't sure why she was so embarrassed. "Everyone's had a good fu—uh, roll with someone they care about. Or just hot for."

"Not everyone." She cleared her throat and drank from her cup. Her summer sky eyes were looking everywhere but at me.

"Naomi. You're far too gorgeous and funny not to have been with someone before." The thought of her being a virgin didn't compute.

"No, I have." She blew out a breath. "Can we not talk about this?"

I twisted and crossed my legs, and then I set my cup beside me. "I mean, we don't have to, but…"

"Look, it just wasn't ever great. These books make it sound amazing, but it wasn't for me. So either I'm broken or there's a level of fantasy and creativity that I can't get to in a story. At least this part."

I reached across to her. "I can guarantee you're not broken. Unless someone hurt you."

"No. God, no." She covered my hand on her arm. "No, that's not the reason. I just must not be a sexual type. Not everyone is."

I lifted her hand and put it against my chest. Her eyes flared and dilated before she licked her lips. "Pretty sure you just weren't with a guy who knew what he was doing."

"And you do?" Her words were chilly, but her fingertips dug into my muscle.

"Or maybe just a guy who was willing to play."

"Or do you mean who is a player?" She arched an eyebrow, but she didn't break our gaze.

"Fair." I wasn't offended. Not really, anyway. "The offer is there if you want a little research." I slid my hand away from hers and she withdrew as well, but not before her gaze drifted to my mouth.

The fact that I missed her cool hand under mine made me itchy to move. Or I'd do something stupid like kiss her.

Sex was easy. Sometimes it scratched an itch, sometimes it helped to blow off steam, and sometimes it was just about connecting with someone for an evening. I had a strong suspicion that Naomi had never tried that in her life.

She had relationship goals written over her heart like a tattoo.

Forever with rings included.

"I don't know what to say."

"You don't have to say anything." I picked up my cup. "You're gorgeous and there's something there between us. Up to you if you want to act on it or we can just be friends. I'm good with whatever you decide." I reached over and pulled that book back off the shelf. "I'm taking this home either way."

Her cheeks pinked up again.

"You can borrow it when I'm done." I stood up and held my hand down to her. "Want to go check out that bakery case downstairs? I think you'll be interested in the selection."

She slipped her hand into mine. "I could eat something."

"There's the spirit." I pulled her up to her feet and swallowed down a groan when she swayed into me for a moment. She was soft everywhere and she smelled of books and rain and the underlying sweetness of raspberries from her hair.

I stepped aside to let her go ahead of me down the stairs, reluctantly letting her fingers go. I curled mine into my palm so I wouldn't lace them with mine. Not sure what was going on with me. Maybe because I'd been bored for too long.

That had to be it.

She picked up her bag and slipped it over her shoulder. On the way down the stairs, I could already see her gaze flitting all over the lower level. Naomi definitely had an eye for the sparkly things. I spotted her gaze slip back to the little dragon from when we walked in.

While her attention was elsewhere, I snagged the blue and purple crystal little dude and tucked it into my palm, so she didn't see it. "I'm going to go check out. I'll meet you at the bakery?"

"Okay," she said absently. She was already getting pulled toward a wall of mugs.

I made it through the line in no time and the checkout girl was nice enough to put it in a little box for me. By the time I met Naomi at the bakery case, she had a mug with a dragon on it in her hand.

"I really shouldn't."

"Why not? You said you got rid of most of your things, right?"

"I did." She sighed gustily. "But I'm unemployed."

"You don't stop living when you don't have a job, you know."

"You sound like Iona."

"She is wise." I urged her toward the pastries. "Now pick out something decadent. I don't want to eat alone."

She nibbled on her lower lip.

"My treat."

"You already bought me coffee."

"Well, I do have a job and make amazing tips. I think I can handle a chocolate filled something in here for you and for me."

"I just bet you do. Charmer." She tapped her nail against her lip. "Everything looks amazing."

"It is. Get whatever you like." It didn't normally take so much urging for the women I knew to get treated for food and coffee.

She finally settled on a chocolate croissant, and it looked good enough for me to go for the same. We resumed our easy conversation as we traded favorite authors and debated whether Kevin Hearne was better than Jim Butcher. And if Brian Sanderson was going to upend the publishing business because he'd funded his own book through crowd sourcing.

The rain let up to little more than a misty drizzle as we made our way back to our building. She was fascinatingly intelligent, and I found myself writing down a few of her author recommendations in my notes app.

I also was dragging my heels instead of walking at my usual fast clip with her. I didn't really want the outing to end.

Eventually, I couldn't put it off any longer, thanks to the weather. I dropped my umbrella back with Murray, who was busy with the influx of Friday people coming home early from work.

On the ride up to our floor, we both fell silent.

"I had a really nice day," she said softly.

"Me too." It was refreshing to let a bit of my bookish self out for a conversation for once. Most of the women I'd been with had been more of the flirty party girl types or worked jobs like me.

"I had every intention of going to a coffee shop and putting in resumes all day."

"I still say you should write for yourself. At least try it out for awhile."

She toyed with the keys hung on her bag. "Maybe."

"It's okay to take something for yourself, Naomi."

Her gaze flicked up to meet mine. "I'm not really good at doing that."

I took a chance and stepped into her space. "Give it a try."

She flicked her tongue out to wet her lips.

My heartbeat thundered in my ears as I lowered my face toward hers. She swayed toward me instead of shrinking away.

Progress.

My fingers slipped inside her coat to her waist and found the belt loop of her jeans. "I'm here for the taking. If you want me."

Her lips parted and I was just about to kiss her when the door opened.

Someone cleared their throat behind me.

Naomi shot around me and into the hallway.

"Dammit," I muttered.

"Sorry, man." Eli Turner stood on the threshold of the elevator. He was a lawyer who lived on our floor in the other two-bedroom apartment across from Naomi and Iona.

"All good. Will cost you a beer though."

Eli laughed. "Deal. If you put on some big boy clothes, I'll even take you to lunch." He shook his head and adjusted his tie. "You took out our lovely new neighbor in sweats?"

"I didn't…" I let out a breath. "You know what? I did. Helluva thing." Naomi might not have been aware of it, but we'd just had our first date.

"Sounds like a story."

"Might be, depends on her."

Eli glanced over his shoulder as Naomi let herself in. She paused and waved at me before she closed the door. He slapped me on the arm. "Okay, Romeo. Go put on real clothes and I'll meet you downstairs. I could go for some Mexican."

My stomach roared at the word.

"Guess you could too."

"Sounds good to me." I fished out my keys. "Give me ten."

"She's not your usual type, Colder."

I shoved my key into my doorknob. "No. Not sure it's a bad thing."

"I sense you might be in trouble." Eli stepped onto the elevator, smirking as it closed.

I had a feeling he was right.