minutes.”
“What’s the rush, Blissful? He just got here. He’s probably thirsty after the long drive.”
“Oh, all right.” Her mother did the disappointed sigh better than a Jewish mother. “If you must, I guess you must.”
Bliss rolled her eyes so Drake could see her but her mom couldn’t.
“Maybe another time,” he said.
“Oh, yes. I’d love to have you over for Sunday dinner… as a thank-you for helping Blissy move. I make lasagna better than you’ll get in the city—including the North End.”
“That sounds wonderful,” Drake said, and gave Malinda Russo his killer grin.
Bliss thought her mother would faint.
“I’ll show you the basement. That’s where the old furniture is.”
“It’s not that old, Blissful.”
Bliss slapped her own forehead. “Will you please stop calling me by the nicknames I hate?”
Her mother looked hurt, then angry, and stomped out of the room, muttering, “Everyone thought they were cute when you were little.”
“Let’s get to that furniture,” Drake said. “It won’t move itself.”
She led him to the cellar door and they tromped down the stairs. Once they were in the basement he spun her toward him and said, “Don’t worry about your nickname. I get ‘blissy’ just looking at you.” Before she could protest, he kissed her.
She practically melted in his arms. When he released her, she grasped the back of the sleeper sofa to steady herself.
“Wow. You do that so well.”
He smiled and touched her cheek. “You’re pretty good at it yourself.” Pointing toward the sofa, he asked, “Is that going?”
“Huh? Oh, yeah. That’ll be my bed until I get a real one. Then I’ll put it in the guest room.”
“You have a guest room?”
Bliss chuckled. “No, but that’s what my friends and I call the living room if guests come. I was sleeping in Claudia’s guest room last weekend.”
“Gotcha. I suppose I should have a ‘guest room.’” He made air quotes. “But I don’t have guests.”
“Oh.” She didn’t know if that was good news or bad. Did he make it a rule never to let anyone sleep over— or was he telling her she was his only girlfriend?
“I live in a studio for now. I had to find something quickly when I got to Boston, but I’ll be on the lookout for something bigger as soon as the lease is up.”
“Ah. That’s right.” She moved to one end of the couch. “Well, this thing is damn heavy. If we need more muscle, I can ask my dad to come down.”
“Nah, it shouldn’t be a problem.” Drake picked up the sofa in the middle and hoisted the whole thing over his head.
“Holy cow,” Bliss exclaimed. “How did you… I mean, whoa. Don’t give yourself a hernia. I can help.”
“No need. I’ve got it.”
“Gladly,” he said with a hint of mischief in his voice.
Drake unloaded the last of her belongings while Bliss kept an eye on his truck. She’d told him again how amazed she was by his strength. Maybe he should have played it low key. No need to make her suspicious if she wasn’t already, but he couldn’t help showing off a little bit.
She handed him the extra key to her apartment so he could park in a legal spot and then come up to her place. He gave her a peck on the lips before he got in—and noticed her look of surprise that quickly turned into a smile.
He found a parking spot just around the corner and strode back to her building. If things went well, maybe she’d be moving her belongings again someday… into a place of their own.
Still, it would be great to have a special woman who knew and accepted what he was. Barring any nasty surprises, he’d never have to explain it to anyone again.
He took the steps to the second floor two at a time. He wasn’t even winded from the exertion of moving and then walking quickly back to her place. Anticipation had him focusing on other things. Pleasanter things.
He knocked to give her fair warning, despite having the key, then used it and walked in. “Did I put things where you wanted them?”
“Yup. You read the boxes well,” she teased.
“Thank you for making it fairly idiot-proof with the labels. I just wasn’t sure if you wanted the couch in your bedroom or out here in the ‘guest room’ until you got another bed.”
“You guessed right by putting it in the bedroom. I can deal with moving it out when the time comes. I’ll just have to try extra hard not to ruin the hardwood floors if I have to drag it from one room to another.”
“That’s what I thought. But, if you ever need to move your stuff around again…”
“Don’t worry. I’ll ask.” She grinned.
“I was going to say, ask someone else.”
Her grin disappeared and her eyes rounded.
He laughed. “I was kidding.”
“Oh! Well, I wouldn’t blame you if you meant it. They made damn heavy furniture in the sixties and seventies.”
“Is that when your parents bought everything?”
“Probably. It’s old enough to be replaced, but not old enough to be antique. I think it qualifies as junk.”
“Hey, if it gets the job done…”
He thought he caught a glint in her eye.
“I might need some help testing its functionality. Want to see if the bed is comfortable?”
He was surprised by her invitation but no less pleased. She did find nice ways of thanking him.
“Are you sure? I thought you had a roommate.”
“She’s working at the bar downstairs.”
“I mean, of course I’d love to, but don’t feel like you need—”
“Believe me,
He let his hands roam over her body, eventually cupping her ass and giving it a squeeze.
She broke the kiss and said in a husky voice, “I’m glad I labeled the box with the sheets in it.”
He chuckled and followed her into the bedroom where she found the box marked “Linens, etc.” He tossed the couch cushions aside and opened the hide-a-bed. These things were rarely comfortable, but this one didn’t look too bad. At least the mattress appeared thick enough to cushion the metal bar.
She practically ran back to the bed with an armful of sheets.
Regardless of the fact that he’d have to stop at heavy petting, it was refreshing to find a woman who liked sex and didn’t mind initiating it. Now he just had to hope he didn’t get so hot and bothered that he’d start to shift. It could happen. He hadn’t
Bliss unfurled the bottom sheet across the bed and he caught it. The two of them made quick work of
