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“Mmm,” she said, nodding. “We should finish the living room today.”

“Yeah,” I said. The easiness I’d felt last night was gone. We were back in work mode.

The truck with the rental furniture arrived an hour later and it was a challenge to get everything into the garage and the overflow into the dining room, but we managed it, covering everything with sheets just in case.

“Shit,” Lacey said when the truck drove off. We were both exhausted and drenched in sweat. “I need to sit down.”

“Me too,” I said. She looked around and just sat down right there in the foyer.

I joined her, laying so my back was on the floor as I groaned.

“I need a nap,” she said.

“Same,” I said.

Lacey copied me and turned her head to look at me.

“I know we’re supposed to paint the living room, but it’s not happening. At least not for me,” she said. She’d taken off her hat and set it next to us. Even though I knew it was sweaty, I still kind of wanted to put it on.

“You can go if you need to. I’ve got this.” As much as I absolutely did not want to move, this was my job and I wasn’t going to slack on it.

“No. I think we should both take the day off,” she said. “Or the rest of it anyway.” Her smile was soft and reminded me of the way she’d been last night.

“Are you sure?” I asked.

“Yes. I think we both need a break.” I didn’t know about that, but I couldn’t even move right now.

“Good,” she said with a sigh. “When I can move again, would you like to come over to my place for lunch? I’ll cook.”

I had to fight to keep a huge grin off my face. I’d thought she would want to leave and be on her own, but here she was, inviting me over.

“Sure,” I said and then froze as she took my hand in hers.

“On the count of three, we’re going to stand up,” she said, squeezing my hand. “One.”

“Two,” I said.

“Three,” we said at the same time.

Neither of us moved. “We were supposed to get up,” she said.

“Are we not standing?” I asked, and she laughed, a low, sensual sound.

“No, we’re not. Try again?”

She counted us down and with great effort, we ended up getting to our feet.

“That was harder than I thought it was going to be,” she said, and she let go of my hand even though I wish she hadn’t.

Lacey pulled her phone out. “That’s the address. You can just meet me there.”

My phone buzzed with her message and I glanced at it. Her rental wasn’t that far away at all.

“See you there.” She slid her cap back on and went out to her truck. I locked up the house and went to my car, but she hadn’t left. It wasn’t until I had pulled out that she drove behind me, even though we were going to her place.

The house was cute and situated on a back road with rows of other similarly adorable homes. There was a small yard and a FOR SALE sign that I noticed as I parked in front of the garage and Lacey pulled in next to me.

She got out of the truck and I waited in my car just to see what she’d do, pretending to look at something on my phone.