Page 104 of Player For Hire

“This place never gets old for me. I love all the new little things I find each time we’re here.” She bumped my hip. “Especially that tiny room off the storeroom.”

I laughed. “There are tons of secret rooms in this place.”

“I can’t wait to find them all.”

Instead of going through the hallway that led to the lobby, I urged her up the stairs ahead of me.

She glanced over her shoulder. “Where are we going?”

“It’s a surprise.”

She sighed and trailed her fingers along the intricate railing as we climbed. Our door echoed the one outside, but with a lighter wood. The key-shaped window was copper green with patina and the leaded glass frosted for privacy. I crowded up behind her and slipped my arm around her to put the key in the lock.

I pushed the door open, and she gasped.

The living room looked massive since it was empty, but the real kicker was the stained-glass window that took up most of the upper part of the wall. It was a rectangle with a half sun type design. The rays were a mix of frosted glass with green, blue and gold accents.

The sun streamed in, showing off all the colors on the hardwood floors. To the left was a modernized kitchen with white quartz countertops and dark green cabinets.

She whirled around and stared at me. “Colder.”

“It’s ours.”

“No.”

I grinned down at her. “When I signed my contract with Cal, there was a bonus stipulation. This place.”

Her eyes filled. “Our own place?”

I nodded. “Someday I’m sure we’ll want a house but—oof.”

Naomi launched herself into my arms. “I love it. I love it.” She locked her legs around my waist and gripped my shoulders as she kissed my cheeks to punctuate each word then finally, she crushed her lips to my mouth.

“You haven’t even seen all of it.”

“It gets better?”

I laughed. “It gets better.” I set her down gently and took her hand.

I led her down the hallway and showed her the half bath, then the primary bedroom. It had another large stained-glass window, but this time, it was a hexagon skylight that left a prism of greens and purples all over the wood floors.

She squeezed my hand and dragged me all around the room, touching the windowsills and the bold geometric inlays on the doorways.

“Now there’s two more things.”

“Two?” Her eyes were sparkling with unshed tears.

I thumbed one away. “No tears.”

“I can’t believe this place. How is it ours?”

“Because Cal is far too generous, but I work my ass off for him and I damn well earned it.”

She laughed. “You sure did.”

“Now go out and go down the hall.”

She peeked around the doorway to the last door at the back of the apartment. I followed her, but I wanted her to have a second to take it in.