Page 51 of Five Days in July
“I wear a bear sometimes.” Not often, especially not in summer. I catch her looking again and wonder if that might be something she finds attractive.
Sounding slightly strangled, Lenore says, “So stay here or get going?”
“Here’s fine.”
“Perfect.”
I resist the desire to tease her more and move to stand. Before I can get up, small, sharp claws hook into my sock.
“Well, good morning to you too, Norman.”
He must have been hiding under the couch, waiting for us to wake up.
Lenore untangles the claw, and he emerges with another sock clenched in his mouth. It looks like it has cats wearing hats on it, and I remember Lenore wearing one like it the day I met her.
“Jesus, where’d you find that?” When she lunges forward, Norman darts away with the sock, and she chases after him.
I leave them to it and go upstairs. It’s the first time I’ve been on the second floor, and while it has the same atmosphere as the rest of the house, this is one space you can tell Lenore has settled into. A stack of books totters on the nightstand, and piles of clothes are thrown in the chair and across the dresser.
Another thickly padded armchair is positioned near a wide set of windows in the corner. It’s the same fabrics as the couch downstairs, so I assume it’s a matching set. It’s mostly clear of clothes, and there’s a small table next to it with an old cup of coffee on it.
Not ashamed to snoop, I pick up the top book and see the local library’s sticker on the bottom corner of the cover. Shuffling through the rest of the pile, I find a variety of genres—two nonfiction books, a newer release bestseller, and a steamy-covered romance novel on the bottom. If this is what she has to read on hand, I don’t even want to guess how many more audiobooks she’s downloaded to listen to at work.
I rearrange the pile so it won’t look like I’ve been rifling through her things. The sun’s rays are filling the twin skylights with the warm light of morning, and I wonder what it would be like to fall asleep here with Lenore and gaze out at the stars or wake up and watch the sunrise together.
My heart kicks over at the idea. I’ve never been one to think of things in terms of another person, but Lenore makes me want to experience new things with her just so I can see how she reacts.
I make my way to the bathroom, which is larger than you’d think for this size cabin. They must have remodeled the upstairs and made it a loft-style owner’s suite. Curious, I poke my head back out the door and see no closet space upstairs. They sacrificed the extra storage for an extravagant bath to attract more vacationers.
On the far side of the bathroom, a porcelain tub stands on a small, raised platform that brings it a few inches off the floor. Next to it is a spacious shower stall with at least two sprayers. I can see why they went with a double water system. When I close the door, there’s a small cupboard where towels and extra supplies are stored, along with an oversized, fluffy pink robe hanging on the cabinet hook.
Everything smells like her—refreshing and clean. Her scent has permeated the cabin, making it all the more intoxicating. I get the water in the shower started, strip out of my clothes, and leave them in a pile by the door. I grab one of the large body towels and a washcloth from the closet and step into the cubicle.
The warm water partially fogs up the glass and leaves the room steamy. Unfortunately, I didn’t see a fan to help draw the extra moisture out. But I’m thankful for the wet heat. As comfortable as the couch had been, I can feel a few knots in my back from sleeping half-sitting up all night.
I adjust the dual shower heads and turn so they spray my back, groaning at the easing in my tight muscles.
Lenore knocks and, without opening the door, calls out. “Your clothes in there?” Her voice is squeaky, like she’s nervous again.
She must have heard me groaning, so maybe the good kind of nervous. The nervous born of awareness and want that’s plagued me since the day we met.
“Yeah, sorry. I forgot to toss them out.” I legitimately had forgotten. “They should be right by the door.”
It creaks open, and Norm shoots in first. Then I see Lenore’s arm groping around to find the pile. Failing to reach it, she pokes her head in too.
Belatedly, I realize that if I can see her, she can probably see through the glass. I spin around, so at least she’s not getting the full monty.
Unable to see her reaction, I smile when I hear her choke out a quick, “Coffee should be ready when you’re done.” I can already picture the perfectly horrified look on her face.
I glance over my shoulder and see her frozen half in the doorway, my clothes gathered up in her arms, while she stares in the general region of my butt.
I clear my throat, and her eyes shoot upward. I try not to laugh, but she’s clearly embarrassed, making her forget to be scared.
“I think Norman wants to stay.” With that quick statement, she backs out the door and closes it with a firm click.
Little paws patter against the glass, following sliding water droplets.
Feeling a sudden urge to get back to Lenore, I grab the body wash from the ledge and soap up. I laugh again as Norm jumps, trying to reach higher on the wall.