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It’s a wonder I can walk at all at this point.” I glanced back at him and winked. “Not that I’m complaining.”
    “I promise. A shower.” He climbed off the bed held his hand out to me. “Please?”
    I linked my fingers with his, “How can I refuse such a request?”
    Of course, it wasn’t just a shower, but I couldn’t say I minded. Since all he had were the clothes he wore last night, I loaned him one of my larger T-shirts to wear with his slacks. The fabric stretched across his broad chest, showing off his delicious muscles and making my mouth water. I pulled on a tank top and a short denim skirt, and then I convinced him to let me cook for him so I could show off my culinary skills.
    I whipped up eggs, bacon, and biscuits from scratch, humming and dancing around my little kitchen like a pro. Or maybe a lunatic. Okay fine, both. Sitting at the dining table, we ate like we’d both been starved for the past week.
    “What are your plans for today? Do you wanna go catch a movie or something?”
    “I have no idea what’s playing now, but sure.”
    He leaned over and gave me a quick kiss, “Great. Why don’t you check the show times and pick out what you want to see. Text me the information—I don’t know if I’ll be in an interview or not—and I’ll pick you up around…say, two hours before show time? So we can grab something to eat before… I mean, if you want.”
    “Sounds perfect,” I stood to take my plate to the sink and rinse it off before sticking it in the dishwasher.
    He got up as I ran the other tableware under the water and set his plate on the counter next to the sink, “Why don’t you let me take care of the dishes?”
    “It’s okay.”
    He gently pushed me aside, “You did the cooking. I should do the cleaning, at least.”
    I almost jumped up and down. I don’t have to do the dishes for once? Thank you God! “That’s very nice of you.” Like I’m going to argue.
    I did my hair while he loaded the dishwasher and set it to run. He came into my room and sat on the edge of my bed, watching as I ran the flatiron through my tresses and pulled it half back so my bangs weren’t in my eyes. We talked about my aversion to washing dishes and his to laundry. He laughed when I told him I’d rather lick the bottom of someone’s foot than wash dishes.
    “Okay, I’ll do the dishes if you do the laundry.”
    “Yeah, with all the time you’re going to be in Houston, right?” I set my flatiron down and grabbed my hair spray from the cabinet. My hair tends to poof if I don’t coat it with hairspray and comb through it with a fine-toothed brush.
    “Well, I’ll be here quite a bit throughout the next month. The boss has us all doing promotional work, and since I’m such a big draw, I’ll be out here more often than most.”
    “Not full of yourself at all, are you?” I smirked and turned out the bathroom light as I walked back into the bedroom.
    He shrugged. “That’s what the boss man told me. I’ll fly out for house shows and tapings, maybe a few appearances in other cities, but for the most part, I’m here in Houston until October.”
    “Oh. Well, that’ll be nice.”
    “I think so. It’ll give me some time to get to know you.”
    I looked up from digging around in my sock drawer. “Huh?” God, I’m so eloquent.
    “I don’t do one night stands.”
    “You don’t have to say that, Evan. This was fun. And while it’d be fun again, we both know it’s not likely we’ll be in the same location long enough to sustain a relationship. We’re both constantly on the road. I’m a freelance journalist; I can be sent anywhere at any time.”
    The look on his face stunned me. Was he actually hurt? “I like you, Charlotte. We’ve had a great time together, and despite the distance, I think we could be friends…maybe even more.”
    “Look, I’m sorry. I…don’t know how to approach this. I haven’t had anything resembling a relationship—or whatever you want to call