Newly Fallen

“I’ll put it there,” she said, narrowing her eyes, though she could detect no signs he was mocking her. “You can sleep on the couch.”

“If that’s where you want to put me, then that’s where I’ll sleep.”

Lilly made a low, disgruntled noise, the one Danny had always hated. Screw Danny. She eased past the tall, naked man and down the hall toward her bedroom, half-tensed in anticipation that he’d follow her and half-hoping he would. He didn’t, and in another minute or so she opened her door again to toss him a pair of sweatpants too big for her.

“You can wear these.”

He made a shadow in the hallway. It stretched down to touch her, though he made no move at doing so. “Thank you, Lilly.”

“I’m locking this door,” she reminded him. “Don’t you try anything crazy. And if you’re going to steal something, make sure you break a lot of stuff, too, so I can prove the break-in for the insurance.”

“I’m not going to steal anything.”

She made that noise again, and this time thought she heard a soft chuff of laughter. It warmed her as much as his smile and voice had. As much as the look. He was definitely mind-freaking her, what else could it be?

In the morning, Lilly awoke to the smell of something good. Coffee, eggs. Bagels? She swung her feet out of bed, wincing when her toes touched the cold floor.

In the kitchen, Zach stood over the stove. He wore the sweatpants she’d given him but nothing else. He was thinner than she remembered, but more muscular. When he turned to face her, in the snow-bright light of day, she wondered how she could ever have thought his face was ordinary.

“Good morning, Lilly.”