Page 54 of The Reluctant Roommate

“If you lose, you cook breakfast tomorrow for both of us. If you win, we’ll both do the meal cleanup tonight.”

“Fair enough.”

Morgan suppressed a smirk. She was pretty sure she had this. She sucked on her lower lip as she worked out the block on the opposing side from Heidi’s last one. It took a while, there was a wobble, but the tower steadied and held. The block came free, and she held it up triumphantly before placing it on top. The tower now had a definite lean.

“Ooh, sneaky.” Heidi got up from her chair and circled the table. Then she sat again and splayed her fingers, pushing one of the lower blocks out an infinitesimal distance at a time. Her concentration never wavered.

Morgan sat back in the chair, her gaze fixed on Heidi. The green streak shone next to her normal chestnut-brown, falling over her forehead, but her eyes were steady, almost unblinking, as she worked the block.

The tower wobbled, and Morgan held her breath. There was no way Heidi would get this out. Any second, the tower would crash down, and—

“Got it!” Heidi held up a block, triumphant.

“How did you do that?”

“Take a close look.”

Morgan got low and eyed the tower. Heidi had also managed to nudge one of the outside blocks to the center, and it was enough to stabilize that level—for now. “You haven’t left me with much.”

“Isn’t that the idea? Besides, I have great motivation. It’s a big cleanup for one person in that kitchen.”

“It still might be.” Morgan picked her block and gave it a gentle push with a finger. It slid forward a tiny amount. The tower wobbled. She froze, waiting for it to stabilize, then tried another push. In slow motion, the tower tilted. Morgan held her breath, waiting for it to recover, but it fell and wooden blocks rained down on the table, some skidding onto the floor.

Heidi threw her arms in the air. “Yay! I win!” She jumped up and ran around the table, high-fiving an imaginary audience. “Now you have to help with cleanup.”

Morgan’s lips twitched. To be honest, that was only fair. They had both cooked; they both should clean.

Heidi stopped in front of her and held her hand up for a high five.

Morgan stood, slapped palms. “Well played.” Her hand tingled from Heidi’s enthusiastic slap.

Heidi stood in front of her, and her face fell into serious lines. No smile, no sparkling eyes, just Heidi studying Morgan as if she were meeting her for the first time.

“Is everything okay?” Morgan asked.

A tiny smile flickered. “Yes. Very okay. I was just thinking how much I enjoyed today. Your company. The food. Being home.”

“Don’t forget the wine.”

“The wine.” Heidi waved an arm around the living area. “Thank you for taking a chance on me moving in. I know I wasn’t—am not—your ideal roommate. But I like living here. With you. I’m trying to be tidier. I hope I’m getting better.”

Morgan suppressed a smile. One of Heidi’s sweaters was draped over the back of the couch, one of her Nikes was in the tray for shoes, the other was a foot away on the floor, and her napkin lay discarded on the chair. And Morgan was seriously thinking about requesting FEMA’s assistance for the kitchen, but somehow, all of that was okay. Mostly okay, anyway. “I’m getting used to you. How you live. And, this is your home as well as mine. We both have to compromise.”

“Thank you.” Heidi took a step and slid her arms around Morgan’s waist, bringing them close together.

Morgan’s pulse took a wild leap, and her breath caught. Was this going to be another kiss? Did she want it to be? But Heidi drew her into a hug, and for a long moment, they stayed in the tight embrace. Morgan sighed, and her body softened, relaxed into the moment. Heidi made her feel safe. As if her mental torments—Linda, her job, finances—drained away, as if Heidi had that power.

Then Heidi drew back. She stared Morgan in the eyes, and then slowly, and oh-so deliberately, her face came closer. She was giving her an easy way to refuse. But that would not happen.

Morgan met her halfway, her lips seeking Heidi’s, her hands grasping the loose shirt at Heidi’s waist. Their lips sought each other’s and landed. This was no accidental kiss. Morgan could have smiled, stepped out of their embrace, and said something about cleaning the kitchen. Instead, she was here, her breastspressed to Heidi’s, their arms tight around each other, and Morgan didn’t want it to end.

The kiss deepened, lips parting, tongues seeking. When Heidi ran her tongue along Morgan’s lower lip, tiny jolts of pleasure lanced deep into her body.

With a groan, she deepened the kiss, until the only thing in her mind was the white noise of pleasure and how Heidi felt in her arms.

Heidi eased back, then kissed a pathway along Morgan’s jaw before breaking away. She stared at Morgan, and there was a slumbering pleasure in her gaze, like a big cat. Heavy lidded, a quiet satisfaction.

“You saythank youvery nicely,” Morgan said.