Suddenly, she was lifted into the air. She instinctively clung to him tightly.

Gonzalez carried her into the bedroom and gently laid her on his bed. He didn't turn on the lights; the room was bathed in the faint, silvery glow of the moonlight, creating an atmosphere that was quiet and enchanting.

He caressed her cheek. "Go take a shower. I'll warm up some milk for you, and you can go to sleep right after."

Norah looked up at him, her voice barely a whisper. "Where are you going to sleep?"

He paused for a second. "Right here."

"I really think I should just go home," she mumbled.

He didn't need her comfort anymore. What had just happened in the living room left her pulse racing, and she knew that if things escalated again, neither of them would be able to stop.

In the darkness, he held her gaze intently. After a long moment, he said, "I don't want you to leave. We won't do anything. I just want to hold you."

Norah bit her lip and gave a barely perceptible nod.

*

Gonzalez stepped out of the room. Norah let out a soft breath and turned her attention to the bathroom door.

As the warm water cascaded over her, her mind remained in a foggy haze. His masculine scent lingered on her skin, winding through her senses like ivy taking root. She felt like a budding flower, waiting for the perfect moment to burst into glorious bloom.

There was only one bath towel in the bathroom-the one he normally used.

Norah wrapped it around herself. Catching the faint hint of his signature minty scent on the fabric, she couldn't help but flush, a beautiful rosy hue spreading across her luminous skin.

But her romantic reverie was abruptly shattered: she had forgotten to grab her pajamas. How was she supposed to walk out of here?

Was she just going to walk out wearing his towel?

She had already been pretty brazen tonight. Was she completely tossing her dignity out the window now?

She gently slapped her own cheeks. What was wrong with her today? She was making mistakes left and right. Couldn't she just play it cool for one minute?

The more dangerously handsome the man, the more composed she needed to be!

Knock, knock!

The soft knock startled her right out of her pep talk. "Gonzalez?"

His deep voice came from the other side of the door. "I left some pajamas on the

bed for you. I'm stepping out, so just get dressed when you're done."

"Huh? Oh!" Norah stammered, nearly biting her own tongue.

Once she heard his footsteps recede, she let out a frustrated sigh. She had absolutely no chill around him. She used to be the one chasing him, and now that it was finally his turn to woo her, why was she still the one losing her composure?

Clutching the towel tightly, she opened the door and stepped out. The bedside lamp

was on, casting a warm, amber glow that softened the usually cool, masculine tones of the room.

Gonzalez wasn't there, and the bedroom door was shut. Her own pajamas were neatly folded on the edge of the bed.

Had he gone next door to fetch them for her?

She walked over and picked them up, instantly noticing a matching set of underwear folded underneath.

Norah was speechless.

She didn't know whether to die of embarrassment or praise his attentiveness.

She slipped into her nightgown. Holding her bra in her hands, she debated for a

second before setting it aside, deciding against wearing it.

A glass of warm milk sat on the nightstand. She had just brushed her teeth and didn't really want to drink it, but knowing onzalez had made it specifically for her she downed it in one go. Then, she marched right back to the bathroom to rinse her mouth again.

By the time she finally settled under the covers, he still hadn't returned.

He was probably showering in the guest bathroom.

Did guys always take this long to shower?

The dark comforter enveloped her, carrying the faint, comforting blend of tobacco and mint. It felt so intimately familiar and reassuring that she couldn't resist taking a deep breath.

Suddenly, she felt like a bit of a creep.

She couldn't hold back a giggle, pulling the covers all the way over her head as her

shoulders shook with silent laughter.