Irreplaceable
Chapter 20

Rafferty had never made a bed so quickly in his life. He just wished he'd had the foresight to put shee Back when any bed would do... or couch, as the case had been.

t before carrying her up the stair

Once the crisp new sheets were on and the pillows stuffed into cases. He added a quilt and grinned. I was perfect. After shutting down the l the course of the day. Those he had thought to put in here.

The shower was still running as he pulled off his T-shirt and socks, tossing them toward where the hamper was going to go. The hamper was He was starting to worry a little about her, so he stuck his head in the bathroom. The steam assaulted ith her scent, the same one that

"Are you about clean?"

"Oh, uhm, just about. Do you happen to have shampoo someplace?" she asked through the shower curtain Right now he deeply regretted nc "I do, but I don't think it's the same kind you use." He stepped into the bathroom, dug through the box and pulled out the shampoo and con "Thank you. This one's fine," she said, her voice a little unsure, and he decided the next time he was at her lace he would see what kind she tonight.

"Do you need some help with that? I happen to be an expert at using that kind. It might work different from yours." He lingered in the bathro "I think I can manage," she said quickly, maybe too quickly.

"I was thinking I should shower as well. I might be too dirty for you once you're clean, you know?" he "You didn't seem dirty, Rafferty. You just go back to the bedroom, okay?"

"Okay, sure." He changed his tactics. "I'll just replace you a towel first." "Thanks."

"How's the water pressure?" he asked, digging through a box for his fluffiest towel, the new ones he ha "Good. Actually, it's better than my apartment's. But you knew it was good because you checked it bef "I might have forgotten to do that. But at least I got lucky, and it's good."

as he unbuttoned his p*nts. See

ght a few weeks before with her ying the house. Or at least, that's

She stuck her head out and looked at him, her brown hair wet against her head and water droplets stinging to her eyelashes. Instead of handing her the towel, he unfolded it and held it open for her. For a moment, he thought she would ignore him and stay in the sh A few seconds later, she was in the towel, in his arms, lecturing, "Did you at least have the roof and foundation checked? Maybe that was why He opened his eyes as he ran the towel over her "pink from the shower" back and arms and argued with her. "The foundation looked fine. An "But you didn't hire someone? You just bought a house that might fall into the ground?"

With subtle hand movements, he turned her in his arms until she was facing him, then ran the towel over her stomach, chest, and arms. Ling the ground." He dried her face and then used the towel to dry her hair, leaving her entire body n*ked for his eyes to enjoy.

"The one next door is gone," she said when the towel was finally off her face and head.

"Other issues, I'm sure." Taking her in, he wasn't about to admit not having any idea about why it was torn down.

"You forgot my legs." She reached for the towel.