‘Yeah.’ She swung her legs off the bed, the tips of her toes lightly touching the varnished wood flooring.
Quaddra’s eyes darted to the window for a moment. Raindrops were running down it in fast and crazy patterns.
‘It’s raining,’ he told her, his tone soft. ‘Why don’t you stay?’
Mary shook her head and tried to get to her feet, but her legs weren’t quite there yet – not enough strength to hold her up. She sat back down onto the edge of the bed.
‘Mary, please…’ Quaddra also pulled himself into a sitting position. He extended his hand, allowing his fingertips to softly touch Mary’s left shoulder. ‘Stay. I can get you a cab in the morning, if you like. It’s late and it’s raining.’
‘I can’t,’ Mary lied again. ‘I really have to go.’
‘Please,’ Quaddra tried again. ‘I’m a very quiet sleeper. I don’t snore… I don’t toss and turn… and I don’t steal the covers… you won’t even notice that you’re sleeping by my side.’
‘I doubt that very much,’ Mary said, her eyes quickly peeking at the good stuff again.
Quaddra laughed before continuing. ‘If you prefer, you don’t even need to sleep next to me. I have a guest room.’ He paused andbit his bottom lip while his right eyebrow arched. ‘I have three, actually. You can take your pick.’
‘You have three guest rooms in this house?’
Quaddra nodded.
‘How many bedrooms do you have in here?’
‘Umm…’ He took a moment. ‘Nine.’ He still didn’t sound too sure. ‘I think.’
‘Wow, that’s impressive,’ Mary said, finally getting to her feet. She immediately began searching the bedroom floor.
‘What are you looking for?’
‘My clothes.’
‘They’re in the entry hall,’ Quaddra informed her, a cheeky smile playing on his lips. ‘Right by the front door.’
Mary paused for a second before she nodded back. ‘I guess we just couldn’t wait, could we.’
‘Hey, I was ready to offer you a drink… have a seat in the living room… maybe shoot the breeze for a while… show you the house.’ The smile didn’t leave his lips.
‘Um-huh. I bet you were.’
Quaddra’s eyes took in Mary’s whole figure as she turned to face him again. Her skin was still glistening with sweat. ‘God, you really are breathtaking.’
‘Don’t you start that again.’ She moved towards the door.
‘Where are you going?’
‘To get my clothes.’
‘You’re really not staying?’
Mary shook her head. ‘I can’t.’
As she got to the bedroom door, her balance wavered just a touch and she slammed her right shoulder against the doorframe.
‘Whoa, are you OK there?’ Quaddra asked, quickly getting to her.
‘I’m fine,’ Mary said back, before explaining. ‘When I get nervous, I get clumsy. I drop things… I bump into things…it’s just the way I am. In fact, I’m clumsy even when I’m not nervous.’
Quaddra smiled mischievously. ‘Are you saying that I make you nervous?’