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Lauren pursed her lips as she considered it.

“I’m not entirely sure but it will do for now. I can always move it later.”

Cypher narrowed his eyes at her as he closed the distance between them. He wrapped his arms around her waist as she stepped into his arms.

“You will not move it later. If you want it moved, call me. I’ll move it as many times as you want, sweetheart, but I don’t want you doing too much.” He kept his voice soft so only she would hear him and not any of the prospects still hauling boxes in from the truck. “We agreed not to take any unnecessary risks.”

“I don’t think pushing a sofa across the floor is a risk.”

“It might not be. But I’d feel better if you’d let me do it for you.”

Lauren didn’t even try to hide it as she rolled her eyes at him. That gesture alone sent warmth through him. Somehow, he liked it when she sassed him. It did things for him.

“How much more is there to put away?” he asked, watching her mouth.

“More than I want to think about,” she said with a sigh.

“Okay, how much of it has to be done tonight?”

She looked around, as if trying to find specific things, then she sighed and leaned forward and propped her head against his shoulder.

“I don’t know. I need to find the bathroom stuff. Like towels and stuff. I need a shower and I can’t do that without a towel.”

“All right. We can handle that.” Cypher glanced around and spotted Bobby Lee on his way out to get another load of boxes.

“Hey,” Cypher said, not releasing his hold on Lauren, but loosening his hold as she turned to look at the prospect. “Any chance you know what box the bath towels are in?”

Bobby Lee stared at him wide eyed for a moment at being called out then spoke up.

“Sure. They’re in with the kitchen dishes.”

“Dishes?” Cypher asked with a frown.

“Yeah, we used them to cushion the plates, bowls. That kind of thing. We were hunting for bubble wrap to put them in, but Jenna told us not to bother and had us use the towels.”

Lauren blinked. “That’s actually an amazing method. It never occurred to me. I always hated the waste of bubble wrap or paper, but never thought of using what I already own.”

“And it lets you know exactly where they are when you’re looking for them,” Bobby Lee said.

“Do you know if those boxes have been brought in yet?”

Bobby Lee was quiet for a moment, then answered.

“I know there’s at least one box, but I’m not sure if it had the bath towels. But we labeled boxes by the room, and I know I carried one box into the kitchen. Not sure how many the others have brought in.”

“Thanks,” Cypher said.

Lauren eased away from him, and he let her go as they headed for the kitchen to see if they could find what they were looking for.

Later, after the prospects had gotten everything carried in and called it a day. After Cypher had showered, he sat on the sofa while he sat on the sofa to unwind a little while he waited for Lauren to clean up. He sat sideways and stretched his legs out, then dropped his head back and let it hang over the arm, and closed his eyes. He listened to the sound of the shower and let his mind drift.

Soft lips pressing against his forehead woke Cypher. He opened his eyes and found himself looking up into Lauren’s upside-down face as she grinned down at him. Her hair was wet and her lashes spikey, but that only made him smile.

“Hey, sweetheart. I didn’t plan to fall asleep. Was I out long?”

“Not long. I only got in the shower half an hour ago. You ready for bed or were you waiting for me?”

“I could go to bed if you want, but I was waiting to see if you want to watch something.” He sat up and nodded to the TV Mud had insisted on setting up before he left.