As soon as I got her all bandaged up, I called all my dates for that week and canceled – indefinitely. I’d managed to save up a little money but I knew it wouldn’t last long so I quickly got to work searching for another job and landed at the diner. Only two weeks later, it became clear that even that wouldn’t be enough so I got the second job at the gas station. I also had to move out of my apartment and find something cheaper, which is how I ended up here. Releasing a breath, I look around the room again.
I can’t believe how much my life has changed in a little more than a week. Ten days ago, I was walking through this shitty neighborhood at night, hoping I didn’t get mugged or worse and now, I’ve got a beautiful house in a safe part of town, I have money to finally go to school and my mom is gone. It feels so wrong that every other part of my life is looking up when she’s not here to see it but I guess that’s what she wanted. She did everything she could to take care of Theo and me for years after she was gone. Tears well up in my eyes as the alarm of my phone goes off and I quickly wipe them away, pushing off the chair.
Kodiak, the man interested in taking over the lease, will be here any minute and I need to get these boxes down to the truck that I borrowed from Roger. Pushing the sleeves of my long sleeved t-shirt up, I lean down and pick up one of the lighter boxes before navigating to the door and slowly going down the steps. When I get out to the truck, I set it in the back and shove it toward the cab before dusting my hands off on my jeans. There, one down and only six more to go. My phone buzzes in my pocket and I pull it out as I step up onto the sidewalk and turn toward my door. Stepping forward, I crash right into someone and my phone falls to the pavement as I let out a squeak of surprise.
“Shit,” I mutter as two large hands wrap around my arms and I look up. “I’m so… You!”
Lincoln, the man from the diner a few nights ago flashes me a lazy smile as he crosses his arms over his chest and leans against the side of the truck.
“You.”
“What are you doing here?” I ask as I lean down and scoop up my phone, inspecting the screen for cracks.
“I’m here to meet someone about taking over a lease.”
My head whips up and my mouth drops open. “Oh my god, you’ve got to be kidding me.”
“I take it that’s you.”
“Did you do this on purpose?” I ask, flashing back to the other night when he asked me for my number. He frowns, looking sexier than any man has a right to, and tilts his head to the side.
“And how would I have done this on purpose?”
“Well,” I hum, deciding to have a little fun with this. “You’re clearly a stalker.”
His eyes widen and he takes a step back, holding his hands out in front of him as he starts choking on nothing. “No, it’s not like that.”
“Dude, it was a joke, not a dick. Don’t take it so hard.”
My comment earns more surprised coughing that turns into a laugh and he stares at me like I’m crazy for a moment before shaking his head. With a smile slowly creeping across his face, he takes a step toward me and presses his big, hard body against mine.
“I promise you, Darlin’, I don’t roll like that.”
My lips part and my body floods with warmth as my heartbeat races in my chest. A musky scent surrounds us and my hand trembles as I fight the urge to lean in and take a deep breath.
“Isn’t that what they all say?” I whisper, my entire body aching for him to reach out and touch me again like he did at the diner. His golden gaze locks with mine as his smile grows and he trails the tips of his fingers down my arm.
“Want a demonstration?”
My mind has no trouble conjuring up images of the two of us wrapped up in sheets while he does just that and I lean into him, licking my lips just as a car horn pierces through the air. I stumble back and draw air into my burning lungs.
“So, um… the apartment?” I ask, my voice squeaking and I manage to not wince at how embarrassed I am right now. He drops his head for a moment before nodding.
“Yeah. Let’s check it out.”
I lead him upstairs, wondering the whole time if he’s watching my ass and secretly hoping that he is. It’s been a long time since I’ve been with someone or even liked someone so I don’t really have a clue what to do. In fact, the last time I dated anyone was in high school. I’m so out of my league it’s not even funny.
“So, this is it,” I mumble, stepping into my apartment and the room seems to shrink as soon as he steps inside.
“It looks nice.”
I shrug. “It’s okay. The neighborhood is not super safe but I put an extra deadbolt on the door to combat that.”
“You think a deadbolt is going to stop anyone?” he asks, arching a brow, and I square my shoulders as I meet his eyes.
“No. It just gives me an extra second to grab my gun. How about you don’t worry about me and just take a look at the apartment?”
He holds his hands up in surrender and starts looking around the living room before stepping into the kitchen. “You mind if I take some pictures of the place?”
“Why? You got a girlfriend that you need to send them to?” I ask, hating myself as soon as I do. Why the hell does it matter if he has a girlfriend? It’s not like anything is ever going to happen between us. When I meet his gaze again, he smiles.
“No. I’m a member of the Bayou Devils. You heard of us?”
I nod. “Yes, but I don’t see what that has to do with anything.”
“We help people – get them out of bad relationships, protect them if they’re being stalked, save children from abusers – that kind of thing.”
“Oh…”
“We’re looking for a place we can take the folks we rescue.”
I jump up on the counter and cross my legs. “Like a safe house?”
“Exactly like that.”
“Okay. Well, go ahead and take a look around and then I’ll answer any questions you have.”
He nods and starts snapping photos of my living room before moving into the kitchen. I don’t move as he snaps a couple before moving on to the bathroom.
“Oh, by the way, if you want the furniture, I’ll leave it,” I call out to him and he pokes his head out of the bathroom.
“Really? You don’t want it?”
“Nope. My mom’s house already has everything I need.”
He nods again and disappears down the hallway to my bedroom while I try to imagine him stretched out on my queen-sized bed. Jesus, what the hell is wrong with me? I seriously haven’t even looked twice at a guy since high school and now all of the sudden I’m envisioning Lincoln or Kodiak or whatever his name is spread out on my bed naked.
“The place is great,” he says, walking back into the living room and it takes a huge amount of effort to keep my gaze above his belt.
“What’s your name?” I blurt out and he scowls at me.
“Didn’t I introduce myself at the diner?”
I nod. “Yeah, Lincoln, but in your email, you went by Kodiak.”
“Oh, right. Kodiak is a nickname.”
I hug my knees to my chest. “Why?”
“I’m from Alaska.”