Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 79597 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 398(@200wpm)___ 318(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79597 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 398(@200wpm)___ 318(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)
“So, you’re looking for a new place?” I asked.
She smiled as she sat down. “Yes, I am.” She winked. “So much so, I took down your ad. I’m the only one to apply.”
“Ah, I had one in the paper.” I leaned forward. “The applicants were scary.”
“Good. Then I guess you’ve been waiting for me, right?”
She had no idea.
She crossed her legs. “Ask me anything, Chase.”
My throat went dry.
Jesus. My wet dream was sitting across from me, her sexy calves on display. She wanted to live in this house. With me. I’d see her every day. Hear her talk and laugh. Maybe see her in a towel.
Or less.
I dropped my head. If I let her move in here with me, I would be in so much trouble. It was a really, really bad idea.
“When can you move in?” I blurted out.
She laughed. “Oh, you are a funny one.”
I had to look away. I had been serious.
And my first instinct was right, except I was beyond trouble.
The fact was, I was totally fucked.
And I wasn’t going to do anything to stop it.
She grinned at me. “May I see the place before I sign?”
I offered her a rueful smile. “Of course, ah, Officer—”
She cut me off. “Enough of that. It’s Hannah. You can call me Hannah. Unless, of course, I have you handcuffed.”
The mental image that came to my head wasn’t helping my situation at the moment.
Hannah, wearing her police hat and belt and nothing else. Me, handcuffed to her bed while she decided what to do with me.
Jesus, this was a bad idea.
I stood. “Let me show you around.”
We walked into the kitchen, and she smiled. “Oh, it’s a good size!”
“You like to cook?” I asked.
“Oh yes. My mom taught me. What about you?”
“Well, Brett and I ordered in a lot, but I make a great breakfast and I can grill. Charly taught me how to cook pasta and grilled cheese,” I replied honestly.
“Charly—she’s Maxx’s wife, right?”
I nodded. “My pseudo-sister slash mother too. She gives me advice—whether I want it or not.”
Hannah laughed. “Sounds about right.”
I opened the door in the hall. “This would be your room.”
“For now,” I added silently.
She walked into the room, peeking in the closet, pleased to see she had her own bathroom. “Can I paint?” she asked.
I looked around, seeing the plain beige walls, scuffed and dull in some places. “Yeah, of course.”
“Great. My mom will help.”
“I was thinking of doing some painting too. We can help each other.”
“Awesome.”
I showed her the backyard, and she eyed the overgrown garden with pursed lips. “I’d want to clean that up. I love to garden in my downtime.”
“Sure.”
We returned to the living room, and I offered her a glass of water or coffee. She grinned and accepted the coffee, then followed me to the kitchen and sat at the table while I dropped a pod into the machine and hit the button. Luckily, I had cream and sugar. She mixed hers, and I noted the half teaspoon of sugar she added and the more than generous splash of cream so I could make it for her while she waited for me in bed.
Then I shook my head.
I sat across from her and added cream to my cup. We sipped for a moment before I spoke.
“Hannah, I want to apologize about the first time we met. My memory is rather foggy, but if I was disrespectful, I’m sorry. You were like an angel, and I thought you were very pretty. I know it’s not an excuse, but I’d had a shit day. You were very kind, and I want to thank you for that. I rarely ever drink to excess, I promise you that.”
She shook her head. “I understand bad days, Chase. I’m glad I was there. And you weren’t disrespectful—you were adorable. I’m glad your friends came to help you.” She wrinkled her nose. “I don’t think anyone has ever considered me an angel. And you thought I was pretty?”
I only meant to nod. Instead, my mouth took over. “I still do. That’s how I think of you. An angel in my dreams. And you’re very pretty.”
“Oh,” she said and took a sip of coffee.
I ducked my head.
Angel in my dreams.
I had just made it awkward. I was an idiot.
But she smiled at me and acted as if everything was good. “What is the rent?”
“Two thousand plus utilities. At least for now. My lease is coming up, but Old Man Hyde has always been fair. If he raises the rent, it’s nominal. I think because Brett and I do repairs and mow the grass, that sort of thing. So, you’d be half that.”
She nodded. “And how would our relationship work?”
I almost choked on my coffee. “Re-relationship?”
She frowned. “Yes. For a while, I had a great roommate. We split all the chores, but if one of us was extra busy, we helped the other out. We often took turns cooking if we were both there, and we got along really well.” She paused, taking a sip of her coffee. “When she got married a couple of months ago, I got a new one, and she’s been a nightmare. She insisted that we each had to have our own shelves in the fridge and cupboards. She measured everything and often accused me of taking her food. When I would remind her I’d been gone all day on shift, she’d remember she ate it. She was a total space cadet. The day she informed me she knew I’d dipped into her shampoo, I lost it. She refused to move out, so I got my name off the lease and I moved out a month ago. Last I heard, her boyfriend moved in.”