“He didn’t grope me, as such, but he thought I was a thief.” I close my eyes and can almost feel his tight hold on me. His breath lingering on my skin, giving me goose bumps.
I open my eyes immediately. Geez, Clem!
“So, is he hot?” Em asks, making my wild thoughts and thumping heart go delirious.
“He definitely has something going on. He is hot in an, I’m not trying to be sexy, I’m just born hawt way.” I remember his strong hands around my waist and that slab of muscle pulling me toward his warm chest. “Yes, definitely hot.” I clear my throat.
“Holy cow! You got a crush on your new landlord. The single, lonely dad, living a hermit’s life.” She repeats part of Mere’s mysterious words about her dad living like a hermit and chasing a ghost, that I just shared with her.
“No. I’m not crushing on him. I’m just telling you my landlord is hot and helpful.”
I’m so crushing on him.
“Then maybe you should return the favor.”
We finish the call, but Em’s words about returning the favor whirl in my head. My brain goes into overdrive thinking about all the ways I can do that. I go crazy considering which favor to return, him bringing me coffee after clutching me in his steel arms in the dark kitchen, or him and Mere offering me dinner.
Who can tell my wacky brain the second scenario is the more sensible one?
Opening my phone, I peruse the food-delivery app I downloaded last night and check for good restaurants.
When I open the door with the key Keith gave me yesterday, I’m greeted by dead silence.
I gingerly knock on Mere’s door.
The annoyed expression on her face when she opens it morphs into a huge smile as she invites me in.
I look around her beautiful room, purple walls covered in boy-band posters and international travel destinations. “Boy, you are very quiet.”
Hearing my simple remark, her face falls and I remember Keith’s words from last night about Merida being vulnerable.
“I meant it as a good thing. I like your stealthy ways, Mere.”
“I’m not stealthy. My dad is.” Her grin makes me equally happy and jittery.
I know all about her dad’s stealthiness from this morning.
Before I blurt something ridiculous in front of her, I ask, “I wanted to order dinner for you and your dad, but I don’t know if you already have plans.”
“Really! We have no plans. Usually when Dad is back, we order something. But it’d be cool to eat together again.”
“Yeah.” I grin at her in excitement. “How does this sound?” I show her the Mexican restaurant menu in my phone.
“Wow! It’s a five star. We haven’t tried it, but it looks super cool.”
My heart warms at the sight of her upturned face as she bounces on her toes.
“Then let’s order.”
After finalizing dinner, Mere tells me more about the neighborhood. The good coffee shops, the restaurants they prefer and the ones to avoid. The more I talk to her, the more I like her.
Finally, I go upstairs to change before joining her in the dining space. The food is already on the table and Mere informs me Keith will be arriving in ten minutes. My heart fills with a foreign excitement to see him again.
Darn it! I’m seriously crushing on my much-older-single-dad landlord.
“What are you doing here?” Keith’s eyes narrow on me.
Hearing his accusing voice, my excitement leaves the building and I’m just a nervous wreck.