Page 37 of How to Love a Rockstar

The front door camera is easy. I have it mounted in no time. The camera for her balcony door is a bit more difficult. I need to get onto her balcony to install it.

I could get a ladder and climb up onto the balcony, but I don’t want everyone in town to know what I’m up to. And, rest assured, the people of Winter Falls would be out in force if they saw me climbing a ladder onto Virginia’s balcony. One thing I’ve learned in the short time I’ve been here is how nosey everyone in town is.

Instead, I knock on the neighbor’s door and ask if I can use their balcony. It’s an easy climb from their balcony onto Virginia’s. Too easy. Any intruder could manage it without any special equipment. Good thing I’m installing this camera.

The balcony door flies open. “What are you doing?” Virginia shouts.

I motion toward the packaging on her bistro table. “Isn’t it obvious?”

“Obvious?” She rears back. “What is obvious about you invading my house without my permission?”

“I didn’t invade your house. I specifically didn’t install the new locks because I knew you wouldn’t want me in your house without you being there.”

“New locks?”

I lift the new lock I bought her. “New lock.”

She blows out a breath. “I have no idea what’s happening here.”

“I’m installing security cameras and new locks in your apartment.”

“But why?” She pauses. “Did something happen? Did someone break into my house? Is Harry okay?”

She spins around and rushes off to her bedroom. I follow. She lifts the blanket off of a cage on her dresser. Her hedgehog snuffles and she opens the cage to cuddle him.

“Hello, my sweet Harry,” she coos to him as she pets him.

I want her to pet me the way she’s petting him. To skim her hands all over my body. My cock perks up at the idea. Shit. I’m jealous of a hedgehog.

“No one broke into your house.”

Her shoulders relax. “Good. But why are you putting in all these security measures if no one broke in? Isn’t Winter Falls supposed to be safe?”

“There’s a difference between being safe and feeling safe.”

“Explain.”

Crap. This is not going as I expected. I thought she’d come home and be pleasantly surprised with my efforts. Maybe throw herself at me in gratitude.

Damn. I’m an asshole. I shouldn’t be adding security to her apartment for my own gain.

I clear my throat. “Stevie, my youngest sister, had nightmares after Dad left.”

“That sucks,” she says as we settle on the couch.

“She’d wake up screaming certain someone was in the house.” Her screams were terrifying. And Mom wasn’t there. She was usually working third shift so she could be home in the evenings as much as possible.

“No matter what I said or what I did, Stevie was terrified. I explained how safe the house was. How the doors and windows were shut and locked. How low the crime rate in the neighborhood was. Nothing helped. Until I installed a security system. The system made her feel safe when I couldn’t.”

She grasps my hand. “You didn’t fail her.”

I frown. “I did fail her. I couldn’t make her feel safe.”

She squeezes my hand. “Silly man. You made her feel safe when you installed the security system. You did that.”

Maybe. I’m not sure. I am sure I don’t want to discuss my childhood with Virginia. No need to remind her of what an asshole I was.

“Anyway, I thought installing cameras and locks would make you feel safe.”

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