Page 54 of Bad Enough

“Nemo’s fault,” he grumbled, looking back through the sheers. “Claims he’s a cinephile or some shit. We all have to watch these ridiculous movies; otherwise, he doesn’t shut up.”

“To be honest, I have no idea what her real name is. But the first day I moved in, she was wearing all black and had this huge sun hat on, and that dog was barking away. It doesn’t help that she rides a bicycle everywhere, either.”

“With the dog?”

“With the dog. Baby goes everywhere with her.”

“Fuck.”

“Mmm hmm. Every time I see her on the thing, I hum the music to myself. Then I can’t get it out of my head the rest of the day. Total earworm.”

She caught a glimpse of Waters at her kitchen island, blueprints spread everywhere and a laptop open in front of him. At the moment, though, he was talking to Kai on his phone. The look on his face was much softer. His inflections were low so that Kai could hear them, but not the men around him. Then he smiled, and she swore she saw his pulse tick rapidly in his neck.

From directly behind her, a warm breath murmured, “What put that look on your face?”

The smile on her face was wistful. “Him. He’s so in love with Kai. He radiates it.” Her smile disappeared. “I wish I could have that someday. Their story should be a romance novel. But”—she drew herself up—“that’s not in my future. No point longing for things that will never be.” She turned to face TB. “I’m exhausted and want to crash, so what do you need from me before that happens?”

“Nosey neighbor. We start there.” He tapped his watch. “Nutcase, go chat up the neighbor lady. Flame basically said she’s the neighborhood watch. Maybe she’s noticed if anyone’s been around who doesn’t belong.”

“Roger that. Charm time, it is,” the voice echoed over the speaker.

“I take it he’s the ladies’ man of the group?” Sylvan asked.

“Well, given that we’re all ‘hunkalicious,’ I could have sent anyone. But yes, he’s the one that could charm a nun out of her habit, as the saying goes.”

Sylvan wrinkled her nose. “Huh. Wouldn’t have been my first choice, but whatever.”

No way would I subject my first choice to her. She’d take one look at TB and melt like someone threw a bucket of water on her.

“Come on, I’ll quickly show you the house. Obviously, downstairs. Kitchen opens up to the living room through the far door. You can also access it down this hall. Parlor on our left.” She began to walk from the foyer down the hall. “Stairs to the second floor.”

She began climbing the darkly varnished stairs, using her right hand along the balustrade to the first landing about halfway up, then turned right to climb the second half flight of stairs. When they reached the second-floor landing, she gestured left. “My room and bath. I guess you’ll be across the hall.” She gestured to the right. “There’s also an attached bathroom. Closet with extra sheets, towels, etc., next door to your room at the bottom of the stairs to the third floor.”

He looked up and down the hall. “What stairs?”

“Oh, sugar! Sorry. Right here.” She crossed to the end of the hall, where there was an oddly shaped alcove with a Victorian armchair and table. They stood next to an inlaid bookcase at the end of the hall. When she got to the bookcase, she pulled on the handle recessed inside the third shelf. The door swung open to reveal a flight of spiraling stairs to the third floor. She blushed. “I always wanted a house with a hidden staircase.”

“What’s upstairs?” he asked.

“Sanctuary.”

“Sanctuary,” he repeated.

She huffed. “Yes, my safe space. It’s where I write.” She swiped a hand across her forehead and felt herself slump. “I’m super tired. I don’t suppose we could hold off looking at that until later?”

He dropped his duffle bag along the wall and shook his head. “Hang on. If the team didn’t clear it, then we don’t go up.” He tapped his watch. “Waters. Did you clear the third floor behind the bookcase?”

“Steel cleared it. You’re good,” came the reply.

“Copy.” He gestured to Flame. “Just let me take a real quick look, too. Then I’ll know if there’s anything else I want the guys to do before they leave. You can rest while I help them finish up.”

She nodded reluctantly, then moved to climb the stairs. “Hopefully, you’ll fit. It’s kind of narrow.”

“Maybe I should go first so that if I get stuck, you can give me a shove?” he suggested.

“Right now, I’d rather push from the other side,” she shot back.

He grunted.

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