Page 9 of Shelter for Morgan

"Both bedrooms do. We're the last apartment on this side of the hall so we have windows on both sides."

She dropped her shoulder bag down on the bed and made a beeline for the windows, opening the shades before she turned back around to look at him.

No, not him.

She was looking beyond him.

"Your bedroom looks so dark, are you sure this is my room?"

"I have blackout curtains in my room," he knew it wasn't the norm. "With my long shifts at the firehouse, sometimes we get to sleep during our shift and other days..."

"Other days," she smiled, and he felt like she was really listening to him, "you probably don't get to sit down before you're back out on another call."

Even with the air conditioning in the apartment, he felt heat creeping up the back of his neck.

"Does the same thing happen as a schoolteacher?"

Her smile was brilliant and the look in her eyes was far away.

A few moments later, her eyes fixed back on his. "Sorry, I was just thinking how amazing it is that I'm finally getting to teach instead of sub-in for a day or two here or there. I mean, I know she might not be out for the rest of the year, and I'm not happy that she was hurt, please don't think that-"

He shook his head. Of course she didn't wish that on someone.

He didn't know her well, but he had a good radar for the temperament of people, and he could tell that Morgan was a really good person."

"It's just nice thinking of myself as an actual schoolteacher. And yes, some days you have to hit the ground running and you never stop until you slide into the driver's seat of your car." She looked at him with a strange uncertain look on her face. "I think I should go and get the rest of my things." She looked away again before meeting his gaze. "I heard it’s going to get pretty hot outside and I am not fond of sweat."

"Well, then," he gestured for her to come with him, "we should get started and bring your things in."

She followed behind him, this time closer instead of letting her gaze drift around the room. He wasn't sure he was completely in the clear for his shit greeting earlier, but he was trying.

He opened the door, and she stepped out before him, giving him time to take a better look at her without her seeing it.

She was very different from her brother.

Rhett smiled. The biggest difference being that she wasn't a man.

Oh god, he was sure that Morgan was going to tell Jacob and then he'd never live it down.

He had to fight down his smile that at point. He just didn't want her to think that he was making fun of her.

They were headed down the hall when she turned to the right to go into the stairwell.

"Did you park close to the stairs?"

"I think so," she looked over her shoulder at him. "I remember seeing a door close to where I parked. I'd like to see how close my guess is."

He shrugged. "Good observation."

She took the first few steps down the stairs and then she paused and smiled. "Oh, it's cool in here."

"The stone that makes up the stairway keeps it cool during the summer, but wait until the winter, especially when it happens to snow. Then-"

"Ah," she lifted her pointer finger, "I heard I won't have to worry about that for a few years. So, I'm going to pretend that winter doesn't exist for a few months."

He shrugged and moved along beside her as they descended the stairs.

"We don't have assigned spots in the parking lot," he explained, "but if they see guests staying around for days on end, they'll tow. So we'll go to the office on Monday and get you a parking pass."

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