Page 26 of Adrift

“A famously desirable housing situation.”

“—and mostly empty—” I stubbornly continue.

I wanted to do this all by myself, not rely on anyone else. Even kind strangers… or even sexy, funny, completely charming neighbours.

Kieran straightens up and lifts his chin, every bit as stubborn as I am right now. “Mostly empty, yeah. Your lawnmower is my favourite roommate. And the saws that almost killed me.”

My cheeks are burning again as I try with everything I have not to let him charm me. “—and, uh. Only temporarily off-grid.”

“Are you telling me you’d rathernothave a fridge? Or lights?” Kieran points at the long-empty light socket in the ceiling. “Or a hot shower?”

God. He’s got me there.

Kieran’s eyes glimmer with triumph. “And,” he says, strolling toward me with his hands in his pockets, “a real table to eat dinner. Without any uninvited spider guests.”

I shudder, but my stomach grumbles. “Playing dirty, huh?” I murmur. I’m still holding the lantern up like an innkeeper from Ye Olde Times as Kieran stops just inches away from me—well inside my personal space.

He tips his chin up at me, and for a moment, that electric charge builds between us again.

Then Kieran grins up at me. “Yep,” he says brightly. “Come on, pack everything up.” Then, as if the decision is already made, he turns his back and marches out—darkness or no.

I scowl at his retreating back.

This is wild.

I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone more stubborn than I am. And, honestly? I kinda like it.

“What just happened?” I mumble, following in Kieran’s wake like a dinghy getting towed behind a yacht. It’s even funnier consiering I could pick him up with one hand.

“I can beverypersuasive. And, failing that, stubborn,” Kieran winks. “It’s in my blood. And it’s not in my nature to leave you here in a sh…” he trails off, a little too late.

My lips twitch. “A shed?” I suggest as I stuff everything back into my bag.

“Yes.” Kieran’s eyes sparkle as he grins up at me. “Yes, that’s definitely the diplomatic word I was thinking of.”

I clear my throat, scowling at the damp towel as I fight to roll it up small enough. “It’s my great-grandparents’ old cabin, you know,” I tell him. “It hasn’t been lived in for a long time, I’ll give you that. But the bones are solid.”

Kieran comes around the counter and puts a hand on my shoulder. “I can see that,” he says quietly.

Warmth gathers underneath each of his fingertips, until suddenly I can feel the hair standing up along my arm, all the way to my fingertips. My heartbeat speeds up a little. His hair smells real nice, too, like he just showered before he came over.

Huh. Would you look at that?

Kieran’s good at provoking me, but he also seems to know how to calm me down. My rising defensiveness is gone.

As I zip my bag closed, I sigh ruefully. “It’s just got a few cracks, like everything. Life does that.”

Kieran crookedly smiles. He grabs the bag of food and the lantern, leading the way to the front door. “Until someone comes along to fix up all the cracks and make the broken things bloom again.”

That’s a beautiful way of putting it. Beautiful and sad. It’s just occurring to me now that I don’t know nearly as much about Kieran as he knows about me. But I really hope I get to find out.

I grab the grocery bags, and just like that, we’re good to go?—

“Whoa,” I yelp, lurching backward. Kieran almost took my eye out with the umbrella. He can’t help it—heisa lot shorter than me—but this isn’t gonna work. His arm will be tired before we even get to his place. “Here. I’ll take that.”

“If you insist,” Kieran giggles. “See? I’ll let you win sometimes.” He gives me a sassy wink, and then he wraps a hand around my arm to let me walk him home. “Take me home, handsome.”

My cheeks flush as I wink right back at him. “Of course. But you’ll have to tell me where home is now.”

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