Page 18 of Big Gruff Owner

“Um, no this is it,” she answers with a shrug like it’s no big deal. “I didn’t have much to bring. Pretty much everything I had back home belonged to my parents. My clothes were basically the only thing I owned.”

“Leave them,” I order, stopping her as she reaches for the two trash bags. “I’ll get them.”

“Are you sure? I can carry—”

“Leave them.” It’s a command and she follows it instantly. I try to pretend that the immediate obedience doesn’t do things to me as I wrap my hands around both trash bag straps and begin to lug all of her things into the house.

“I was worried there was too much furniture in there for you,” I mutter. “Now I’m wondering if I don’t have anything else in storage that you can have.”

“As long as there’s a bed, I’ll be okay,” she offers back, her face turning bright red. “Getting my own furniture is the first thing I’m going to do after I get my first paycheck.”

“You got a job lined up already?” I ask, leading her up the stairs to her side of the duplex. I’m already wondering if I can find her one if she says no. I know Jolie needs extra help at the daycare downtown…

“I do,” she tells me from over my shoulder, the smile evident in her voice as we push our way back into the townhouse. Realizing that I want more information, she adds, “I’ll be a receptionist at the doctor’s office.”

“That won’t be too boring for you?” I ask her as I lead her up the stairs to her bedroom, her belongings still in my arms.

“Oh no, not at all.” I place all of her things on the bed and turn back to look at her. “I’ve always wanted to go into the medical field, so I figure this would be a good way to get familiar with the way doctor’s offices work while I save up money for school.”

“What do you want to be?”

“A pediatric nurse,” she replies automatically before she flushes and adds, “If I can make it through the classes. I was never very good in school.” I don’t like the way she undermines her own goals.

“You will be one if that’s what you want.” I scan my eyes over her. “Don’t doubt yourself. Doubt is the first step in failure.” They are words that my first sergeant told me and I’ve never forgotten, but I’ve never repeated them to anyone before her.

She glances away shyly. “Thank you and thank you for carrying in my stuff.”

“Got everything you need?” I ask, my voice gruff.

She nods, offering me another one of those small smiles. “Yeah, I think so.”

We stand there for a long moment, staring at each other, long enough that I start to feel a little out of place. I’ve never been one for small talk, and I’m sure that she’s ready for me to finally leave so she can get to the excitement of living on her own. I don’t want to hover, but something about leaving her here alone doesn’t sit right with me. She looks so damn young, so out of place herself. Something about her makes me feel…protective. No, that’s not quite right.Possessive. I don’t want to let her out of my sight. My brain and my body are conspiring against me and have staked some claim to this girl who is a complete stranger to me.

That won’t fucking do. Not at all.

“Well,” I say, shifting awkwardly, “if you need anything, just let me know. I’m right next door.”

She nods again. “I appreciate that.”

Her eyes have taken on a dark edge, something akin to panic. Or maybe I’m imagining that as an excuse to keep myself around her.She’s not my business.I keep reminding myself of that as I turn to leave. She’s just a tenant, and I’m just her landlord. That’s all this is.

That’s all it can be.

But even as I tell myself that, I know it’s a lie.

Chapter Two

Sadie

I flip over onto my side, trying to find a comfortable spot, but it’s no use. My mind is too busy running through every tiny sound the house makes. Every creak of the old duplex, every tremble of the pipes in the wall, every blow of wind against the glass pane makes me jump.

Is he here? Did he find me?

I’m being ridiculous and I know it. I’m a state away, hours from home and I’d been so careful. I’d gotten rid of every evidence of my move. I’d kept it all under wraps until the day finally came when I grabbed whatever I could carry in my arms and got the heck out of dodge.

Still, something about being in this place all alone makes me paranoid and suspicious. It hadn’t been that bad during the day. It never is. In the two days that I’ve lived here, I’ve never had a hard time dealing with being alone during the day. During the sunlight hours, I can keep busy. I work, I cook, and I sit on my porch pretending to read and trying to steal a glimpse of…someone. I pull my thoughts away from the no-no zone and back to the present quickly.

The problem is not the day. The problem is that the moment night falls, the fears creep in and that’s even though I sleep with several lights on to chase away the shadows.

---