Page 14 of Exposed

He’s still shirtless, walking towards the table with two plates, one full of scrambled eggs and one with bacon stacked on it.

He cooked for me. No one’s ever cooked for me.

“You know what’s telling?” He sets the plates down at the table and waves me over to sit down, but I’m frozen in place. “I said ‘Lucy’ twice and you didn’t budge, but the very second I said, ‘Pepper,’ you looked at me.”

“Um…” I stutter, fully in a stupor from both him cooking for me and him calling me out on my fake name.

He picks up a slice of bacon and takes a bite. “Either you love my nickname for you, or Lucy isn’t your real name.”

I don’t know what to say. No one has questioned my new identity. And right now, I can’t think past the fact that hecookedfor me. My eyes fill with tears, and I look away so he can’t see.

“You don’t have to sleep in your car. Stay with me. If you tell me what’s going on, I can help you,” he continues in my silence.

And he wants me to stay with him. I can’t help it. A tear breaks free, and I quickly swipe it away.

“Hey,” his voice softens. “What’s wrong?” He stands and walks over to me.

“Why do you want to help me?” I look up at him with watery eyes. I can’t believe his offer. The scarier thought is, I think I trust him. I’m not supposed to trust anyone.

“Why not help you? I have the money and means to do so. There’s no reason for you to go it alone,” he reasons.

“If you find another homeless girl today, will you bring her home?” I challenge. I can’t help but be prickly. I’m used to being on my own.

“I don’t have that much extra room, smart aleck, but I’d like to help you.” He wipes one of my tears away with his thumb.

Shani nudges my leg, and when I look down at her, she cocks her head and wags her tail.

“Your dog has three legs. You like taking in homeless strays,” I surmise. “No offense, Shani.”

“Shani was born with a limb difference, and she’s more amazing than most dogs with four legs. Are you insinuating you’re a stray?” He raises one eyebrow at me, and my core tingles.

I’ve always been a sucker for a guy raising one eyebrow at me. It’s cute, and not everyone can isolate that muscle.

“I am literally a homeless stray,” I admit, although it hurts to say that.

“You’re not,” he argues. “Like I said last night, I want a roommate. Call it fate. Since I met you last night, I’ve had this immediate sense of friendship with you. Is that a common thing for you? Do people tell you they feel comfortable with you right after they meet you?”

“No.” I shift on my feet.

“Huh. We must be kindred spirits then. You're safe here. You’re safewith me,” he assures.

That may be true, but I’m probably putting you in danger by staying here.

5

SURPRISE

MATT

Pepper’s stomach growls, and who knows the last time she had hot, homemade food. “Sit and eat, Pepper,” I direct.

Her name isn’t Lucy, that’s for damn sure. I refuse to call her that.

Her green contacts are back in, and eyes dart back and forth from the table, the food and me. She’s skittish, like a baby deer.

“You can talk to me,” I urge.

“No one’s ever cooked for me,” she whispers.

---