Page 22 of Tattered Edges

As soon as he saw it, he picked up my plug adapter and quirked an eyebrow at me. “Blimey. This will never do. You’re lucky to have gone as long as you did, you using this thing. You need to buy a new dryer. One with the correct plug.”

I would have felt reprimanded had he not started withblimey. I had to fight a smile hearing that. I knew it wasn’t meant to be, but it was incredibly endearing.

“New hair dryer. Got it. I’ll add it to my ever-growing list.”

“Good.”

He said nothing more before he set aside the plug adapter and turned to leave.

I followed after him, though he didn’t make it far before he paused. He glanced back into what would be my bedroom, then peered at me from over his shoulder.

“You sure you’re staying?”

I smiled, mostly because I knew what it looked like, which was to say—noncommittal. I’d gone out to pick up a blanket earlier in the week, so I could upgrade from a towel while on the couch at night, but I hadn’t made much progress outside of that. I was waiting for my shopping trip with Victoria. We’d already discussed the places we would go, and it would be extremely helpful to have a car to carry my haul.

“Sorry to break it to you, but I’mdefinitelystaying. I’ve just been a bit caught up with the store, and I haven’t had the chance to fully settle. Don’t go getting any ideas about buying me out.”

He grunted in acknowledgment, took one last look at my splayed luggage, then began his journey down the stairs.

Curious, as I followed I asked, “What did you want to do with the place, anyway?”

His back to me, he replied, “I was planning on turning it into a restaurant. Full service. We don’t have a proper kitchen at the pub, so all we offer are crisps.”

“Oh,” I murmured as we reached the bottom of the stairs. He stopped in my entryway and faced me as I went on to say, “Your pub is great. I’ve only been once, so that probably doesn’t mean much coming from me, but it’s true. I bet a restaurant expansion would have been quite successful. I’m sorry my being here threw a wrench in your plan. Really.”

His hands shoved into the pockets of his sweatpants, he shrugged. “You don’t owe me an apology. But in the future, try not to blow a fuse before nine in the morning, will you?”

Laughing, I promised, “I’ll do my best not to. Thanks for your help. I really appreciate it.”

He dipped his chin in a nod, and I somehow knew that meantyou’re welcomeandgoodbye.

I was still smiling when he closed the door behind him.

Asidefrommysnafuthat morning, the rest of my day went on without incident. After I styled my damp hair in a messy top knot and threw on a little makeup, I reheated my coffee and took it with me to the store. I was able to sort through our new collection of books before I opened, and the rest of the day was fairly quiet.

Quiet enough that I spent more than a little time thinking about Rory.

I wanted to do something for him. Something nice. Something to showcase my appreciation for his neighborly kindness.

Things between us were a bit all over the place. Admittedly, it was mostly my fault. Every time we interacted, he was the same.

Broody but not rude.

Thoughtful but not open.

Kind but not friendly.

Not exactly, anyway.

It was true I was more than a little attracted to him. Drunk and jet lagged or sober, it didn’t matter. If he wanted to take all my clothes off, I would let him.

While he told me that first night he wasn’t interested in a tourist, there was always the possibility that door hadn’t fully closed, given Iwasn’ta tourist.

Except, Iwashis neighbor. In my experience, a one-night stand worked best with a stranger. Seeing as that ship had sailed, it meant any sexual encounter between us would come with an unknowable variety of strings. As pleasurable as I imagined a trip to bed with him would be, I was smart enough to accept that he held more value as my neighbor and, possibly, my friend.

So—a friendly gesture was in order.

At seven o’clock, rather than locking up and heading upstairs, I bundled up and made the short trip on foot to the grocery store. I had absolutelynoidea what kinds of things Rory liked to eat or drink, but food and alcohol consumption was something most people had in common, so it felt like a somewhat safe bet.

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