Page 38 of Tattered Edges

“Bad news,” he told her as he exited the closet.

She was still bouncing from foot to foot, as if that little bit of constant movement would warm her up somehow.

“What? No!” she practically whined.

“I’m afraid I can’t help this time. It’s banjaxed. Looks like you’ve got a leak.”

“Damnit,” she muttered, hugging herself tighter. “Everyone wants me to leave. Even the freaking building. I thought we were getting on so well.” She huffed a sigh then shrugged. “Thanks for having a look.”

Rory barely registered her thanks, hung up on what she’d said about everyone wanting her to leave. He could tell by the way she said it that she believed it, even if it wasn’t true.

While he hadn’t voiced aloud his desire for her to go, he would have been a liar if he said he hadn’t thought it. Except, he didn’t mean it. Not really. Her ownership of Tattered Edges was inconvenient for him, but it wasn’t her fault. Now, he felt a little guilty to be counted among theeveryoneshe thought had it in for her.

“You can stay at mine tonight,” he offered before he could second guess himself. “I’ll make up the couch for you. I’ve also got a trusted contact you can call in the morning about your boiler. He’ll get it fixed at a fair price.”

No sooner had he finished speaking than she was completely still, peering at him through the darkness as she murmured, “Really?”

“So long as you promise not to thank me with anymore biscuits,” he muttered.

This earned him a laugh, and the sound pierced him straight through the chest.

There was something invaluable about the laughter of a desirable woman. He’d always thought so. Depending on the sound, it either grated on his nerves and instantly quelled his interest, or it made her more approachable.

“Thank you. Seriously, thank you so much,” Sawyer gushed, shifting the direction of his thoughts. “I’m going to just grab a couple things and then I’ll be ready to go.”

He nodded, but she was already rushing back inside. He trailed after her, the wind cutting through his jumper encouraging him to seek shelter himself. True to her word, it wasn’t long before Sawyer was locking up her place and headed for his.

“I hope I haven’t completely spoiled your night,” she said as they climbed the staircase to his third-floor unit. “I’m sure you weren’t expecting an overnight guest. Er, I mean—well—wait, gosh, unless you were, in which case—”

“Calm down,” Rory insisted, shaking his head in amusement. “I was only reading.” They entered his flat and he headed straight for the kitchen, immediately putting on his kettle. “Make yourself comfortable. I’ll grab a couple blankets.”

After collecting the warmest blankets he could find, and plucking the pillow he never used from his bed, he returned to the living room. He found Sawyer had already shed a couple of layers, her coat and one of her jumpers draped over the arm of his loveseat. Still, he could tell she wasn’t yet warm. Having been in her flat, he understood why.

“It was probably ten degrees at your place. Why didn’t you come knocking sooner?” he asked, setting his offerings on the sofa.

“It wasn’t below freezing I—oh, you probably meant Celsius. Ten degrees Celsius. I don’t know what that is in Fahrenheit, but…” Sawyer sank down onto the couch with a sigh then swept a bit of hair behind her ears as she looked up at him. “I didn’t want to be a bother. I really did think I could tough it out, but I’m a California girl. I grew up on the east coast, where it gets really cold, but my blood has obviously thinned in the years I spent on the west coast. I’m sure I’ll get used to winters here. Though, hopefully I don’t have to worry about my boiler on a regular basis.”

Rory knit his eyebrows together as he admired the woman. Her presence in his home didn’t bother him. What bothered him was the fact that she’d let her flat get as cold as it was before she asked for his help because she thought herself an annoyance.

Admittedly, Rory didn’t have the most exuberant personality. He wasn’t a charmer or a jokester, but he liked to think himself kindhearted and willing to lend a helping hand where he could. His ambitious nature made him focused, but he wasn’t so detached from the world around him that he didn’t enjoy the company of others. It was one of the reasons he loved the pub so much. He was so often in a crowded room, but without the obligation of having to carry the conversation.

Before they knew each other, Sawyer had been bold, confident, and inviting. After hardly more than a week in London, she seemed to have lost a bit of her confidence. Seeing as she was still undeniably beautiful and effortlessly enchanting, he deduced the city hadn’t welcomed her as she’d hoped.

“I’m sure it’ll be fine with a little bit of maintenance,” he finally responded just as his kettle began to whistle. “Stay put. I’ll make you something to warm you up.”

It didn’t take him long to concoct his version of a hot toddy. When he returned to the living room and handed her the warm mug, he said, “It’s bourbon, not gin. Hope you’ll enjoy it anyway.”

“Thanks,” she murmured, the sincerity of the word reflected in her pale gray gaze. She lifted the mug to her lips for her first sip, and her hum of approval was his cue to sit.

He occupied the seat next to her as he asked, “I’ve always considered London to be a bit of a mixed bag. I think there’s a place for anyone who wants to be here. You mentioned earlier how everyone wants you to leave. That can’t be true.”

Sawyer lowered the mug, holding it close to her chest as she replied, “You’re right.Everyoneis a bit of an exaggeration, but not by much. Archie, Eloise, Juliet…you. I came here to discover a part of myself I didn’t even know existed and the family I technically belong to. While I haven’t received the warmest welcome—pun unintentionally intended—I’m not going anywhere. But today…I don’t know. I guess it was a little discouraging.”

“I’d like to be removed from that list,” Rory insisted. “I wanted the square footage next door, that’s not the same as wanting you gone.”

Smiling softly, she replied, “Thanks for saying so.”

“Not to mention, you’ve obviously made an impression on Graham. Maya, too. Something tells me you’re not the sort of woman who has a hard time making friends.”

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