Page 54 of So Right
Which was outside town, and she liked walking to both of her jobs. She’d be close enough at Luke’s that she could run back here to grab something if she needed it.
She began packing stuff in her big duffel bag and thought about what to take. How long would she be there? A few days? Maybe they’d hate living together. Maybe this would put an end to her apprehension about starting a relationship because she simply wouldn’t want to.
Somehow she didn’t see that happening.
A bit of the anxiety she’d been battling all day stole over her, and she sank down on the edge of her bed. She told herself to breathe. Once the restraining order was in place, she’d feel better. Aubrey said she’d file it on Monday and that it would almost certainly be granted immediately. Then Kelsey could come back home and get back to business as usual.
Home?
This place had never feltlesslike a home, and she was suddenly thrilled to be going somewhere else, even if it was maybe not the best idea. It certainly wasn’t the worst.
She jumped up and finished packing, then went to the bathroom to grab her toiletries. Ten minutes later, she hefted her duffel bag and met him in the living room. “Ready.”
He swept up the growler, which was still almost half-full, from the table. “Excellent. Let me get your duffel.” He took the bag from her and walked toward the door. “Can you grab the leftover pizza?” He nodded toward the table.
She plucked her jacket from the hook by the door and locked up as he started down the stairs.
“Where’s your car?” he asked.
“I park it a few blocks away.”
He opened the door to the sidewalk and stepped outside. “Okay, you really need to move. We’re going to work on that too. Actually, if our roommate thing works out, you’ll be all set.”
She followed him and pulled the door shut. “You didn’t like having a roommate.”
“I didn’t like havingJamieas a roommate. There’s a big difference.”
She chuckled. “Maybe you won’t like me either. I thought we both valued alone time.”
She started toward the corner, and he fell into step beside her.
He slid her a sexy glance. “Something tells me I won’t mind spending time with you at all.”
A spring leapt into her step as she walked toward the repair shop where she parked her car.
Fifteen minutes later, he’d directed her to his house, a little bungalow with a darling porch. “You didn’t tell me your house was so cute! I’ve walked by here a hundred times, and it always catches my eye. Needs some flowers, though.”
“You can fix that,” he said. “Just pull into the driveway.”
She parked next to his Jeep. “I can’t plant flowers in October. Don’t you know anything about plants?”
He grinned. “As it happens, Ido. I mean in the spring.”
As in five months from now? “Let’s get through the next few days, shall we?”
“Ouch. Is that all I get? A few days?”
She loved this teasing, flirty thing they had going on. It was especially great for keeping her mind from turning down all sorts of dark paths. But she grew serious. “This is temporary. You get that, right?”
He saluted her. “Whatever you say, boss.”
She rolled her eyes. “I’m being serious. Or at least I’m trying to be.”
He gave her a level stare. “I know. And youarethe boss—don’t forget that.” He opened the door and stepped out of the car.
Kelsey took a deep breath and hoped she wasn’t about to make another colossal mistake.
