Page 12 of Beauty and the Cop
"Don't go through my stuff!" I shout as he disappears inside.
His laughter floats back to me.
It takes him less than thirty seconds to unlock the door for me. He opens it with a flourish, stepping aside like he's presenting royalty at a damn ball or something.
"I could have done it," I mumble as I sail past him.
"It was supposed to be locked."
Well…shit.
"I forgot."
"Stop forgetting, or I won't be the only man to crawl through your window," he practically growls, disapproval heavy in his voice. "You live alone. I'm not always home. You need to be more careful."
He's probably not wrong, and he actually sounds worried about it.
"I will," I promise softly, opting not to tease him. "I had it open earlier and just forgot to lock it back, that's all."
He grunts and then glances around. "You finished unpacking."
"Yep," I confirm.
"Looks good."
"Thanks." I shift from foot to foot, tugging the bottom of my dress down as if that'll make it longer. "Um…how have you been?"
"Busy. Been working a case."
"Oh." I guess that's why he's barely been home. "Are you still working it?"
"Nah. We found our suspect this morning."
"Congratulations."
"Thanks." He pauses. "You want to come over for dinner? I seem to recall owing you a meal."
"I…" I'd love to have dinner with him, but I can't. "I can't. I have plans."
"Oh." There's a flicker of something in his gaze that I almost think is jealousy, but then he shrugs. "Next time, then."
"Yeah, sure." I hesitate, unsure of what to say to stall him a little longer. Truthfully, I'd rather have dinner with him than go out with my coworkers. They're nice enough, but they kind of spent all week treating me like a novelty. "Um…I guess I should go then."
"You sure?" He cocks a brow at me, his gaze flickering across my face. "You seem off."
"I'm not off," I protest. "I'm just…" I huff. "Okay, maybe I don't really want to go."
"Why not? Is your date not your type?"
"It's not a date." I roll my eyes at him. "It's dinner and drinks with some of the other teachers."
"Ah," he says as if that explains everything.
"Everyone is super nice and welcoming, but I'm the new girl from Texas." I lean close to him to admit the truth. "I feel like the ape at the zoo, the one everyone just has to see because he flings his own poop at you."
He snorts with laughter before his gaze rakes down my body. "Dimples, the last place you belong is in a zoo, flinging your own shit at screaming toddlers. But if you aren't feeling it, don't go. Tell them you got locked out and have to wait for your neighbor to rescue you."
"You already rescued me."
