“None taken.”Granted, it’s not like saving lives.“So, where do you want to do… Um, I mean, where do you want this?”
“How about over there?” She pointed to the longest wall.
“Okay. So, do you have a couple of drop cloths or a newspaper or anything? I can stick something smooth under the legs and push it myself without scratching your floors.”
She chuckled. “They’reyourfloors, I believe. And, yeah, I’m sure I can find something.” She pulled the tape off a box markedKitchenand rummaged through it until she fished out a couple of potholders fashioned of stretchy, colored strips—the kind a child probably crafted. “This should help.”
“Perfect.” He held up his hands as if they were playing catch. She simply walked over beside him and dropped one beside each leg of the couch. “Can you lift it a little? I’ll push it under.”
“Oh, sure.” Boy, did he feel out of his element with thisunimpressedwoman. He hoped she didn’t think of him as a dumb jock.
By the time her major furniture had been placed and set up, he had expended some physical energy and released most of his tension.
I wonder if she has a serious boyfriend.“So, would you like to come up to my place and see what I mean about uncomfortable, hoity-toity furniture?”
“I would, but I’m exhausted. Maybe another time?”
“Sure. Of course. How about tomorrow night? I could make you a welcome-to-your-new-home dinner, unless you already have plans…”
“I’d love that, believe me, but I have to work.” She shook her head.
Crap. You’re striking out, Falco.“That’s too bad. You’re a nurse, right?”
“Yeah. I work at Boston General on the evening shift.”
“That must not be very convenient for a night life.”C’mon, sweetheart. Give me a hint. I’m dying over here.
“Tell me about it. I can’t wait to have some kind of life now that I’m out from under my father’s thumb. In case you couldn’t tell, he’s a little overprotective.” She laughed. “Actually, he’sa lotoverprotective.”
Jason chuckled. “He just seemed like a nice, caring father.”
“He behaved himself in front of you. If I don’t call him tomorrow, he’ll be all over my case and chew me out like I skipped school. I don’t usually tell people this right off the bat, but we lost my mother when I was sixteen. She had just stepped out for a carton of milk and happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. It was second degree murder, but the guy got off with manslaughter. Ever since then, he’s barely let me out of his sight.”
“I’m so sorry.” Jason could relate to a hovering, smothering father. His dad had attended every game and as many practices as he could from Little League on. Jason suspected it had more to do with checking up on his athletic prowess and making sure the family “condition” remained a well-guarded secret, than offering moral support.
Damn.He caught himself just staring at her. She had the softest looking skin and he wanted to reach out and caress her cheek.Later, Falco. Don’t blow it—even if it’s much later.And he hoped it wouldn’t be. He desperately wanted what everyone else had—a loving family. And he had until Spring Training to findthe oneor give it up for another long, lonely year.
Chad the ghost drifted up from apartment 3A and settled in to haunt his new landlord for the evening.
Jason was back in his pristine penthouse apartment, pacing and mumbling to himself.
“I can’t believe I got shot down,” he grumbled. “The first time in years a girl has said no to a date with me—and I even offered to cook! That usually crumbles even the most reluctant woman. I probably just asked her at a bad time. She seemed tired. More like exhausted. She had unpacking to do… Damn it, why am I making excuses for her? She saidnoto me!”
Sighing, he halted and let his eyes roam over his showroom penthouse. “I hate this place. It feels like some billionaire’s mansion—achickbillionaire! And I probably put the rotten designer on the road to fame and fortune by giving her free reign.”
Chad grimaced.“I knew he’d regret that.”
Jason suddenly shivered as chills ran up his spine.
“Easy, man. I didn’t mean to give you the willies by actually touching you, but I like to mock people by pacing right behind them. I didn’t know you were going to stop so suddenly. Maybe you should save this crap for your therapist. Don’t all rich people have a therapist?”
“Now what? I hate to confront people. I’d rather just donate the whole pile to charity and go shopping for myself. Hmmm.Since it’s off-season and I have a little time to myself, I could ask Merry to go shopping with me to help pick out new furniture. It would give me an excuse to see her again. I’d like to shop downstairs in Apartment 1B. I keep thinking about that comfortable couch in Merry’s apartment—and how I’d love to be straddled on it.”
Chad grinned.“Ah, now we’re finally getting to the good stuff! Lay it on me, brother.”
Jason grabbed the cordless telephone and dialed a long number he knew by heart.
“Hi, Mom. Yeah, it’s been a while. How are things back in good ol’ Minnesota?”
