Page 49 of My Favorite Hero

She rose from the sofa. “I was just asking. I mean, you made a statement. I was clarifying.”

I stepped closer, looking her in the eye. “You just broke through the wall into my home. You saw me naked, and yes, my cock was hard. You have great breasts. I reacted. Mostly because you caught me off guard.”

“So if I told you I was going to take off the shirt and show you my breasts now, you wouldn’t react?” She frowned. “Because you’d be forewarned, or because they aren’t that great?”

I pinched the bridge of my nose. “Give me strength,” I muttered, then took her arm, propelling her toward the closet. “Home, Casey. Go home. I’m tired, hungry, and exhausted. I can’t deal with you right now.”

She pulled at her arm. “I need to get Barney.”

“I’ll shove the furball through the door in a bit.”

She frowned but left, shutting her door behind her. I stared at the mess of the closet, then shut both doors that connected us and headed to the kitchen. I stopped when I heard a knocking sound.

She wasn’t already back, was she?

I returned to the closet as she knocked again, this time louder. I flung open the door with a growl.

“What now?”

She handed me a container. “Your lasagna. You said you were hungry.”

I was annoyed, but I wasn’t stupid. I took the container. “Good night, Casey.”

“Good night.”

Ignoring the hurt look on her face, I shut the door and headed back to the kitchen. I popped the container in the microwave, the scent of tomato sauce and spices filling the air.

I poured some water and sat down, taking a bite. The hot cheese and pasta were delicious. A little spicy, flavorful, and garlicky. I ate steadily, practically licking out the container. Part of me wanted to go knock and ask if she had more. But I decided not to.

I headed upstairs, picking up the cat and ignoring Miller’s hurt look as I carried Barney downstairs. I opened the door, shooing him to his own side, then shut everything again without saying anything to Casey.

I poured myself another scotch and sat on the sofa, resting my head back on the cushions. Miller came downstairs and jumped up beside me, resting his great head on my lap. I absently stroked his silky fur, letting myself relax and wind down. It had been a busy, eventful day.

The wind chimes, building—and Casey, my pain-in-the-ass tenant/break-and-enter artist.

The entire event went through my head. The crashing, the yelping, her bursting through the door.

Her breasts, my reaction. Her comments.

The Dark Knight rises.

Suddenly, I was laughing. I had to grab a pillow to muffle my shouts of amusement. I laughed so hard, tears sprang to my eyes, and I had to wipe them away. From the moment she’d arrived, she’d turned my world upside down. I never knew what to expect with her. What chaos she’d cause next.

Keep an open mind, Lou had asked me.

I was pretty certain not even Lou would know how to handle her Pixie now that she was grown up.

I wiped my eyes again and finished my scotch. I glanced at the door, tempted to go and talk to Casey. Let her know I wasn’t angry. But we had to set boundaries.

Except I started to laugh again and knew I needed to wait.

I refused to encourage her. Up until now, everything had happened by accident. If she thought it amused me, God only knew what she’d do.

I wasn’t sure I would survive it.

I woke up early the next morning and got ready for the day. I headed out, meeting Mark for breakfast at the local diner.

I slid into the booth, accepting coffee from Shannon, our regular waitress. “The usual for you two?”