AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Igrip the back of my neck. “Iknew you would.Whenwe first viewed it, it actually made me think of you.”
Herbow-shaped lips tilt up. “Itdid?”
“Yeah.Iimagined you in here, just like you are now, all excited by the light and the view.That’showIknew it was the right place.”
Hereyes go soft and shimmery, warming until they’re the color of liquid honey.Shesteps forward and wraps her arms around my waist, tipping her head back to look up at me. “HaveImentioned recently thatIlove you?”
Mybody tightens, butIignore it, holding her close and resting my chin on her head. “Notrecently enough.”
“Hey, what about me?”Beauasks. “Devon’snot the only one who signed on the dotted line.”
Ilet her go. “Yeah, but your reason had more to do with seeingIsabellein the foyer on our way in.”
Beausnorts. “Weboth saw her.Don’tact like it was just me.”
“Who’sIsabelle?”Shaeasks, tilting her head and studying me.
Ianswer first. “Justa woman who lives in the building.”
“She’sa swimsuit model,”Beauadds.
Maybeit’s just my imagination, but some of the brightness fades from her face atBeau’scomment.Thenshe blinks, and it’s back, making me wonder ifI’mreading too much into her response.
“Right.Amazingnatural light and a beautiful model living nearby make this the perfect apartment.Atleast your priorities are solid.”Shesmiles, then looks back at the windows, letting out a sigh of appreciation before turning back to us. “WhereshouldIput my stuff?”
Beauleads her past the big kitchen that flows off the living room and down the hallway to the largest of the two guest bedrooms, about halfway along.Whenhe swings the door open for her, she walks past him into the room, which has its own picture window, a spacious walk-in closet, and a luxurious en suite bathroom.
“Ohmy god,” she says, then grins over her shoulder at us. “I’mnever going to leave.Sorry, you’re stuck with me now.”
“Maybethat’s the idea.”Beau’stone is teasing, even thoughIknow he’d like her to stay just as much asIwould.Heproves me right when he continues. “We’vesaid more than once that we want you here.Youcould live with us.Itwould be fun, and it’s not like we’d expect you to pay rent.”
Sheturns, goes up on her toes, and kisses him on the cheek. “Thankyou.I’mhappy to accept your generosity for a few months, but not indefinitely.”Shelooks back at the room. “IfIever decide to move,I’llmake my own way.”
BeforeIcan respond,Beauputs his hand on her shoulder. “Youshouldn’t be stuck back home in a dead-end job when you could be here with us.Idon’t know why you don’t try for something better.You’resmart, talented, beautiful; you could do anything you want.”
Sherolls her lower lip between her teeth, then turns away. “Let’snot worry about all that.Ijust want to enjoy the timeI’vegot here.”Thenshe whips back around, her face lighting up. “Tellme there’s a pool in this building.”
“Ohyeah,”Isay. “Getunpacked and we’ll take you up there.You’regoing to fucking love it.”
“Up?”Shelooks at the ceiling, as if her big brown eyes can laser-vision their way through the concrete above us, andIshare a grin withBeau.
Ican’t wait to see her expression when she sees it.
ChapterFour
Shae
BeauandDevonleave the room to let me get settled.AfterIput all my clothes away in the enormous closet,Isqueeze into my new red bikini, tie a sheer cover-up around me, slip on my flip-flops, and wander out to the living room.BeauandDevonare sitting on the cream leather couch, controllers in their hands, playing a first-person shooter game on the huge wall-mounted television.
“Remindme to beat you both at that later,”Isay.
Beaushoots me a look, one brow cocked. “Notgoing to happen.I’vebeen practicing.”
“Mm-hmm,” is allIsay.Myskills might be rusty, butIhave great hand-eye coordination.Whenwe were teenagers,Ialways beat them, no matter the game.Itdrove them mad.
Isit on the arm of the couch and watch them finish the round.BeaubeatsDevonand gives me a triumphant grin.
Ilaugh and shake my head. “Comeon.Youpromised to show me the pool, andI’mdying for a swim.”
