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CHAPTER2
Brenda hadn’t mentionedher skittish roommate when she offered Jonah her place.
He’d never been in one place long enough for a year lease. Thankfully, Brenda had needed someone to sublet for a few months, that way she wouldn’t lose her room in the shared apartment. It would give him time to see if this staying in one place could really work.
Last night, the poor nervous roommate’s mouth had dropped open at his innuendo and then she’d fled. If he thought for a moment she’d take him up on the offer, he never would have said anything. But she was more fluff than bite. She reminded him of a little wren who puffed up to appear fiercer than it actually was, but when it came down to it was still just a scared little bird.
She’d had her light brown hair pulled into a messy bun. Her huge brown eyes had travelled over him repeatedly as if she were memorizing him. That hint of a blush on her delicate features made her seem fragile. And her sun-kissed skin almost glowed in the light from the bathroom.
A button had slipped open on her pink kitten pajama top, revealing a hint of cleavage, especially when she crossed her arms under her breasts, which she probably hadn’t intended for him to see. She hadn’t been flirtatious. Just like a little bird she’d tried to appear fierce, but as soon as he made a move, she’d fluttered away.
But he’d counted on that. Relationships weren’t something he put much thought into and that woman hadrelationshipwritten all over her. His whole life had been spent going from place to place. He’d never stayed anywhere long enough to become attached to anything or anyone.
His watch read almost nine o’clock on Saturday morning and the little bird hadn’t made an appearance yet.
Jonah had left earlier for his workout and returned to the apartment with some fresh fruit and stuff for his morning smoothie.
He stood in the kitchen, chopping off the stems when Sophie came out of her bedroom wheeling a bag. She rapped on Lacy’s door and hollered, “See you next weekend. Text if you need anything.”
A faint grunting noise came from the room which seemed to satisfy Sophie. Sophie reminded him of his little sister. A tough petite woman who would smack down anyone who messed with her or hers. She also didn’t look at him like she wanted to consume him as a snack like some women did, which helped. Sure, she’d checked him out, but her eyes hadn’t shown any heat.
He’d been concerned when Brenda mentioned two female roommates. He couldn’t afford to have any distractions right now. But he’d deal with it.
Sophie stopped in the living room and turned to look at him in the kitchen. Her lips tightened and she released her suitcase before approaching the counter and taking a seat on the stool opposite him. She studied him.
Jonah lifted his gaze to hers and she didn’t drop her eyes.
“Brenda vouched for you,” she said.
He didn’t blink, not sure where she wanted to go with this.
“I don’t know you, but I know Lacy. We’ve been friends since college.” She snatched a piece of strawberry from the cutting board and popped it in her mouth.
He wasn’t sure what she wanted from him, but she seemed to have an agenda in mind. He lifted handfuls of fruit and added it to the yogurt and ice in the blender, but he waited to turn it on.
“Lacy’s not a normal girl.”
He lifted his eyebrow at that. Who called a woman in her twenties a girl?
Sophie fluttered a hand in the air. “Just be nice or don’t, but she’s one of the nice ones so don’t fuck with her.”
What the hell did that mean? He had no intentions of doing anything with either of his new roommates. Not fuck them. Not even split a pizza with them and definitely not braiding each other’s hair. He didn’t get close to people. Made it easier when he had to leave.
Sophie seemed to be waiting for a response.
“I won’t,” he assured her.
Her lips tightened and she narrowed her eyes at him before she nodded. She slid off the stool and walked over to her suitcase. “I’ll be back in a week. Our list of numbers is on the fridge if you need anything. Lacy normally calls the maintenance guys. They think she’s sweet. They fix things faster if she calls.”
He glanced up at her.
Sophie held up her hands. “Yeah, I know, you’d think the hot girls would get things done faster, but turns out they think of Lacy like a daughter who needs taking care of.” Sophie smiled and shook her head. “She’s like our little sister. It’s probably why we’re protective of her too.”
Everyone wanted to protect the little bird. Not surprising. He wondered if anyone treated her like a woman. Then shook that thought out of his head. He didn’t care about his new roommates. A new job would be stressful enough. He needed to focus on work and figuring out how to live out of a room rather than a suitcase.
Sophie headed out the door. “Enjoy your week.”
He gave her a nod before the door closed behind her. He turned on the blender to finish his smoothie. The thing ran so loud he couldn’t hear anything. He was surprised when a hand touched his side, sending sparks of awareness across his skin.
