Chapter 6
Chapter Six
Devon found a hammer in his things. He’d grabbed the tools on his way out of the Bennett Security office just in case he needed to make any fixes to doors, locks, or cameras in Aurora’s building.
He hadn’t expected to be using them to rescue a vibrator from certain destruction.
But if he could help out, he was happy to do it.
Even if it meant getting close, once again, to Bennett’s sister. But the girl was clearly struggling with the trauma of what she’d seen. He cursed himself for being short with her when he first went into her place, but he’d been genuinely worried.
And he’d felt a little sheepish about not even wearing a shirt.
Devon grabbed a tee and pulled it on before heading back into the hallway. He sent off a quick text to the team back at the office, who’d no doubt seen him on the cameras. Thought there was a problem, but false alarm. Handling it.
He pocketed his phone and walked back next door.
“You could be slightly less antagonistic, Rory,” he heard Lana saying.
“We don’t owe that pompous jerk a damn thing. Screw him and the Tesla he rode in on.”
He gritted his teeth and strolled back into the apartment. Aurora grabbed for the hammer, but he held it out of her reach. Fuck, she looked sexy. Sleek leggings that hugged her ass and legs. Her stomach bare, tops of her breasts rounded into view by her tight sports bra.
Which I shouldn’t be noticing.
“I don’t think so. You’ve done enough damage. Consider me your designated hammerer.”
“You think I’m drunk?”
“No. But your friend mentioned you’d had a rough day. I might know a thing or two about that. People handle shock in very different ways.”
“Oh, from your vast experience as a rich, entitled douchebag?”
He returned her glare. That was his cover story, sure. He should’ve been glad that she’d bought it. So why did her frown irk him so much?
Lana groaned again, hand over her eyes. “I’m going to make us some coffee.”
“Just show me what you were doing so we can get this over with,” Devon said.
Aurora handed him the drywall anchor. Thankfully, she’d gotten rid of the vibrator. A smile tugged at his lips, thinking of her waving that thing around. He had to admit, it had been kind of funny. Once he’d realized that she wasn’t actually in any danger.
He tapped the anchor in, then hung the picture hanger. She pointed at the canvas she wanted, and he lifted it up into place.
“Thanks,” she said begrudgingly.
He turned back to her, arms crossing over his T-shirt. “You’re probably experiencing a surge of adrenaline right now. A mild sedative could help. You need to get some real sleep before the inevitable crash comes.”
Her frown returned. “I don’t need you to mansplain to me how I feel. Thanks for hanging the picture. We won’t bother you anymore.”
“Somehow I doubt that.” He couldn’t fight the grin anymore. Devon padded across the living room and let himself out.
He managed to get a few more hours of sleep before his alarm went off. There hadn’t been any more noise from next door. He made a cup of instant coffee and sipped it while he checked the hall camera. No one had come or gone from Aurora’s apartment.
In the hours since he’d arrived, he’d spent far too much time with her. Not exactly keeping his distance.
The calm now was a blessing, a sign that Aurora was resting. Maybe today would be easier. Uneventful, even.
So why did he feel the urge to go over and check on her? See how she was doing?
He showered, got dressed in jeans and a tee, and occupied himself by reading the latest technical manual on Bennett’s favored surveillance camera system.
A low ding came from his computer—a notice that the motion sensor in the hall had picked up movement.
On his laptop screen, he saw Aurora emerge from her apartment with a small paper bag in her hands. He grabbed his keys, getting ready to follow her. But she didn’t go toward the elevator.
Instead, she turned toward his place.
Devon went to his door. Aurora’s face appeared on the monitor, showing the feed from his doorbell camera.
She’d swept her hair into a ponytail. No makeup concealed the dark circles beneath her eyes.
He wished he could wipe those shadows away.
His palm pressed flat against the wood, knowing she was just on the other side.
He knew hardly anything about her yet, but he liked Aurora Bennett. She wasn’t what he’d expected. In fact, he had the feeling she was the type of woman who would constantly surprise him.
It wouldn’t hurt to be her friend, would it? Surely Bennett wouldn’t have a problem with that. Devon didn’t want to keep making her frown.
Ring the bell, he told her. So I can answer.
But after a moment of deliberation, she set her bag on the doorstep and left.
Once she’d returned to her apartment, he opened his door and brought the bag inside. The paper crinkled as he opened it. There was a pistachio muffin wrapped in plastic film, along with a note.
Sorry for the noise last night. Consider this a peace offering.
Your neighbor,
The Hulk