Chapter 5
CHAPTER FIVE
“Who gets a fucking rabbit as a pet? And who the fuck names it Nigel?” Jordan muttered, stopping in the middle of his brother’s living room to take a deep breath.
He counted to ten, reminding himself he wasn’t that guy anymore, the degenerate who dropped more F-bombs than actual words.
He wasn’t letting a four-legged creature revert him back to one.
Once he calmed down, he made his fourth sweep of Sean and Ivy’s apartment, but the damn beast was still nowhere. The food he left out yesterday was gone, so he knew the bunny was in there somewhere, but after two days of Nigel-sitting, with no sightings, he was starting to worry.
He couldn’t believe he’d let Ivy convince him to do this. It’ll be easy, she’d said. He likes to snuggle, she’d said. She’d made it sound like Nigel would hop right over, curl up in Jordan’s arms, then chill while he watched an NBA game on Sean’s big screen.
But no. The reality was Jordan showing up, calling the fluffball for a good half hour while he searched high and low, then giving up and pouring pellets into a bowl before leaving.
The second Ivy had gifted the rabbit to Sean for Christmas, Jordan had known it would spell trouble.
He just hadn’t imagined it would be his trouble.
Whatever, as long as the food kept disappearing, he was technically doing his job. Maybe this was even for the best. He ranked his pet care skills below his people care skills, which reaffirmed what he already knew: men like him were best left alone.
“Nigel!” He gave it one last try before he made his way to the cage that sat open in the living room.
Somehow, Ivy had trained the rodent to go to his cage to eat and drink. The rest of the time he was what she called ‘free range,’ which meant they let the damn rabbit do whatever and go wherever he wanted in this place.
Jordan poured a quarter cup of pellets, left some lettuce and a piece of carrot in the cage, then decided to leave. His duty was done. Tomorrow the rabbit hunt would resume.
Pulling open the apartment door, he glanced over his shoulder one last time, just in case…
A blur shot past his ankles, making him lose his balance. “Motherfucker!” He jumped back and let the door slam shut. What was that?
The chill of dread ran down his spine. He whipped open the door again, and sure enough, Nigel, in all his white and gray glory, stood frozen in the middle of the hallway outside the apartment.
Wonderful. Fricking perfect. What was he supposed to do now? A few seconds passed as they stared each other down. The bunny’s nose twitched as Jordan widened his stance and flexed his fingers.
“Okay, little buddy, let’s do this.”
The fluffball was trapped, and he knew it. The hallway led to the staircase to the building’s front door, but all entrances and exits were shut. All he had to do was corner the fluffball, make a grab, and that would be it.
He stepped forward. Nigel hopped back. Another step forward, another hop back.
That’s when he noticed the whites of Nigel’s bulging, panicked eyes, and froze.
He knew that kind of fear. Constantly being on guard.
The anxiety of not knowing who to trust, who was out to get you and who actually cared.
One moment you’re being rescued by a cute brunette with a spunky attitude, and the next you’re abandoned in an empty apartment with a stranger dumping food in your bowl once a day and taking off.
Hours and hours of isolation could really mess with your faith in people, not to mention trust issues. Jordan had been there too, and it sucked.
But this wasn’t jail, even if Nigel wasn’t convinced.
Jordan’s next steps were slow, casual. Nigel eyed him warily, his eyes following Jordan’s movement as his nose twitched a mile a minute. His furry body was tensed, ready to bolt, so Jordan slowed even more, averting his gaze.
When he made it next to the little guy, he stopped, and shoved his fists in the pockets of his athletic shorts.
He let out a low whistle. “Well, it’s kind of chilly out here in the hallway, don’t you think, Nige?
” He slowly turned to face the rabbit, taking a minuscule step toward him.
“Probably warmer in the apartment.” He made a show of looking at his wrist, where a watch might be if he had one. “Looks like it’s dinnertime too.”
Another step. The bunny kept his eye on him but didn’t jump away. He was so close now. One more step and he could probably scoop him—
Downstairs, the door to the building’s front entrance opened with its telltale creak, then whooshed shut with a click. Jordan and the bunny both shot a panicked look at the staircase.
Shit. Shit, shit, shit. Only one other person lived here right now, and as usual, her timing was terrible.
The sound of high heels clicking as she ascended the stairs echoed through the upper hallway. Jordan and the rabbit exchanged another glance, but this one held a challenge.
“Oh no you don’t,” Jordan warned, but his words fell flat.
Nigel was already sprinting to the staircase. Jordan leaped to grab him, missing his tail by an inch. He scrambled to chase the animal before he could make the stairs, but true to its species, the rabbit’s hind legs launched it ahead at a speed no human could match.
The collision, when it happened, was inevitable. Vanessa’s hands came up to brace against his chest, while his wrapped around her biceps to keep her from tumbling down the stairs.
Her fragrance hit him milliseconds after her body did.
A rich, smoky aroma, like burnt vanilla, that was enticing enough on its own, but layered with the warm, subtle scent of her skin, it was intoxicating.
As usual, it permeated him like one of those poisons that altered the mind. Potent and dizzying.
Resentment quickly replaced that moment. As if it wasn’t torture enough that she’d been living rent-free in his mind since that kiss, his body’s reaction to her was even more infuriating. With a muttered curse, he lifted her to the landing.
Naturally, she thanked him with a smack to his arm. “What the hell was that? Watch where you’re going, Zeus.”
Her snooty tone should’ve cooled his blood, but somehow only riled him further. Damn woman with her damn sweet, scented skin and superior attitude.
“Not that it’s any of your business, but I’m trying to save the rabbit.” Leaning forward, he peered past her and down the staircase, searching for the beast in question.
“I don’t know why you’re being testy, when I’m the one who almost got shoved down the stairs,” she said haughtily. “Is this a subconscious thing? You’ve always had it out for me?”
“Have you ever considered that not everything is about you all the time?” He ground his teeth as he stomped down the stairs, checking each step to see if the furball was hiding there.
Just his luck that he’d not only lost the fucking rabbit, but he now had to deal with Princess What-About-Me turning everything into the Vanessa Show.
He got to the bottom with no sign of Nigel. He couldn’t have escaped through the closed door. Could he?
A loud throat clearing snapped his attention to the top of the stairs, where Vanessa stood—holding Nigel and appearing far too pleased with herself.
“Looking for him?” The smug smile on her face only increased his irritation.
With a frustrated huff, he stomped back up the stairs. “Where was he?” he demanded, reaching for Nigel.
Vanessa jerked away from him, tucking the bunny closer to her chest. Damn thing all but snuggled against her pillowy breasts.
“Don’t you dare touch him, you big brute. He’s clearly terrified of you.” With a defiant spin, she sashayed toward Sean and Ivy’s door.
What was even the point of arguing with her? All he wanted was to get this over with and go back to his one-window basement suite so he could wither in peace.
She stood expectantly in front of the closed door, stroking her thumb along Nigel’s coat, and Jordan couldn’t help but snort.
“What?” she demanded in that icy, irritated tone she seemed to reserve for him only.
“You gonna open the door?” He folded his arms across his chest to make a point. “You’re standing right in front of it.”
“I’m holding the rabbit you traumatized.”
He ignored the dig. “Nigel is approximately three pounds and the size of a football. Pretty sure you can handle it.”
The tiniest crease marred her perfect forehead, and her lip curled upward in a minuscule sneer. When her gaze swept over him, he couldn’t help the glimmer of satisfaction he got when she lingered at certain parts.
“Well, it’s still more than you’re holding, you boor, so be a gentleman for once, yeah?”
Christ. This woman. Irritating and captivating at the same time. “Boor? That’s a new one,” he grumbled as he opened the door and made a show of holding it ajar so she could walk through first. “My lady.” He bowed.
She lifted her chin, her pert nose reaching upward, and breezed past him like she’d expected nothing less.
“Where’s his cage?” she asked when the door shut behind them.
“Nigel’s free-range.”
“Pardon?” The expression on her face was nothing short of aghast, making it the first time he’d wanted to smile all day. Maybe even all week.
“That’s right, princess. He goes wherever he wants, whenever he wants.”
“Where does he, um…” She fluttered her hand as if that was supposed to mean anything, and his urge to smile doubled. “Where does he…”
Yep, he was going to make her say it. He stood and stared at her blankly while her hand continued to flutter aimlessly.
“You know.”
“I don’t know, princess. Why don’t you spell it out for me?”
She bristled, her cheeks turning pink with temper. Despite himself, he smiled. This was the most fun he’d had in months. Which was saying something.
“Oh, for crying out loud. Where does he go potty?”
He wasn’t a laugh-out-loud kind of guy, but he coughed behind his fist at that one. “Potty?”
That got him another death glare.
“You mean where does he piss and shit?”