Chapter 5 #2
The texts stopped and I sighed. He was very hot and cold.
Then my phone pinged, and I glanced down.
Are you okay? Your back?
I’m good. That cream helped. Thanks for leaving it.
Finding everything okay?
I blinked. He was very chatty today. Almost friendly.
Yes. The coffeemaker was a godsend.
Good. Home tomorrow. Later, Katharine Casey. Have a good night.
I grinned as I typed.
You too, Thorne.
I was still smiling as I opened my first computer box to start setting up my system.
JESSE
My feet pounded away on the treadmill, trying to burn off the excess tension I was feeling.
Why did I start talking to her via text? I had been so good, only checking on Miller. I half expected her to be the one to start chatting every day, but aside from answering my query, she remained silent.
And she never called. Never asked me for anything. Never told me that she needed something.
Why the hell did that disappoint me so much?
The station had been busy with calls. We had a house fire caused by burning grease that took a while to put out.
The owner panicked and threw water on it, which caused it to spread to the cupboards and then go wild as it hit the curtains on the patio doors.
We’d spent many hours checking people’s smoke alarms as a community service.
Assisted the paramedics with some medical emergencies.
Rescued a cat from a tree. A kid from a brook he’d fallen into, grabbing a tree branch and managing to hang on until we got there.
We’d washed the fire trucks, we’d cleaned the station, did the grocery shopping.
Practiced emergency protocols. I made dinner once.
Mark took a turn. So did the captain. No one was willing to let Sanders near the kitchen again.
And yet, the whole time I was busy, I had thought about Casey. Wondered if she was settling in. If she was nervous in the new space. How her back was feeling.
I finally gave in and asked.
And she, of course, was fine.
Still, I was looking forward to heading home later that afternoon. More ready to be there than usual.
I missed Miller. That was all it was, I told myself.
I finished my workout and took a fast shower, grateful today was quiet. Mark came in, smiling. “Hey.”
I lifted my chin in acknowledgment. He grabbed his sneakers from the locker.
“Where you off to?” I asked.
“Your place.”
“My place?” I asked mystified. “Why?”
He chuckled. “Well, your tenant’s. One of Linda’s delivery guys is out sick, and she asked me to help.”
I was on my feet in a second. “I could do it.”
He looked up from lacing his sneakers. “No, it’s fine. I help out all the time.”
I fisted my hands, knowing I had no reason to argue with him. Still, I didn’t want him alone with Casey.
Which was stupid. He was a very happily married man. But still a man.
Mark frowned, looking at me. “We’ll be in and out. I have a few deliveries to make. Relax, man.” He clapped my arm. “Your face, Jesse. You should see it.” He shook his head as he walked away. “This is gonna be fun.”
I had no idea what he was talking about.
I was only trying to help and save him a trip. Plus, I could see Miller.
And Casey, a voice whispered.
I ignored it.
Chief sent me home early, and I pulled into the driveway, frowning at the delivery truck still out front.
It wasn’t Mark’s Ford. I jumped from the vehicle and headed to Casey’s front door, noticing a few broken-down boxes on the porch and the addition of a new wreath on the front door.
It was flowers and greenery. Very girly.
I should have told her no girly stuff. I decided it was too late, and besides, it wasn’t my front door. That wasn’t happening. Ever.
The door was slightly ajar, and I pushed it open, hearing voices. I called out, but I received no response. I expected Miller to rush from wherever he was, but I heard no sounds of his feet hitting the hardwood.
I called again, stopping to turn down the music that was playing. The voices seemed to be coming from upstairs, and I headed that way, passing through the kitchen. I stopped for a moment, frowning at the unmistakable tenor of a male voice.
Not Mark’s.
Then I heard Casey speak. “Oh, that’s great! Compared to what I’m used to right now, it’s huge!”
“I’m sure it’s going to feel even better,” the male voice replied.
I didn’t think. I hit the steps hard, rushing up them, coming to a stop at the top. “What the—” I froze.
Casey looked startled. Her visitor looked bemused as he pushed a baseball hat off his forehead. The King’s logo was a bright-red streak embroidered across the bill. He had a rubber mallet in his hand and was standing beside a bed frame he had obviously put together.
“Hi,” Casey said, looking unsure.
“Yeah, um, hi.”
“I didn’t hear you.”
I jerked my thumb downward. “Your music was too loud. One of the rules,” I added for good measure.
She ignored my slight barb. “You weren’t home, and I was painting. I like music when I’m painting.” Then she indicated the bed frame. “Cal was just assembling the frame. I was telling him it will be nice to sleep on a real bed and not the sofa.” She smiled. “It’s great customer service.”
That made sense. Still, I didn’t like her being alone with a strange man. But I didn’t want to say that out loud. “Where’s Mark?”
“He helped carry things in, but Cal said he could handle putting the bed together.” She smiled his way. “I helped.”
Of course she did. And I bet the bastard encouraged it. Smiled at her and charmed her while he built her bed.
I bet he wanted to try it out with her too.
I felt myself getting angry.
“Miller,” I snapped.
“Is at home. I didn’t want him to get upset with the delivery men.”
That was thoughtful of her, but before I could thank her, she smirked. “Barney is with him.”
“What?”
“They follow each other around. He came with us. Last time I checked, they were asleep on your sofa.”
I frowned, now torn between the need to get her cat out of my place and to stay and make sure this jackoff didn’t pull anything. I didn’t like the way he was looking at her.
“I can help finish,” I said, shrugging off my jacket.
“Just have to make sure it’s in the right place with Casey and put on the mattress,” Cal said smoothly. “No worries. I got this.”
“I insist.”
He shrugged. “Suit yourself.” He turned to Casey. “Where do you want it?”
“Between the two windows,” she said.
I brushed past her, lifting one side as he took the other. When Casey hummed in agreement, he pulled a box cutter from his jacket, sliding it through the plastic covering the box spring and mattress.
“So,” he said, ignoring my presence, “like I said, Wednesday night. Wing and beer night at Dusty’s. You interested?”
I gripped the box spring a little too hard, yanking it my way. Cal stumbled a little. “Not so hard, man.”
I shook my head. “Sorry, man .”
“I’ll have to see,” Casey said. “I’m starting with a new client on Monday.”
“Ha,” I laughed silently.
“Saturday is karaoke.”
“Oh, that sounds like fun.”
Dammit.
I lifted the mattress, not waiting for jerk Cal to take his end. I slid it onto the box spring. “There. Done. You can go,” I said to him.
He frowned. “I need the delivery slip signed, and I need my girl’s number so I can call her.”
I saw red. His girl .
I glared at Casey. “I’ll go get your cat. Then we need to talk.”
I stomped down the stairs, crossing the backyard.
What the hell was wrong with me?
Casey could date anyone she wanted, although in my personal opinion, she could do better than a delivery boy who invited her for beer and wings. I snorted. Or karaoke.
My steps faltered as a thought occurred to me.
What if that no overnight guest thing happened?
I hadn’t expected that so fast.
I walked into my place and headed to the living room. As Casey had said, Barney and Miller were curled up on the sofa, the cat asleep on Miller’s paw, his other front leg draped over him like a protective shield.
I blinked. Jesus. I go to work and come home to find my tenant already dating and my cat-hating-dog in some sort of bromance with one.
What the hell else happened while I was gone?
I wasn’t sure I wanted to find out.