Chapter 14
Roy climbed the narrow back stairs to his apartment two at a time, the wood creaking under his boots.
Sweat clung to the back of his neck. The scent of old lumber and motor oil drifted up from the hardware store below.
It wasn’t the same after Hal sold it. The new owners brought in bright lighting and shiny displays. Nice enough, just wrong.
They left him alone, which he appreciated, but the place didn’t feel like the old shop anymore.
They didn’t need him to help in the store, didn’t need his advice on old customers.
They didn’t need him at all. And that thought bothered him more than he liked to admit.
The silence pressed heavier here than it used to, like the walls had forgotten him too.
He spent years proving he was useful. And now? He was just the tenant upstairs.
In the sale, Hal had made one last demand that allowed Roy to keep his one-bedroom apartment. The place wasn’t much, but it was cheap and close to everything. Hal had always looked out for him. He was more of a father figure than his old man.
He unlocked the door and stepped inside. Lights flickered on, revealing the same cramped living room, the faded couch, the chipped coffee table. The room held its usual scent, a mix of old carpet and the lemon cleaner he used maybe once a week if he remembered.
It wasn’t fancy, but it was his.
He shrugged off his jacket and froze.
She was already here.
She stood by the window, bathed in the soft glow of the streetlamp outside.
She’d slipped in with her spare key, the one she claimed was for emergencies though she used it whenever she wanted.
He told himself it was convenient. That it meant she trusted him.
And God help him, he liked having her in his apartment.
In his life. The air shifted when she was here—warmer, less lonely. Made the place feel less empty.
“Took you long enough.”
Roy’s pulse kicked up. Heat tightened across his chest. “Didn’t know you were coming.”
“I wanted to see you.” She moved slowly toward him, the scent of warm vanilla reaching him before she did. Soft and sweet. A smell that left him defenseless.
He tried to play it cool and leaned back against the doorframe. “Could’ve called.”
“Oh, you know me. I like surprises.” She reached out and brushed her fingers along his jaw. “And you look good tonight.”
People didn’t say things like that to him. Heat curled low in his gut. He wasn’t used to the attention, to someone looking at him like he was a choice instead of an afterthought. When she watched him, really watched him, it made his chest tighten in a way he didn’t know what to do with.
“Rough day?” she asked, stepping closer.
He cleared his throat. “Just a long one. Stayed late at the Whitmores’ getting things ready for tomorrow.”
Her eyes flickered with interest. “You take your work seriously. I like that about you.”
He swallowed hard. He didn’t want to care about the compliment, but he did. More than he should. It was a little embarrassing how much it affected him.
“You want something?” he asked.
“I always want something.” She smiled and slid her hands up his chest. “Most of the time it’s you.”
Roy leaned into her touch, wanting more, wanting her closer, wanting to feel complete. She made him feel seen. With her, he didn’t feel invisible. He mattered.
Being around her made him feel like more than a guy fixing fences and doing odd jobs. That was her gift, making him feel like he was someone worth choosing.
She kissed him once, slowly and softly, just enough to make him dizzy if he let it. He fought the urge to grab her and pull her tight.
When she pulled back, her fingers caressed his chest. “Did you get the updates I asked for?”
He hated the way his stomach tightened every time she brought it up, like he knew he shouldn’t be involved but couldn’t say no. “Yeah, I’ve been watching the place, just like you asked.”
“How’s Mia?”
“She’s fine.”
“Fine, meaning what?”
Roy shrugged. “Busy. Focused. Not paying attention to anything else.”
The woman nodded. “Good, keep it that way.”
“You gonna tell me why this matters?”
Her expression softened. “People like Mia always get everything handed to them. She comes here, and suddenly she’s booked for all the best events.
All eyes are on her. All the breaks. The rest of us are left scrambling.
” She touched his cheek gently. “You know how hard it is when people overlook you.”
The truth hit him hard. It was too accurate. Too familiar.
“Doesn’t mean she’s a bad person,” he muttered.
“No. It just means she’s not thinking about the people she steps over. Someone has to look out for the rest of us. And you’re the kind of man who does the right thing, even when no one thanks you.” Her voice dropped. “You always look out for people. You have a good heart.”
Roy’s pulse jumped. No one said things like that to him.
Not ever. He was just always there in the background, doing what had to be done.
Background noise. Nothing else. Hearing it out loud hit him hard.
A good heart. God, he wanted that to be true.
Wanted it badly enough to ignore what it might cost him.
She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him closer. He held her waist, wanting more of her warmth. She kissed him again, slowly. Then whispered, “I need you. You’re the only one I can trust.”
The words hit like a blow. Trust. Need. Two things he never got from anyone else. His chest swelled, part from ache, part pride.
He exhaled. “I’ll take care of it. Whatever you want.”
She smiled against his neck, warm and sweet. “I know you will.” She kissed him again.
Roy held her close, loving the feel of her skin, the way she fit against him. For once, he wasn’t an afterthought. He was the choice. He could stay like this forever, wrapped up in the lie that he mattered more to her than anyone else. And he didn’t want to know the truth that badly to pull away.
“Take me to bed,” she whispered.
Yes, he would. He didn’t hesitate. He would do anything for her. Because she chose him. And he wasn’t about to risk losing the one person who made him feel like he mattered. Some part of him whispered he should ask more questions, but her hands were on him, and that thought didn’t stand a chance.
And he wasn’t about to let that go.