“Hey, Dove.”

“Oh, Jay, hi.” She smiles, but it’s not a genuine one. Weariness is evident in every line of her body from her drooped shoulders to the way the corners of her mouth pull down. I want to pick her up, carry her to my nicely reno’d apartment, and hide her away for a year.

“I’ve got dinner ready. You look tired. Let’s go up.”

“Found your keys, did you?” the lawyer snarks, probably thinking he was going to catch me in a lie.

“Yeah, I did. Locksmith came and everything. Thanks for your concern.” I grab Dove’s purse and tuck it under my arm. “Come on. I bought your favorite drink.”

“Peppermint chocolate frappucino?”

“Extra scoop of chocolate.” I nod as if I know anything about what she’s talking about.

“It’s a pump,” the lawyer inserts irritatingly.

“Pump. Scoop. All the same. Thanks for seeing Dove home. You won’t need to do that in the future. I’ve got it covered.” I cup Dove’s elbow and start her toward the door. She moves slowly, like her limbs are stiff. I know we’re only neighbors, but...man, I’d do this for a wounded animal. I have done it, in fact. I reach down and scoop her into my arms.

Her eyes widen in surprise. “Jay, I can walk.”

“I know. I need the exercise. Night, lawyerman,” I call over my shoulder.

“It’s Mr. Thomas,” she says.

“Don’t tell me. I don’t want to know.” The lawyerman is burning daggers into the back of my head, but Dove doesn’t seem to be bothered. She lays her head against my chest and by the time I reach our floor, she’s out. Shit, the girl must’ve been exhausted. I debate for a half second about what to do, but in the end, my apartment wins out. It’s because I have the keys and I can easily access it, not because I want to see her in my bed. Nothing like that.

I nudge the door open and carry her to the bedroom. Thank fuck Abel worked a miracle here. His wife—who is pretty but doesn’t really hold a candle to Dove—came over in the afternoon with a shop full of furniture. The place actually looks great. Smells good, too. She brought something called infusers and stuck them all over. There’s one in the bedroom called Pine Breeze, and it smells sort of like the woods. I like it. I lay Dove down on the navy comforter and slip her shoes off. Her pants look like they might be tight, so I undo the snap. I don’t trust myself to touch the zipper. It’s too close to a part of her that I’d like to get really personal with.

I throw a blanket over her and go lock up. After using the bathroom, I grab a chair and drag it over to the bed. For the second night in a row, I’ll be watching over her, but it doesn’t feel like a chore. Instead, I’ve never felt more content. If all I’m ever allowed to do is this, it might be the best thing I’ve accomplished. Everyone has a purpose in this world. Looking after Dove might be mine.

Ten

Dove

I burst into laughter, not sure what to say. “Jay, did you just snatch me from downstairs and carry me up to your bedroom and then proceed to undo my pants and take my shoes off?” I know I really shouldn't be laughing, but after last night the fear of Jay trying to take advantage of me is gone.

I’d all but passed out on top of him and he’d been nothing but a perfect gentleman. So unlike every other man in my life. I’m starting to wonder if I’ve found one of the rare good guys and if I am really going to push him aside and run because of my own crazy fears?

What’s the point of living if you don’t try and go for some of the things you want? Life has to be about more than making ends meet. There have to be moments of joy and laughter in between or really what is the point? I want to trust him. I want him to be different, but I’m still leery.

Especially after what happened with Thomas. I shake that thought from my head. Jay is nothing like that jerkface Thomas. He has been nothing but nice to me, and even my sister is pushing for me to pursue this.

That alone should tell me something. Avery is not usually the type to get behind a photographer who is following his dreams and lives in a crappy apartment. She usually champions a man that is financially stable and one that has a bank account ending with a ton of zeroes. The fact that she’s encouraging me to be with Jay is another sign that I shouldn’t ignore.

Jay doesn’t seem as though he’s the type that would use me. He is just generally a good person who is worried about the woman who now lives next door to him. I think it would almost make me the stuck-up jerk if I didn't give him a chance. It would be unfair of me to hold him accountable for the indiscretions of other men in my past.

“I’m sorry. You looked tired. I heard you leave so early in the morning and with the way that boss of yours was acting and with how busy you were I was afraid you had worked straight through lunch or something. Now it’s after ten. Have you had anything to eat today?”

“A chocolate bar.”

The normal happy face he gives me drops away quickly. I know his anger is not directed at me. Jay looks like a man who knows what it's like to earn every dollar you make, so he should get it.

“I’ll get you something to drink and have some food sent up. Burgers okay? I know seafood is off the table.”

“How did you know that?” My heart does a flutter.

“You mentioned it in passing last night when we ate.” Oh, wow. He really is paying attention.

“And you remembered?”

“Do I remember a food that could harm or kill you? I promise it’s etched in my brain for life.” Yeah, I think Jay is so going to be getting that date. If he doesn't leave the room in a few minutes, he might get a little more than that. “Don’t move.” He hands me a remote before disappearing and returning a moment later with my drink, placing it on the side table next to me.

“I thought you said your place was a mess.” The bedroom is looking rather nice and this bed is going to be a fight to get up out of when it’s time to leave. I could tell a few things still need to be done, but it is already looking better than my place.

“If there is one thing you’ll learn fast about me, it’s that I work very quickly and I always get what I want.” He winks at me. It’s not arrogant in the least. It doesn’t imply that he assumes he’s going to get in my pants but more that he’s up to the challenge of proving that he’d like to have a shot at getting so close to me that maybe I’ll let him into them. He is more than willing to put in the work to do it.

“I love pizza,” I point out.

“Pizza it is.” He walks over to a dresser, opens a drawer, and pulls out some things. He walks back to me with an oversized shirt and thick socks. “In case you want to get more comfortable.” He drops them on the bed for me before leaving back out of the bedroom.

After the day I’ve had, nothing sounds better. I stand, disposing of my clothes right onto the floor. I put his shirt and socks on before climbing right back into the bed. I start searching through the television shows. This all feels a little too normal. As if I’ve done it many times before.

“This keeps buzzing.” Jay walks in with my purse in his hand. Normally I’d have no doubt it was my sister blowing up my phone, but a small amount of worry pools in my stomach that it might be Thomas.