as thunder boomed overhead.
“Sorry, sir. You’re the only one I’ve seen since Commander Amos left.”
She had been there. He shrugged and shoved his hands into his pockets before giving a sharp nod to the guard and walking away. He paused at the exterior door and stared out of the vertical rectangular window at the downpour.
He took out his baseball cap, snapped it open, and shoved it on his head as he bolted outside. Long strides took him to his car and he slid gratefully behind the wheel. At least I put the top up yesterday.
He started the engine and headed back to his place. While he was at a red light, he looked up in time to see Jaydee walk into an apartment building with bags in one hand and an umbrella in the other. He knew it was her. Something happened to him when he was around her, he could feel her beneath his skin, almost. So he didn’t doubt he was seeing things.
When the light changed, he whipped into an available spot along the street and got out again. Soaked, and with water dripping off his hat and clothes, he moved into the lobby. The place was quiet and he found what he was looking for. Mailboxes.
Two B. He went to the lift and lowered the gate before pressing the button. When it stopped, he lifted the gate, slid open the door, and stepped out into the empty hall.
Thunder rumbled again and the lights flickered. The cold air made him shiver and he walked to find the right door. There was no name, just bronze numbers on black paint. Another chill hit him and he pressed the doorbell. A few moments later and he found himself once again in Jaydee’s presence.
She looked soft. As she had when she’d lain in his bed. Her hair fell unconfined in soft waves around her face. She had on a tatty, long-sleeved shirt and lounge pants. No shoes, but socks.
Her tortoiseshell eyes widened. “Gio? What are you doing here?” She glanced up and down the hall before pulling him in and closing the door. “How did you find me?”
Was it his imagination or did she sound a bit panicked? He glanced around her place and smiled. It was nice. Hardwood floors, a love seat, an overstuffed chair, and a recliner. A small table and chairs to one side, and there were stools by the island. Large windows, too. The other side of her place was full of whiteboards, a table with computers, and books.
“Nice place,” he said.
Her fingers tightened on his arm and he bet she didn’t realise what she was doing.
“How did you find me?”
“I was driving by and saw you walk in.”
She shook her head. “You shouldn’t be here.”
Only half teasing, he said, “You have a man who will be pissed I’m here?” She didn’t answer and he peered at her. Her lower lip was caught in her teeth. “Jaydee?”
She blinked and seemed to realise he was still there. “Why are you here?”
“We have some unfinished business, you and I.”
“You’re soaking wet.”
He arched a brow. “It’s raining out.”
She nodded and continued like he’d never said a word. “You should get dry.”
“I have no other clothes—”
Jaydee walked off, pulling him behind. Dutifully, he followed her back to her bedroom. It wasn’t girly, it was…functional. Dark, natural colours, the area was spotless and gave no insight into who she was.
She opened a drawer and pulled out a pair of men’s warm-up pants. “These should fit you.” A pair of socks was next. “There are towels in there.” Then she walked away.
He didn’t know whose clothes they were, but he was really cold. So he went to her bathroom. Again spotless but nothing feminine. He stripped down, dried off with the large, white towel then threw on what she’d given him. Rubbing his short hair briskly, he hung the towel up over the opaque squares blocking the room from anywhere else. His soaked clothes he draped in the shower.
He emerged slowly and found her sliding something in the oven. The lights dimmed a bit when another rumble of thunder rolled through. Warm again,
“Sorry, sir. You’re the only one I’ve seen since Commander Amos left.”
She had been there. He shrugged and shoved his hands into his pockets before giving a sharp nod to the guard and walking away. He paused at the exterior door and stared out of the vertical rectangular window at the downpour.
He took out his baseball cap, snapped it open, and shoved it on his head as he bolted outside. Long strides took him to his car and he slid gratefully behind the wheel. At least I put the top up yesterday.
He started the engine and headed back to his place. While he was at a red light, he looked up in time to see Jaydee walk into an apartment building with bags in one hand and an umbrella in the other. He knew it was her. Something happened to him when he was around her, he could feel her beneath his skin, almost. So he didn’t doubt he was seeing things.
When the light changed, he whipped into an available spot along the street and got out again. Soaked, and with water dripping off his hat and clothes, he moved into the lobby. The place was quiet and he found what he was looking for. Mailboxes.
Two B. He went to the lift and lowered the gate before pressing the button. When it stopped, he lifted the gate, slid open the door, and stepped out into the empty hall.
Thunder rumbled again and the lights flickered. The cold air made him shiver and he walked to find the right door. There was no name, just bronze numbers on black paint. Another chill hit him and he pressed the doorbell. A few moments later and he found himself once again in Jaydee’s presence.
She looked soft. As she had when she’d lain in his bed. Her hair fell unconfined in soft waves around her face. She had on a tatty, long-sleeved shirt and lounge pants. No shoes, but socks.
Her tortoiseshell eyes widened. “Gio? What are you doing here?” She glanced up and down the hall before pulling him in and closing the door. “How did you find me?”
Was it his imagination or did she sound a bit panicked? He glanced around her place and smiled. It was nice. Hardwood floors, a love seat, an overstuffed chair, and a recliner. A small table and chairs to one side, and there were stools by the island. Large windows, too. The other side of her place was full of whiteboards, a table with computers, and books.
“Nice place,” he said.
Her fingers tightened on his arm and he bet she didn’t realise what she was doing.
“How did you find me?”
“I was driving by and saw you walk in.”
She shook her head. “You shouldn’t be here.”
Only half teasing, he said, “You have a man who will be pissed I’m here?” She didn’t answer and he peered at her. Her lower lip was caught in her teeth. “Jaydee?”
She blinked and seemed to realise he was still there. “Why are you here?”
“We have some unfinished business, you and I.”
“You’re soaking wet.”
He arched a brow. “It’s raining out.”
She nodded and continued like he’d never said a word. “You should get dry.”
“I have no other clothes—”
Jaydee walked off, pulling him behind. Dutifully, he followed her back to her bedroom. It wasn’t girly, it was…functional. Dark, natural colours, the area was spotless and gave no insight into who she was.
She opened a drawer and pulled out a pair of men’s warm-up pants. “These should fit you.” A pair of socks was next. “There are towels in there.” Then she walked away.
He didn’t know whose clothes they were, but he was really cold. So he went to her bathroom. Again spotless but nothing feminine. He stripped down, dried off with the large, white towel then threw on what she’d given him. Rubbing his short hair briskly, he hung the towel up over the opaque squares blocking the room from anywhere else. His soaked clothes he draped in the shower.
He emerged slowly and found her sliding something in the oven. The lights dimmed a bit when another rumble of thunder rolled through. Warm again,
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