Big Witch Energy - Kelly Jamieson Page 0,100

didn’t come running to your rescue. That scream was loud enough that everyone in Lincoln Park probably heard it.”

“He’s not home,” she admitted. “He and Mila went out to get breakfast a little while ago. They’re going to bring back something for me, so I jumped in the shower.”

“What? They’re not bringing me anything?”

“Actually, I think they are, but they didn’t want to wake you up.”

“Oh. Okay.” He paused. “So you screamed for him even though you knew he wasn’t here.”

She made a face and her lips twitched. “I figured a burglar wouldn’t know that.”

“Quick thinking. Luckily I’m not a burglar.”

“How did you get in?”

“Through the door.”

Her eyebrows rose. “You have a key?”

“Yeah. Uh…is that a problem?”

“I’d kind of like to know when someone’s coming into my apartment.”

“Interesting concept.”

She frowned, and he couldn’t stop his grin. Jamie and Mila wandered at will in and out of every other apartment, and he’d learned to lock the door if he really needed privacy.

“We hardly ever lock our doors inside, since the outside doors are always locked. But we all have keys to one another’s apartments just in case. I’m in this unit all the time working on it. But I’ll try not to get in your way.”

She nibbled her bottom lip. “Jamie told me you’re still working on this place. I knew that was part of the deal.”

Right, right. Apparently she’d had to sell her house. Jamie’d told him that she’d discovered after her husband had died that he hadn’t exactly been in good financial shape.

She moved past him to the kitchen and reached into a cupboard for a bright yellow mug. “Would you like some coffee?”

“Got some, thanks.” He picked up the travel mug that had bounced off the floor minutes ago. Luckily the lid had stayed tight.

He watched her pour coffee into the mug. “You haven’t changed at all,” he blurted. Maybe she had a bit—that smile she’d beamed around seemed to have dimmed a little.

Her lips curved up reluctantly and she curled her hands around the mug. “Thank you. You sure have.”

He rubbed his face. “You really didn’t recognize me?”

“I think you were sixteen the last time I saw you. You weren’t even shaving, probably, and you had braces.” Her gaze swept over him, lingering on his chest and shoulders. “And you’ve…filled out.”

The air in the apartment thickened, and Tyler’s blood heated at her perusal of his anatomy.

Then she blinked and added, “You were a pretty scrawny kid.”

Okay, maybe that hadn’t been sexual interest and a flirtatious comment. And her reminder that she’d viewed him as a kid was even more deflating. “Huh. Yeah, I guess I was. I work out a lot now; we kind of have to stay in shape to do our job.” He scratched the side of his neck.

“You’re a firefighter, Jamie says.”

“That’s right.”

“That’s a hard job.”

“Sometimes. Sometimes it’s also boring as hell.” One corner of his mouth cranked up. “But I work with a great group.”

“I understand I have you to thank for getting my stuff unpacked.” She waved a hand.

“Partially.” He grimaced. “I helped. Mila’s the one you should thank. She was all concerned about you feeling comfortable when you get here. I’m afraid Jamie and I were kind of clueless males.”

“Well, it did help, so thank you.” She sipped her coffee.

He wanted to say something about her husband, but fuck, this was awkward. He swallowed. “I’m sorry for your loss…of your husband. Jamie told me about it.” He cleared his throat. “Of course.”

Yeah, he was smooth. As smooth as Lake Michigan in a winter windstorm.

“Thank you. It’s been a tough year.” Her mouth tightened and her eyes flickered, but she kept her head high.

“I’m sure. But you made the right decision to come home. Family’s important.”

She blinked at him and nodded. “That’s true.”

“Jamie’s been worried about you.”

“Aw.” She rolled her eyes and lifted her mug to her lips again. “Yeah, I know. Truthfully, I’ve been worried about myself.” The corners of her mouth quirked up.

Her humor in the face of adversity made his chest warm.

“But I’m fine,” she added. “So…you said you needed some measurements…?”

“Right.” Christ. He was distracted watching her, kind of blown away by the fact that he was standing there with Arden Lennox. Er, Arden Hughes, now. “Yeah, I can do that.” He set his cup down and grabbed his other things, then booked it into the bathroom.

Here that scent was even more evident…warm and feminine and sexy, the air still slightly steamy from her shower. He paused a