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“Why are you so uncomfortable? Is that why you were so quiet this morning?” I unscrew the cap of my water and take a sip.
“Yes. I, uh, I’m just not a very outgoing person. Usually, I just keep to myself.” She looks up at me for a second and I get to see her emerald eyes. But there’s something else I see. A flash of pain in her eyes, but it’s gone as quick as it came.
“Okay, so who do you normally hang out with? Your friends or maybe a boyfriend?” Yup, not being very subtle with the questioning.
“Um, my best friend Vicki and I hang out. No boyfriend, but that’s not to say I haven’t dated. I have. I’m just not dating anyone currently.” Her cheeks flush red. “Do you have a girlfriend or a wife?”
Finally, she’s making conversation with me. I grin. This is good. Inside my mind, I do a little fist pump.
“Uh, no wife, no girlfriend. I actually moved out here because my girlfriend and I broke up. She’s back in Florida. I transferred to the force out here and that’s been it for me since I moved.” I needed to get as far away as I could from Emma. I still couldn’t believe that she cheated on me with Cameron.
“Oh, I’m sorry to hear that.” Kat says softly. She wraps her fingers around the hem of her shirt. There’s a long pause. We sit there silently until she speaks again, “So, I hate to do this, but I have to handle some work stuff.”
Kat is kicking me out. I’m a little sad that we can’t continue our conversation, but we made progress. At least there’s that.
“Look, I would like to hang out with you sometime. Wherever you may be comfortable when you are not busy,” Am I coming off a little needy? I internally cringe. For whatever reason, Kat has this pull on me. She makes me want to dig deeper into her world.
Kat just stares at me, her cheeks a soft shade of red. Did I say something wrong? Before I can over think it, she nods. Kat bites her lip and then heads over to the counter.
“Um, sure. Here’s my phone number.” She scribbles it on a post-it note that’s on the counter before handing the paper to me. “Just text me or whatever and we can decide. But I will warn you, I really do nothing.”
“That is completely fine by me. I’m good with low-key.” I head over to the door. “Remember, if you need anything, I’m right above you.” I flash a grin and point to the ceiling.
“Thanks,” She blushes again, and I hold back a groan. That blushing really is sexy on her. Her cheeks pop when they turn pink. It’s so easy to tell when she’s embarrassed.
“Later, Kitty Kat.” I wink at her before starting for the front door. Her jaw drops open, and she stands there in silence. I shut the door behind me and laugh to myself as I wander back upstairs to my apartment.
When I first moved here, I wasn’t that thrilled about being in a new place so far away from my home. From my family. But now? Now I’m buzzing with excitement. There’s something that shifts inside me when I’m around her. I have this odd need to protect her even though I barely know her. I protect people daily, but this need runs deeper.
My beautiful, introverted, and wholesome neighbor. The lovely Kat. I’ll do whatever I can to make her feel safe.
Chapter 5
Katrina
Bryce lives above me.He fucking lives above me. Bryce is my damn neighbor. What the hell? It wasn’t enough torture to have him know I go to OneShot, but now he’s my neighbor. Just my luck that the hot officer guy lives right above me. Am I being punished for something I did in another life?
I grab my hair and pull. “Ugh!” Maybe it’s the lack of what I’ve done in this one.
This is insane. But I invited him in, and he came in here looking hotter than he did with his uniform. His shirt was nice and tight so I could see how beautifully sculpted he is. His uniform hides a lot of him, unfortunately. He’s built like a warrior. It left me wondering if he has a six or an eight pack. Does it matter? All his sexy man looks literally made me even more speechless than I normally am. It managed to fry brains, too. And I just opened the door and let him in. I have never just let a guy in my apartment. Well, okay, no guy has ever been in this apartment. Except now Bryce has. I blame my virgin vagina.
Then we sat here talking, and that was nice. After a while, he made me feel much more at ease. Without even realizing it, I actually talked to him. He probably used his cop tricks to get me to open up.
Well, I was comfortable until he called me Kitty Kat. That … that was just … I have no words. I also have no clue what his endgame is. Does he want a friend? A date? A booty call? If he wants a booty call, I amsothe wrong person. Though, Vicki would probably just tell me to do it and get it over with.
I pick up my phone and call my bestie. While I’m pretty sure she’s just going to tell me to get my sex on with him, I need her input on this.
“Hey! What’s going on, Kat?” With the sound of her Mustang GT revving in the background, I can tell she’s in her car and possibly on her way to work.
I clear my throat. “Um, are you working tonight? I think I need an intervention.” I run my hands through my hair.
“From your books and stuff. Yes. I agree. Girl, you need to get out more. Explore the male population. Get you some dick.” She laughs.
“No, that’s not … Listen.” I wave her off like she’s standing in front of me. “Remember the officer who came into OneShot?”
“Officer “A”? Yup. The one you need to get it on with. Let him take you for a ride. Or, you can take him for a ride. Either way, sex.” Ugh. This girl’s mind is seriously all about sex.
I ignore her comments. “Well, he lives in my apartment complex.”