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15

Phoenix

I t's been an odd couple of weeks. Everyone has been acting strange, almost as if they're on edge, waiting for the sky to fall. I don't know what to think of it. Raven has been hovering, which is something she never does. Lace has been weird. And Raptor has shown up at the house several times to check on things.

Okay, so maybe that last one doesn't bug me so much, but he's even acting strange, though he does a better job at hiding it than Lace and my sister. I don't know what to make of any of it. The extra time I've been able to spend with Raptor lately because of it—yeah, that's been amazing—but is there a reason behind it other than he wants to spend time with me? I hope not.

He's opened up with me about more—his favorite things, hobbies, and stories from his childhood. That part has been incredible. It's almost incredible enough to make me forget how strange everyone is acting, but not quite.

I decide to shrug it off for now and shift my focus as I head for class. At least I have that to distract me. It feels like this part of my life is finally starting to come together. I've dreamed of getting my degree for so long, and now I'm finally taking the steps to get there.

Mom would be so proud.

I smile at the thought and let myself get lost in academia for the next several hours, not giving another thought to the way everyone has been acting.

By the time my classes end for the day, it's early afternoon. A strange feeling overwhelms me as I walk to my car, an eerie chill that sends shivers down my spine. The kind you get when it feels like someone is watching you.

I look around, checking my surroundings for anything that stands out, and find nothing. I shake my head, laughing at myself. Way to go, Phoenix, freaking yourself out over nothing. But the feeling doesn't go away.

I'm about to jump in my car when I feel it again. Only this time, it's stronger. I look up and see a man around my age staring at me from the next lane over. I've never seen him before, and the look in his eyes makes my skin crawl. In record time, I'm out of the parking lot and heading home, taking a different route than usual, watching behind me to make sure I wasn't followed.

Before heading into my neighborhood, I pull four consecutive right turns, making sure the cars behind me aren't following suit. None do. When I'm certain no one is tailing me, I make my way home. The second I throw my car in park, I let my head fall against the headrest.

This is stupid. No one was following you. The guy in the parking lot was probably just zoning out. You're being paranoid.

I shake my head again, chastising myself for letting something so silly get to me. I mean, really, why would anyone be keeping tabs on me? I just moved here, and it's not like I've met enough people to make enemies. I'm being ridiculous over nothing. Taking a cleansing breath, I head inside.

Raven passes me in the kitchen on her way to work. "Hey, Nix. How were your classes?"

"Great. I'm enjoying them so far," I tell her, tempted to mention the parking lot incident, but decide against it. I'd hate to get her worked up over something so silly.

"I'm glad to hear it. I gotta go, but if you're hungry, there are leftovers in the fridge." I thank her as she heads out the door. After Raven disappears, I settle in to finish my homework.

By the time everything is complete several hours later, my stomach is begging for food. I dig into the fridge and make myself a plate of Raven's chicken carbonara. My mouth is salivating as I punch in the time on the microwave and hit start. As the machine fires up, the lights on the microwave go out with a flash. The buttons stop working, and nothing I do magically fixes the faulty appliance. Crap.

I send a text to my dad, asking if he has the landlord's number. He set everything up for us when we moved in, saying the landlord was a friend of Bear's, but we never got a number to call if things went wrong. It's strange, but I never thought much of it until now. Instead of replying with a number, he tells me someone will be over shortly to take a look.

Okay, that's odd, isn't it? I shrug off the fact that Dad wouldn't just give me the landlord's number and busy myself around the house.

Before I can think much about Dad's strange behavior, a loud knock sounds on the front door. Well, that was fast. When I open the door, I'm stunned. Raptor is standing outside with a toolbox in hand. As if he wasn't hot enough . . . I don't have time to marvel at how fast help arrived because the first glimpse of Raptor in his tight white t-shirt has my brain short-circuiting.

God, he's gorgeous.

"Hey. Did the landlord send you over?" I ask awkwardly when my mouth and brain finally resynch. I stopped short of wiping my mouth for drool, hoping my leering didn't go that far.

"Viper said you had a problem with your microwave," he replies smoothly.

I'm still blocking the doorway as I explain, "Yeah, it blew up when I went to make lunch."

He quirks an eyebrow. "Blew up, huh?"

I stick out my tongue as I shuffle aside to let him in, enjoying it far too much when his arm brushes mine on his way by. "I hit start, and there was a weird noise. Then, boom, dead microwave."

The corners of his mouth twitch as he heads for the kitchen. "I'll take a look. See if it can be salvaged."

I lean against the wall, trying to calm my racing heart as he sets down his toolbox. The erratic thumping only intensifies as I watch his muscles ripple as they work against the confines of his shirt. A thought crosses my mind that makes me stifle a giggle. Isn't this the plot of a bad porno?

Raptor hears me and shoots a questioning look my way. "You okay over there?"

I try to compose myself, pushing away the thought of Raptor starring in a home video in my kitchen. "All good," I lie.

He meets my gaze with a smirk. "Is that why you're blushing?"

My hands fly to my cheeks. The skin beneath them is radiating heat. Damn it. He laughs, and the sound echoes in a low rumble, making my thoughts go wild. "I'm going to check the breaker."

As he passes me, he stops, leaning close enough that I can feel his breath on my heated face. "I'll pretend I don't know you're imagining me shirtless in a home movie right now." A strangled gasp escapes my lips as I watch him walk outside.

How the hell did he know that? Am I that obvious?

When Raptor comes back inside, I busy myself cleaning up the living room. As much as I'd love to, I don't want to ogle him while he works. It's bad enough that he knows what I was thinking earlier. "Think I found the problem," he says. "Need to change out the breaker. The power may shut off in here for a bit while I switch it out."

I nod, pretending not to be impressed at his prowess as a handyman. He knows how to fix electrical . . . New kink unlocked.

When the job is complete, the power returns, and I hear a beep from the kitchen. The blue numbers on the microwave screen are back on. I pull my plate back out of the fridge and test it out. "Yes," I cheer as the machine dings, and out comes my plate of now piping hot chicken.

A chuckle sounds behind me. "I take it, everything's in working order now?" Raptor asks, leaning against the wall.

I nod as a huge smile spreads across my face. "It is. Thank you so much. You're a lifesaver."

"Happy to help."

I can't help but notice the way his arms bulge as he crosses his arms over his chest. His shirt is working overtime. Annnd here come those dirty thoughts again. I clear my throat, motioning to the plate in front of me. "You want some?"

A smirk flashes on his face as he pulls his lower lip between his teeth. "I could eat," he tells me, his voice husky, making me think oh-so-naughty things. I quickly turn away, feeling the blush returning to my skin as I make him a plate.

As we eat in comfortable silence, the only thing I hear is the sexy hum in his throat as he enjoys his meal. When he catches me staring, he grins my way. "Did you make this?"

I shake my head. "Raven did. We take turns cooking. Last night was her turn," I tell him.

He looks surprised. "Wouldn't peg her as the home chef type."

I let out a small laugh. "I know, right? Mom taught us both how to cook when we were younger. We learned so much from her." The memories of her come flooding back, and my throat tightens.

"You miss her," Raptor says softly.

"I do."

A warm hand covers mine, making my skin tingle when his thumb starts stroking gently. Desperate to change the subject so I don't break down in tears in front of him, I ask, "So, earlier . . . how'd you know what I was thinking?"

His eyebrows come together as confusion shows on his face. Before I can clarify, his smirk returns as he figures it out. "You mean the home video thing?" I nod, looking away, embarrassed.

Raptor laughs before answering, "I mean, the setup was all there—single guy comes over to fix his hot neighbor's microwave, tight white tee and toolbox on board. She opens the door looking like a sinful snack. It's classic dollar bin porno."

I can't help but laugh at his explanation. He hit the nail on the head with that one. That's when his words fully register. "Wait, you think I'm hot?" I look down at my outfit—a simple t-shirt and leggings—hardly snack-worthy.

His eyes find mine when I look back up. "I think you're hot and sexy and beautiful." My eyes widen as he continues, "I also think you're smart and funny and kind. Being around you makes me feel . . . good for the first time in a long time."

The hand that's still holding mine tightens as my breath leaves my lungs. Before I know it, I'm leaning closer, our lips inches away as he does the same. Just when we're about to connect—when I'm about to finally feel the sensation of his mouth on mine—the front door bursts open.

We jump apart to find Raven staring wide-eyed at us from the living room. "Oh, sorry to interrupt." Raptor stands up and starts gathering his things as Raven shoots me an apologetic look.

"I should get going," he says, clearing his throat. "Thanks for dinner."

"Yeah, no problem. Thanks for fixing the breaker." I walk with him to the door, sad to see him leave so soon.

Outside, he turns to me with a look of longing. "I'll see you later."

"Bye," I tell him as I watch him walk across the yard to his house. I lean my forehead against the door as I seal it shut, hearing footsteps grow closer.

"I am so sorry," my sister tells me.

"It's okay."

She hip-checks me and playfully replies, "So, working out a little handyman fantasy?"

I gape at her only to see her eyebrows wiggle. "No! He was fixing a breaker. The microwave fried it."

"Mmm, the old 'hot guy fixes his neighbor's appliance' bit. I like it," she teases.

"Shut up." My mouth twitches as I try not to laugh.

"Maybe we need a sign. Ya know, like a hair tie on the door or a magnet. Something to say Get lost for an hour . That way, we don't have any repeats of tonight." She shoots me another sympathetic look as the last sentence rolls off her tongue.

"That's not a bad idea. I'd hate to walk in on you and Jesse in a compromising situation."

Raven's laughter fills the room, and I know I can't stay upset with her no matter how close that kiss came to becoming real. I feel my mouth curl up as I imagine how it would have felt.

My sister eyes me with a soft but serious look. "You really like him, don't you?"

I nod, knowing my smile will give me away. "Yeah, I really do."

She's quiet for a moment as a solemn look comes across her face. "Just be careful, okay? Take things slow."

"I will," I tell her, knowing full well that it's a lie.