Page 16 of Ruining Hattie

BASTION

“ B astion, I can’t live with you!” Hattie rounds the back of the SUV where I’m talking to the driver, tipping him while instructing him to hand off the bags to the doorman in the lobby.

I have to suppress my grin. Hattie played into my plan so perfectly when I offered her the job. And when she agreed to live in my apartment? Even better.

There is an apartment, and it is currently vacant, but there’s nothing wrong with it.

She doesn’t have to know that. Getting Hattie to live with me is just one step closer to the goal.

The more time I spend with her, the more I can get her to like me and the faster I can get her into my bed, among other things I have planned.

I don’t know what it was like to be excited for Santa to come on Christmas Eve—my childhood didn’t allow for that—but I imagine it must be something close to what I’m feeling now.

I turn away from the driver and move Hattie toward the elevator door with my hand on her waist. It’s not lost on me that even after I’ve sprung this on her, she doesn’t pull away. My mother did her a disservice by making her so trusting.

“There’s no other option. Rent in Seattle is ridiculously expensive, and the vacancy rate is low.

I just found out about the apartment early this morning, and I’m certainly not going to put you out on the street.

You can stay with me until the repairs to your unit are done. ” I press the elevator button.

“Are you sure? I don’t want to intrude. You don’t have to do this, Bastion.” There’s so much concern in her eyes, and I get the feeling that she’s more worried about if this is okay with me than the fact that she’s had this sprung on her.

How this woman got through life this far without being completely taken advantage of, I have no fucking clue.

“If it weren’t fine, I wouldn’t have brought you here.” The elevator dings its arrival, and I hit the button for the penthouse.

“You live on the top floor?”

Her panicked voice spurs a chuckle from me. I almost find her na?veté endearing. Almost.

“Of course.” The elevator doors open on the top floor, and I step out of the elevator first. There’s only one other condo on this level, and I lead Hattie to the right and down the hall.

After I push in the code to enter my place, I look over my shoulder at her.

“I’ll text you the code so you have it.” Then I swing the door open and motion for her to enter first.

Her hazel eyes widen as she slowly steps past me, her eyes soaking in the space.

I try to see the place I refer to as home through her eyes—the two-story windows overlooking part of the city and the water, the massive open kitchen that opens to the living and dining areas, the wet bar at the far end of the space, and the glass-front wine cellar filled with only the best bottles.

“Wow. I’ve never seen anything like this before.”

I figured. “Shall I give you the tour?”

“Are you sure it’s okay if I stay here with you? I don’t want to cramp your style if you want to have Ariana over or something.”

Shit, I didn’t give her enough credit. She’s fishing. And the only reason she’d do so is if she was the slightest bit jealous. That shouldn’t make me as happy as it does.

“My sister lives thousands of miles from here, so no need to worry about that.”

The tension in her shoulders relaxes. I thought she was worried about the prospect of sharing space with me, but maybe it was mostly her thinking my sister is my girlfriend.

“Oh, your sister?”

I nod.

“Even so, I’m sure you date, I mean…” She motions toward me. There’s her indication she finds me attractive. It’s so damn easy with her. She wouldn’t play a mind game with someone unless they offered to pay her parents’ medical bills.

I can’t fight my smile. “Hattie, are you telling me you find me attractive?”

Her cheeks instantly pinken. “What? No. I mean, yes, but… not like that.”

“Huh.” I run my hand down my face, allowing my eyes to roam up and down her body.

“Shame.” Then I walk by, ignoring her lingering stare.

“This is obviously the main living area. You’re welcome to help yourself to anything in the fridge, bar, or wine cellar.

Sadly, I do most of my eating at restaurants or by ordering in, but pick up anything you want and stock the cupboards if you’d like. ”

I motion for her to follow me down the hallway. “Down here you’ll find the washroom, laundry, and this is my bedroom.” I gesture to the right, where the door is open.

Hattie pauses beside me, but doesn’t go in.

“You can go in and check it out if you want.”

She whips her head in my direction. “No, that’s okay.”

I chuckle and continue down the hall. “This is the gym. I don’t know if you work out or not, but you’re welcome to use it. Down here is another bedroom, my office, and then your room.” I step inside the last room on my left.

She follows, and I watch her take in the space with wide eyes. She’s completely overwhelmed.

“There’s a large walk-in closet, and this is your private en suite with a soaker tub. Do you enjoy soaking in a hot bath, Hattie?” A vision of her naked in the water with a few bubbles surrounding her runs through my brain, and my dick twitches in my pants. Shit.

She swallows and looks away from me when she answers. “Maybe.”

I smile behind her back as she enters the bathroom to check out the space.

“All this furniture is yours to use, but if you find anything not to your liking, let me know and I’ll replace it.”

She turns around to look at me, and her forehead creases. “How long will I be here for?”

I shrug. “Not sure. Depends on what the roofer and contractor find when they look at the apartment.”

Hattie nods a bit hesitantly. The chime for my condo goes off before I can say anything more.

“That’s probably your bags. Come on. I want you to meet Jeffery.” I leave the room.

Hattie follows. “Who’s Jeffery?”

I look over my shoulder at her as I reach the end of the hall. “He’s the daytime doorman. You can see him for almost anything you need, and if he can’t help you, he’ll find someone who can.” I reach the door and swing it open. “Jeffery, thanks for bringing these up.”

“No problem.” He wheels in a luggage cart stacked with Hattie’s bags.

“Jeffery, this is Hattie, the owner of all this luggage. Hattie, Jeffery.” I gesture between the two.

“Pleasure to meet you.” He extends his hand toward Hattie, and she takes it with a smile.

“Nice to meet you, Jeffery. Sorry you had to bring all of this up here.”

He waves off her concern. “It’s no trouble, miss.”

“Jeffery, those can go in the bedroom at the end of the hallway on the left.”

“Yes, sir.” He pushes the luggage cart through the living room and disappears from view when he turns to go down the hallway.

Hattie walks over to me. “I feel bad,” she whispers.

I lean in closer to her. “Don’t. It’s his job. I’m sure he’s happy to be gainfully employed.”

She presses her lips together and nods. “I guess…”

Jeffery reappears with an empty luggage cart.

“Hattie is going to be staying with me for the foreseeable future, Jeffery, so anything she asks for, please make sure she gets it.”

He nods. “Of course, sir.” Then he looks at Hattie. “It was great to meet you. Don’t hesitate to reach out for anything.”

“I will, thanks.”

I get the door for Jeffery, and once he’s gone, I turn to face Hattie. “I’ll let you get settled. I have to go into the office for a while, so I might not be home until pretty late. You have my number, though, so reach out if you need anything.”

“You’re leaving me here by myself?” Her alarmed expression is comical.

Oh, Hattie, already so attached? Perfect.

I chuckle. “I’m sure it won’t be the last time now that you live here. Make yourself at home. I’ll see you later.”

When the door shuts behind me, I take a minute to enjoy the moment. Ruining Hattie is going to be such sweet justice. Carla will regret ever making me an afterthought in her life by the time I’m done with her stepdaughter.