“Yep, I know you can,” I tell her as I walk it down.
She’s carrying a crossbody bag over her shoulder and her handbag.
“Thanks,” she says at the last stair. “I’m all set.”
She brushes past me and almost runs right into a guy carrying extension cords. “Sorry!”
“No problem.” The man smiles.
“I’ll be out of your way for the next five days.”
“Five days? Miss, did anyone tell you how long we are scheduled for?”
The colour drains out of Mara’s face.
I grip her arm. “It looks like a massive undertaking.”
“Yeah. Floors are being done, the wall between the living room and the kitchen is going to be taken out and then we have a kitchen install to do.”
“That’s…wow. Okay.” Mara shakes her head.
“This has been planned for weeks…” The guy starts.
“Of course it has,” I say smoothly. “We’ll let you get to your work.”
“Yeah, no, of course. Sorry, I should really check my email more often.”
I take Mara’s arm and walk her out the door.
“I need to check that email,” Mara says.
”Okay.” I open the passenger door for her, grinning like a loon.
“Evan, why are you happy about this? This is the worst possible timing. I was just getting on my feet with my new business and now I need somewhere new to live and somewhere for my work.”
She blinks away tears. I brush away a tear with my thumb. “It’s going to be okay, Mara. You have somewhere to stay. We'll find you a workspace.”
“You make it sound so easy.”
“It is.” I brush my lips against her cheek.
Mara shakes her head, sending her curls bouncing. “What if you hadn’t come along?”
I slide into the driver’s seat and roll down the long driveway out onto the highway, contemplating how to answer Mara. The subject of money is touchy for a lot of people.
I don’t know if it's that or if she needs reassurance that I am not some kind of knight rescuing her.
“I’m an opportunistic kind of guy, especially when it comes to something I want. I came here to talk to you. It’s my good fortune that you’re out of a home because I know what I want. I want you, Mara.” I take her hand in mind. “What would you have done if I hadn’t shown up?”
She glances at her phone. “I guess I would have stayed at Arthur’s place. Or I would have asked a friend if I could crash there.”
“See? I’m not your knight.”
Mara laughs, a whole body shaking spirited sound. It’s the sound I fell in love with that first night I met her. I squeeze her knee, my cheeks aching from the grin on my face.
“You fit the role of knight very well.” She flashes me a sly smile.
“I do?” I sweep my hand up her thigh.
