“You…”
“It matters to me that you’re safe, Kelsey.”
She accepted the key.“I don’t know what to say.”
“You can celebrate by turning the lock several times and cheering each time it works the way it should.”
The key went straight in and the tumblers worked perfectly.“I can’t believe this.How did you get in?”
“Is that a real question?”
“It was really that unsecure?”
“You were working harder to lock it than it was to unlock.”
“Then double thank you.”
Just then, Mr.Martinez’s door opened and Sinbad rolled over the threshold for his nightly walk.
The man crouched to guide the ball to the middle of the hallway.
“Let’s get out of the way,” Kelsey said.“Night, Mr.Martinez.”
He lifted a hand in a silent goodbye.
She effortlessly opened the second lock.Within seconds, she had them both sealed inside.
No one had taken care of her since she’d left home at age eighteen.Not necessarily because they wouldn’t, but rather because she didn’t want to be told what to do or encouraged to find a husband.Suddenly, though, she realized it might be nice to have some help.
“Extra keys are on the table,” he said, pointing.“Along with the locksmith’s card in the unlikely event something goes wrong.And I promise I didn’t invade your privacy.We didn’t take two steps into the room.Your Mr.Martinez conveniently decided to walk his hamster the whole time.Keeping an eye on us, I’m sure.”
“Did he really?”They’d hardly exchanged two dozen words in the time they’d been neighbors.It was nice to know he was looking out for her.“I’m not sure how to thank you,” she said to Nathan.“What do I owe you?”
“Your undying love and devotion.”
She dropped her bag on the floor.“Will you settle for a hundred dollars?”
“I was sure that’s what you’d say.”His grin was quick and easy.
“Were you actually teasing, Mr.Donovan?”
“I might have been, Ms.Lane.Then again, I might be deadly serious.Question is, how will you know?”
Not knowing quite what to say, she shrugged out of her jacket.He took it from her and hung it up.
“May I take yours?”
“Thank you.”First he put down his bag.
It surprised her to realize how much she liked helping him with his suit coat.
“Remember to get the nipple clamps,” he told her.
She bent to get them out, and he offered a hand up.Just like last night, now that he had expectations, she was nervous.
After putting the set in his outstretched hand, she asked.“Something to drink?”
“Water, if you have it.”
