Then she turned back to me. “Thanks.”
I gave a short nod, as if this was no big deal. As if I hadn’t just offered my apartment to the woman who looked like my past and was apparently going to be part of my future.
Internally, though, I was spiraling.
What did I just do?
Claire stood, phone in hand, and started toward the door.
Halfway there, she paused, just long enough to look over her shoulder at me.
“Thanks for the tour,” she said. Her voice was even, but her eyes lingered. “And for keeping me closer to my nieces.”
Then she was gone.
The door clicked shut.
Nolan didn’t look at me right away. He just exhaled.
Then, “You okay, Callahan? You look like you saw a ghost.”
I didn’t answer.
Iwantedto blame the resemblance.
But that wasn’t what had me watching the door after she left.
Settling In
Claire
Ihad it down to a science.
Two suitcases, one backpack, and one reusable grocery tote that held my mobile office. I’d packed with military precision, every zipper compartment maximized, every cable coiled and labeled. Efficiency was my native language.
He must’ve heard the elevator, because the door was already open when I reached it.
Liam was standing in the entryway, hands in his pockets, trying not to hover. He was polite about it, didn’t ask if I needed anything, didn’t pretend we were suddenly roommates. Just nodded and stepped aside so I could pass.
That cologne again.
I adjusted my grip on the grocery tote and walked toward the hallway, where the guest rooms were located. And that’s when the travel mug slipped.
The stainless steel clattered against the hardwood once before Liam caught it mid-bounce.
"Good reflexes," I said without thinking, pausing just long enough to accept it back.
"Goalie," he replied, as if that explained everything. It kind of did.
I let out a short breath. Not quite a laugh. "Right. Makes sense."
His broad shoulders that made sense in the context of net coverage. His movements were controlled, minimal. Economical, even. The kind of muscle memory that doesn’t waste energy.
I rounded the corner into the guest suite and mentally ticked off the list—bed, closet space, outlet accessibility, natural light, temperature control. Everything in order.
This was temporary. Just a stopgap while Nolan’s place was filled with family chaos. I’d stay out of Liam’s way, be respectful of shared spaces, and make zero assumptions.
Simple.
