Bethany admitted that she was probably romanticizing him a little. She was in danger of wishfully thinking he might be her hero and that wasn’t the case. He did have a temper. He was rough around the edges. He lacked charm.
Drew made her feel an attraction that she hadn’t felt with any other man.
Her parents wouldn’t like him. Then again, her father wasn’t such a paragon of virtue. Her brother Edward was in Europe. They weren’t particularly close. He’d always disliked that she’d allowed her parents so much control over her life. Edward had asked her how she could stand to not live her own life. Before he’d left, Edward had told her that she should do what made her happy, not what other people had expected of her.
She’d been heavily medicated, Bethany reflected ruefully. That’s why she’d done as her parents had always expected. It was hard to make decisions when you’re constantly being told that you aren’t capable of making them, that you’re not mentally strong enough.
Bethany looked at her reflection in the mirror. It was past time she started making her own decisions and live with the consequences, good or bad. She rummaged through her overnight bag. Exchanging the cumbersome pajama top for a dark camisole, she looked in the mirror again.
Better. She was decently covered and if Drew was looking, at least he wouldn’t see that ugly shapeless pajama top with its long sleeves and buttons. Maybe if they were in close proximity long enough, he might become attracted to her. Bethany would deal with those consequences, good and bad if it happened.
There was a knock on the door. “Beth? Did you fall asleep?”
She stuffed her pajama top into her bag and opened the door. Bethany couldn’t help but blush. So much for being sexy. Now Bethany just felt embarrassed. She looked at the floor. “No. Sorry.”
“Hey,” Drew said as he leaned against the wall. “I just wanted to make sure you were okay. It’s been a long day for you.”
She nodded and made her way past him. He’d turned down the covers on the bed for her. It was so sweet.
“Did you want anything to eat or drink?” Drew tried not to hover. It wasn’t easy in the small apartment.
“No. Thank you, I’ll be fine,” Bethany gave him a small smile. She showed him her book. “I’ll probably just read a little then go to sleep.”
“Okay,” Drew backed away, hands in his pockets. “I’m going to clean the bathroom. If you need anything, let me know.”
Bethany nodded. She waited until he’d left before crawling into the bed. She propped open the book but couldn’t concentrate as she listened to him trying to be quiet.
Drew closed the door to the bathroom softly behind him. He leaned against it, muttering, “Because that wasn’t awkward.”
With a sigh he grabbed the cleaning stuff from under the sink and set to work. It was too bad she’d seen the apartment so gross. Once he’d cleaned it Drew knew it still wouldn’t be up to her standards, but the place was old, and he could only do so much. He wondered why he was so concerned over her opinion of his apartment. It wasn’t like he was trying to impress her or anything.
Crud. Drew leaned back and looked at himself in the mirror. He was trying to impress her. He cared about her opinion of his place.
Double crud.
Drew grimaced. Somehow, Bethany was worming her way into his life. She was attractive. She made him want to protect her from everything. She had a habit of looking at him like he was some sort of hero.
It was addictive.
Drew knew that it was also a bad idea. Once this all was over, she’d be out the door and back to her regular life without a backward glance. He tamped down on any feelings he might have for Bethany. She couldn’t regard him as anything more than a cop willing to protect her during some uncertainty in her life. She was just using him.
He’d offered to be used. That was the stupidest part. Normally, cops didn’t do that. They did not open their own homes to protect ordinary citizens.
Drew was so screwed. Here he was cleaning for her, scrubbing the sink, the toilet, and what was that on the floor?
Ewwww.
He pulled a face. Really? Seriously, could Cotter and Ramesly not aim?
Drew sighed and got to work.
Drew’s phone rang. He grabbed it quickly, darting a glance at the bed. Bethany was sleeping, and he didn’t want her to wake up. Drew ducked into the hallway a moment.
“Colborne here,” he answered automatically, leaving the door to the apartment open an inch. The last thing he wanted was to get locked out and have to wake Bethany to let him in. He’d look really competent if that happened.
“I have laundry. Do you want yours done?” his sister asked.
Drew frowned suspiciously. “Since when do you offer laundry service? You’re always yelling at me to do my own if I ask you.”
