I unlock my door.“I’ll grant you an exception.”
“Beautiful and kind.”He lowers the boxes onto the coffee table, thighs flexing in his jeans, biceps visible under his jacket.
“What about your coffee?”
“Take it,” he says brightly.“I haven’t drunk from it or anything.”
He looks around, eager and curious.There’s not much to see—more boxes and a stack of photos I haven’t had the energy to put up yet.
I push it into his hands.“I’m not going to take your coffee.”
“Why not?It’s great coffee.”He punctuates this by taking a sip.
Annoyingly, it smells amazing, but I’m no fool.“Didn’t anyone ever teach you about stranger danger?”
This cracks him up for some reason.I watch, transfixed, as the joy plays out over his face, nothing hidden, nothing held back.It’s beautiful.I want more of it.
“Love, all my best memories come from talking to strangers.”
I want to know everything about him.
“Well, either way, I’m not drinking out of anything I didn’t order myself.”
“Yeah, that’s smart.I guess I’ll have to take you out so you can get what you want.”
It’s smooth as hell.I’m genuinely impressed.“And if I say no?”
The apartment is small enough that it only takes him two strides of his long legs before he’s in the kitchen, throwing me a knowing smile when he sees the stack of takeout boxes in the trash.
I’ve barely moved in, and I’m already getting judged by the neighbors.
“I’d be devastated, of course,” he says.“Come over next week.I’ll cook you a proper meal.”
It’s tempting.
“Maybe.”
“That’s not a no,” he says, pleased.
“No,” I confirm, the warmth in my chest radiating outward, reacting to his endless enthusiasm, “it’s not.”
He gets real close, smelling of leather and woodsmoke and reminding me of every dark impulse I’ve ever had.A silver chain hangs from his neck, thick, like he is.This is a man who takes up space.
“I don’t even know your name,” I say, a little breathless.
“Lachlan Williams, in 704,” he says.“But you can call me Lucky.”
“From the note.”
He winks.The look in his eyes promises wicked things.
Funny, because I feel like the lucky one right now.“I’m Mia.”
“A pleasure,” he says, kissing my cheek.“Dinner’s at eight, any day you’d like.”
My laugh chases him out the door, but we both know I’ll be there.
* * *
