“It’s okay,” I assured him. “Reeti doesn’t believe in payback. But she does believe in friends doing nice things for one another.”
“We hardly know each other.”
“And we won’t as long as you have that giant stick up your arse,” Reeti said.
His breath gusted out, a huff of... amusement? Annoyance?
I smothered a grin. “Please stay. I promise I won’t put you in a book.”
“It would be a very boring story if you did,” he said dryly.
I wasn’t so sure. There were layers to this guy.
“Sit,” Reeti commanded.
“I need to wash my hands first,” he said.
She made an elaborate gesture toward the kitchen. “Be my guest.”
He washed his hands at the sink, drying them on a dish towel before rolling down his shirtsleeves. He had nice forearms, I noticed as he buttoned his cuffs.
“How long have you been neighbors?” I asked after we sat down. Smoothing things over. I was good at that.
“A year,” Tim said.
“Where did you live before?” Reeti asked.
He hesitated. “London, mostly.” No mention of his time in Afghanistan.
“I’ve been here five years.” She scrunched her nose. “My parents wanted me to live near the gurdwara. Plus, they thought a flat would be a good investment.”
“They’re right,” Tim said. “About the investment, at least. There’s a limited supply of housing in Dublin and continued growth, especially in the technology and financial sectors.”
“James says most of the new construction is offices and luxury apartments,” I offered.
“ ‘James’?” Reeti echoed.
“Glenda Norton’s husband.”
“Hm.”
“Who is Glenda Norton?” Tim asked.
“A professor at Trinity. She invited me to stay with her while I look for an apartment. I’m watching her kids.”
“The little blond girl at football practice.”
“Sophie, yes. And her sister, Lily. They’re very nice, and the house is gorgeous. It’s like living with the Banks family.”
“Who?” Reeti asked.
“Mary Poppins?”
“Blown in on the east wind,” Tim murmured.
“That’s the one with the neglectful mother and the shit dad, yeah?” Reeti said. “I heard there was a problem with the last au pair. I’d watch out if I were you. The last thing you need is some other fucker bothering you.”
I swallowed hard, conscious of Tim across the table, a heat rising in my cheeks that had nothing to do with the spice levels inthe chicken. “It’s not like that. At all.” I was valued. I was needed. An integral part of the family. Temporarily.
