Joel’s gaze settles on the phone and I inwardly will my heart rate to slow.We aren’t alone even if we’re the only two physically here.
“My landlord, Joel Hummel, is in my place without my permission,” I say his name clearly and slowly, as well as his violation.
He shows no obvious sign of concern for what he’s done.In fact, he seems to be enjoying this, staring blatantly at me, and a sick queasiness trolls through my belly.
“Tell him to leave now,” Pippa orders and my stomach sinks as his eyes dip from my face to my chest.
He makes no attempt to hide his fixation with my wet blouse, clinging to my breasts.My nipples poke through the thin fabric and I shiver from the spine-tingling chill of his leer.
Licking his chapped lips, he pushes his thick-rimmed glasses up the bridge of his nose, and I shudder again.
“Please leave.”My arms cross over my chest.
“I-I-I’m sorry, Ms.Hayes.I thought I’d get right on the things you wanted fixed.Your list is very long, and I didn’t want you to have to wait.”
“My list wouldn’t have been long if you’d fixed those things before I moved in.”
Edging my way to the bathroom, I press my back against the wall to keep as much distance between us as possible in the narrow hallway.I snag my robe off the hook behind the door and slip it on, instantly feeling less exposed as my breathing begins to steady.
His beady eyes drink me in from head to toe and he rubs a hand down his pockmarked cheeks.If he doesn’t start to make a move to leave, I’m going to lose my shit.
“I just texted Tom, he’s on his way,” Pippa says.“Tell the idiot you’re calling the cops if he doesn’t go.”
“Well, I’ll get going.”Joel picks up the toolbox from the floor.
“Fine.”I follow him down the stairs at a safe distance.“He’s leaving,” I say into the phone and also to remind him that there is someone on the other end of the line.
“‘Bout fucking time.I’m just glad Drew isn’t here—he’d have called the cops.”
I bite back a nervous snort.She’s right.My brother would jump through the phone line to protect me and the thought gives me strength.
At the bottom of the stairs, Joel turns to face me, and all sense of security evaporates.He stands between me and the front door.Going back upstairs is my only option if I want or need to get away from him.
He’s got me cornered with no escape.
“About your list.I didn’t know all those things needed fixing,” he says, as if to suggest there isn’t an arm’s-length-long list of things wrong with this place.“You know, it almost makes me think you made it all up to get me over here.”
Is he flirting?Or at least that’s what he thinks, if his blush is any indication.Flirting?Yuck.I want to punch him in the nuts and hurl.
The sinking feeling is back but, not willing to give into the helplessness, I draw on my anger.I’m pissed at my vulnerability and for not listening to my gut all those weeks ago when I cringed at our first meeting.
“Made up?”I square my shoulders.“Did you or did you not have to replace the hinge on the door upstairs?”
“Yeah.”He smirks, gathering unexpected swagger from somewhere and I’m surprised.To look at him, you’d never imagine he’d have the balls.
“Leave now and don’t ever do this again.Next time you want to come in, you must call me at least twenty-four hours before.”
“You tell him,” Pippa says.
His slimy gaze morphs into something more sinister as his dark eyes narrow into slits and his dry lips thin into a tight line.This is where I live.I should feel safe.He’s scared me but I won’t let him get any satisfaction by seeing my fear.
A loud, incessant banging on the door startles us and Tom bellows my name, threatening bodily harm if he doesn’t lay eyes on me this instant.Joel steps to the side, looking worried for the first time tonight, and I slip by to open the door.
“Thank fuck.”Tom barges in, shirtless in grey sweatpants and sneakers.
His golden hair is in disarray and he’s panting slightly as if he ran over, which he most probably did.He slips an arm around me protectively and I sink into him, relaxing for the first time since discovering my landlord.Pippa’s baby brother is here.Thank goodness.
“Tom’s here,” I say into the phone and Pippa sighs, muttering something I don’t catch.“I’ll call you back soon.Bye.”
