Mina huffs. “I went out when I was your age. My girlfriends and I tore up the city back in the day.”
“I don’t doubt it.” I grin to myself, picturing a young Mina Park going buck wild in the ‘80s. She was probably beautiful. Honestly, still is. “But you know how things are.”
“Gem would understand. She’s a smart, independent girl. She could handle herself for a night.”
“I appreciate the concern—"More like sticking her nose where it doesn’t belong, which is her natural state. “But honestly, I’m fine.”
“Sure you are, dear, but it’s not too late to live a little.” Mina turns away. “By the way, I heard the new owner is coming to check out the building this morning. Rumor says he’s a young, eligible bachelor.”
“I’m not sure why you’re telling me that last part.”
“Oh, no reason!” She beams and waves as she walks out.
I watch her go. An ugly uncertainty roils in my stomach. Mina’s just trying to tease me, but the prospect of meeting the new owner leaves me deeply unsettled. There are too many variables and uncertainties, and I have to get ready for my shift at the diner. I’m covered in dog hair, stinking like animal shampoo, and practically dead on my feet. Gem gets home late today, thanks to chess club. I don’t have space in my head for anything else.
I spend a few minutes whipping together dinner, mostly for when Gem gets back. She’ll have to heat it up, but she can handle a microwave. I start the shower, lay out my work clothes, and consider injecting a pot of coffee straight into my veins, when there’s a knock at the door.
“Mina, I really don’t have time for gossip,” I call out when the person in the hall bangs again. I grumble to myself and stomp over, annoyed that I’m losing precious time.
When I pull it open, my jaw drops.
This can’t be happening. I stare, trying to make sense of the beautiful stranger standing in front of me. Except I know him, or at least in a way.
It’s Stellan from the diner.
He’s looking at me with that confident, completely easy smile. His head’s tilted to the side and he radiates a strange, masculine energy. His shirt clings to his chest and his pants show off his muscular thighs, and it takes a beat before I realize that I’m checking him out. Which is not something I do. Men are just window dressing to me. They’re mannequins and customers, nothing more.
Except here’s an extremely beautiful man, one who saved my life, suddenly outside my door.
“Are you stalking me?!” I blurt out before I can think better of it.
That’s just about the dumbest thing I could say.
Stellan’s smile only gets bigger.
“Would you like it if I were?”
“Absolutely not. Only psychopaths and weirdos want an actual crazy stalker.”
“Which one are you then? Psycho or weird?”
“What are you doing here, Stellan?”
“You remembered my name.”
“Hard to forget.”
“You’re right. I’m a very memorable man.”
My jaw grinds with frustration. I’m starting to come back to my senses as the shock of seeing him on my doorstep fades. “Seriously, what are you doing here?”
“I came to introduce myself.”
“We’ve met before, remember? That casual brawl in the diner?”
“Not just to you, but to all my tenants.”
“Right, okay, but—” I start, stepping back. My eyes go wide in pure terror. “Did you just sayyour tenants?”
