As soon as I slide in beside her, Caitlyn turns to me. “I am really sorry for the inconvenience.”
“You are not an inconvenience.” I shake my head at her, grab my phone, and send Aleski a message.
Me:
Get the CCTV footage of the blocks around the 13th precinct. I want whoever mugged Caitlyn in my basement.
Aleski:
I’ll find them.
I don’t reply. Instead, I throw my phone down into the center console and start the engine. “What do you want for dinner?” I ask Caitlyn as I pull out onto the street.
“Oh, you don’t have to feed me,” she says.
“You’re coming to my house. I’m going to feed you and I’d rather make sure I have the kind of food you like to eat.”
“I eat anything,” Caitlyn assures me. “I really don’t want to be a bother.”
Chapter Six
Istare up at the house that Neo pulls up to. Except it isn’t a house. It’s a mansion on steroids. I’m doing my best to keep my mouth closed and not have my jaw hanging on the floor. But oh my god, who is this guy?
“This is where you live?” I ask him.
“Mhmm.” He nods and jumps out of the car. He’s at my door before I can even move. I take his offered hand, because I don’t know of a single reason why I shouldn’t.
That’s a lie. I know a million reasons why I shouldn’t. I’m just choosing to ignore them all, because I like holding his hand.
“How many people live here? Wait… do you live with your parents?” It’s one thing to come back to a man’s house. But to have him take you to his parents’ house, that’s kinda weird.
“No.” Neo chuckles. “I’m the only one who lives here,solnishko, which is why I’m looking for a roommate and you’re taking that spot.”
I shake my head. “Yeah, I can’t do that.”
“Why not?”
“I can’t afford a place like this, Neo. You’ve seen where I live.”
“It’s rent controlled.” He shrugs. “Come on, I’ll give you the tour.”
There’s something that screamsdangeremanating from this man, but all I feel is safe. It’s confusing the hell out of me. I don’t like men. I know better than to trust them, even if they’re the most handsome person I’ve ever seen.
I don’t really have much other choice right now. I can either take my chances with Neo, or take my chances sleeping in the hallway outside my apartment. Considering the neighborhood I live in, I think here might just be the better option. Not that I could fight this guy off if he wanted to hurt me, but I’d rather face one man than a crowd of them lurking around my building.
I’m silent as Neo takes me through his entire home. It’s like something out of one of those fancy house magazines. The place is immaculate. When we reach the second level, he opens a door.
“This is a guestroom, for you,” Neo says. “I’ll get you a shirt you can sleep in. My room is right here.” He points toan adjacent door. “If you need anything, you can come find me there. Get settled. I’ll go grab you a shirt.”
“Um… shit. Thank you,” I tell him. I want to ask if he has a sweatshirt. I get cold at night, and I like to sleep in something warm. But then my eyes land on the bed. I think the thick duvet will be plenty warm enough.
“Ask for what you want, Caitlyn,” Neo says.
“I was just… Nothing. It doesn’t matter.”
“I can wait.” Neo leans against the doorframe. He’s seriously going to wait for me to ask him?
When he doesn’t move after a minute of me staring at him, I cave. “Okay, I was just going to ask if you had a sweatshirt or something. I like to sleep in warm things. But any shirt will be perfectly fine.”
