It wasn’t until I parked outside the house that she finally spoke.
“Why do you all live in one house?”
I cut the engine and turned to face her.
“Why not?” I drawled.“Families live together, don’t they?”
“You're all related?” she asked sceptically.
“By life, not blood,” I said cryptically before stepping out of the car.
I watched her get out of the car and walk toward the house before following her inside. It made me wonder what she did once she was alone in our bedroom. How she moved. Where she stood. What she touched.
It also gave me an idea.
There was no reason we needed to miss Rowan’s first time with her.
By the time I unlocked the door and stepped inside, I was already mapping out camera placement in my head—angles, blind spots, coverage. She only had a few days left at work.
Plenty of time.
I sent a message to Rowan and Nick in the group chat.
Their replies were exactly what I expected.
Rowan sent a thumbs-up emoji.
Nick replied with a middle finger.
???
The following evening, we had live footage of Ella in Rowan’s office. After planning everything the night before, all I’d had to do was wait for my express delivery and install the hardware while she was at work.
I spent the early part of the evening in my office, then headed to Dominion once Nick messaged to say he was picking her up.
It was almost funny that she thought locking the door would keep us out. She’d learn otherwise.
On the screen, she set her bag down on the bed and kicked off her shoes—flat, sensible things that suited her job. Comfortable. Practical.
We’d catalogued the rest while clearing out her apartment. Heeled boots. Shoes. Sandals. Most of her clothes were modest. Simple. Unassuming.
It made me wonder how she’d adapt. And what I could do to make the transition smoother.
Now that Ella was inside our space, the potential was obvious—if she proved viable mid- to long-term.
Nick’s irritation would settle eventually.
Nothing ever fit perfectly at the start.
She began unbuttoning her tunic.
The office door opened, but none of us looked away from the screen.
“You’re like two peeping Toms,” Nick said with a quiet chuckle as he joined us.
“Three now,” Rowan replied, just as the tunic slipped free.
“Damn,” I murmured.
