“I’m glad I could help. But this is weird, isn’t it?”
Weird? Like she was uncomfortable? Regretting her decision?
“I mean, we hardly know each other, but I want to know you. It’s a lot to take in. I want you to feel welcome, but I had about a hundred plants throughout the house, and I had to move them all to the porch. So now my living room kind of looks like nobody lives here, and it forced me to admit I have a bit of an obsession.”
She blushed as she babbled, and then her mouth shut with enough force that I heard her teeth clack like she had to force herself to stop taking.
Phoebe meowed happily as Jenna picked up the carrier and walked to the living room, and I followed her like a lovesick puppy, taking in the warm colors and bright space. She had a big indigo armchair and matching couch, with a dark round coffee table set in the center. The back was all windows that had a view of the patio. Plants were stacked all over on the patio furniture. The walls were the same light color as the table in the foyer and covered with more paintings and pictures. Nothing about her house looked empty or unlived in.
“This is it,” she said, sweeping her arm around the space. “Your bedroom is over here. It has its own bathroom, but the shower is on the fritz, so feel free to use mine. I’d keep your bedroom door closed for a day or two, so Phoebe can get used to the new smells before she roams the house. You’re working the night shift this week, right?”
“Yeah. I work two twelve-hour shifts from three to three. Then I’m off for twenty-four hours. That’s my schedule for the next two weeks, and then I’ll transition back to days.”
“Have you had dinner?”
“Dinner? No. I was going to pick up something on the way to the station. I’m going to put my duffle and Phoebe in my bedroom if that’s okay.”
“Of course, here. I’ll help.” She walked to the open bedroom door and sat the carrier on the bed.
The room was a decent size, with a smaller bed than I was used to, matching night tables, and a dresser with a television on top. I put the duffle bag beside the carrier and took out Phoebe’s supplies. Jenna took them from me, brushing her hand on mine. I wanted more of those touches, but instead, I reached in the bag and pulled out my phone charger, slipping behind her to put it on the nightstand. When our bodies brushed, she stood up straighter, and I couldn’t help leaning down to smell her hair.
The subtle scent of peaches followed her, and I wanted to carry that smell with me through my shift.
“Mark,” she said, looking at me from the foot of the bed.
“Hmm,” I answered, reaching out to take Phoebe out of the carrier.
I sat her on the bed, and she paced back and forth, sniffing the comforter and pillows before sitting down to bathe herself.
“Nothing. It’s nothing. I’ll let you get settled.”
With that, she walked out of the bedroom. I could hear her feet creak across the hardwood floor as I unpacked. I hung up my uniforms and took out my small gun safe, laying it on the nightstand.
Phoebe meowed from the bed, and I sat down, kicking off my shoes and scratching behind her ears.
I had a little more than an hour before I had to leave, so I reached up and tugged my T-shirt off, folding it and laying it neatly on the dresser. I was just pulling my pants off when I heard a knock at my door.
“Ugh, shit,” I mumbled. I was yanking my pants back up when the door opened.
“Oh my god. I’m so sorry, Mark.”
I turned around, and Jenna stood in the doorway with her hands over her eyes, like I was naked and jerking off. I looked down, grateful my jeans had made it almost to my hips, and my briefs were still on.
“Why did you say come in?” Jenna asked, turning her back to me with a huff.
“I didn’t.”
“What—I thought—what did you say? Oh no—now I’m the weird creeper that just walks in on people.”Jenna kept her back to me and walked out, mumbling to herself.
Fuck.
My jeans made it to my hips before I went after her. “Jenna,” I called, racing through the living room and finding her talking to herself in the kitchen.
Her back was to me, but I caught the words wacko and peeping tom.
“Jenna,” I repeated, coming up behind her as she stood in front of the sink, staring at a lone coffee mug. She faced me and stared at my feet before taking a breath.
“I am so sorry, Mark. I thought you said come in. I was just coming to tell you I was heating something up for you to eat,” Jenna said, still staring at my stocking feet.
