“It’s within my budget,” she answered, looking out the window as we drove through the city.
I laughed again, but I didn’t push it. The apartment she was going to see belonged to me. I’d humor her, though, and show it. It was too small for her. She needed room to spread her wings. The tiny place wouldn’t be it.
We rode in silence, so many thoughts swirling through my head. I inhaled deeply, breathing in how she smelled. God, I could get lost in that sweet scent for the rest of my life and beg for more.
When we arrived, I got out, followed her, and went straight into the building.
“Which apartment?” I asked.
“Twelve.”
Children cried in the distance as we went up the stairs. Once we arrived at apartment twelve, Renaldo was waiting for us. His eyes widened, and his face paled when he noticed me. I knew I scared him. He’d seen me kill men tens of times.
This wasn’t a safe neighborhood.
“Mr. Seeley, sir. I-I didn’t know you were coming today.”
“Funny that, isn’t it?” I commented.
“I-I have the money. L-Let me grab it.” He dashed off to a room at the end of the hall while we stared after him.
“What’s going on?” Rosalie asked, her voice trembling. She was a smart girl. She was putting the pieces together.
“This is my building,” I said, smiling at her.
“What? Yours?” Her voice came out in an adorable squeak.
I nodded. “It’s really not in a good neighborhood.”
“You’d be my landlord?” She seemed saddened by that, but I tried not to take offense.
“Technically,” I replied with a nod.
Her frown deepened, and all I wanted to do was turn the damn thing upside down. I’d never given a damn if a woman was sad or upset before, but her? I cared deeply.
I reached into my jacket, grabbed the ring of keys I kept there, and inserted the master key, which only I possessed, into the lock.
The door swung open, and I gestured for her to go inside.
“After you,” I said.
She sighed and stepped inside, her pretty eyes drinking it all in. The place was terribly small, but I made sure everything inside was updated. I wasn’t a slum lord, but I could only do so much in that amount of space.
“Good to see you’re not a slum lord,” she muttered, echoing my thoughts, and looking at the built-in bookcase in the tiny living room.
I laughed at her comment and left her to wander the area. I stepped out into the hall to get the cash from Renaldo.
“I’m sorry, sir. I didn’t realize you were the one who set up the new tenant?—”
“She’s not going to be a tenant here.” I stuffed the cash into my jacket.
“Oh.” He seemed confused by that, but it didn’t matter. His confusion wasn’t my problem.
I returned to Rosalie to find her in the tiny bedroom.
“Do you like it?” I asked, leaning against the doorjamb and taking in how small and delicate she was.
And that damn uniform hugging all the dangerous curves from her full breasts to her hips. It made my heart beat faster.
