“Sure thing. The other thing: I have to go out of town for a couple weeks on a work thing.”
“Say no more. She can call on me.”
“That’s not what I was thinking,” Chris said, looking at me.
“Of course, your work guys can handle it better,” I said, going back to looking for a complete system to set up in her house.
“I was hoping you might stay with her while I’m gone?”
I dropped what I’d been holding and swallowed hard at his words. “Sure, I guess I could stay at her place. Or her at mine if it makes you feel any better.”
“Really?”
“Yep, not a problem. We will look at her apartment first though.”
“Okay. I’m gonna run home and get some rest and I’ll drop by at the end of the workday.”
“Sounds good. That will give me time to put some stuff together as well. See you around five?”
“I’ll be here.”
Chris walked out of the building, leaving me once again in the quiet. I sat down behind my desk and took a sip of my now lukewarm coffee. I had no idea what I had gotten myself into. Why had I agreed to stay with her. The longer I sat there thinking about staying with her the more I worried she would find out how I truly felt.
I shook those thoughts from my head. I wasn’t there to fall in love with her or to make her fall in love with me. I was there to protect her, to do a job. I drank down the remains of my coffee and went to work figuring out what system would be best to take to Becca’s.
Becca
“I still don’t understand why you didn’t call the landlord to change your locks. That is why you pay rent, Becca,” Dad said as he stood up and turned the deadbolt a few times to make sure it was working perfectly.
“I just figured you could get it done sooner. Besides, the landlord takes forever to get things done, Dad. It took him over a month to come and clear a clogged drain, and to be honest, if it hadn’t of backed up, it probably would still not be fixed,” I said, leaning in and kissing him on the cheek. “Could you also put this on?” I said, handing Dad the little swing bar door lock I had purchased.
“Becca, I just installed a deadbolt. You really think you need this as well?” Dad took that package and flipped it over a couple of times in his hands.
“Dad, please, the apartment down the hall had a break-in two nights ago. Yes, it’s necessary,” I lied.
I hadn’t told Dad the real reason I wanted the locks changed, and I hoped that Chris hadn’t mentioned anything to him either. I didn’t want him to worry about me. I smiled as I watched Dad crack the package open. Within five minutes, he had the additional lock on the door. He had just shut and tested the locks again when we heard voices in the hall, followed by a loud knock.
Dad pulled the door open and was greeted by Chris. “Dad, what are you doing here?” Chris asked with surprise in his voice.
“Becca’s neighbor had a break-in. She wanted a new lock. Honestly, I think it’s overkill, but whatever.”
Chris glanced over at me with a knowing look, and I shrugged. “You know my motto, Dad: one can never be too safe.” I sang, trying to keep Dad’s attention focused off of Chris.
Chris let out a laugh at my response, yet I smiled at my brother, thankful that he hadn’t come out and told Dad the real reason for all of this.
“Shit, kids, I’ve got to run,” Dad said, dropping a screwdriver into his tool bag. “I’m late for a meeting with the crown. Call me later,” Dad said, kissing my cheek, and then shook hands with Chris before taking off in the direction of the elevator.
“I’m glad to see you at least took my advice,” Chris said as he checked out the work Dad had just completed.
“Yep, oh, and I called the phone company. They switched my phone number.”
“Good. So they cooperated with you under the directions I gave you.”
“Yes. There was no problem at all,” I said, bending to pick up my laundry basket off the floor. I had dropped the warm clothes there when Dad had arrived, and if I didn’t get them folded, they would wrinkle. “So what brings you over here on your day off?”
I finished folding the T-shirt in my hand and turned to look at my brother when my apartment door swung open and Grant walked in. He carried with him a black duffel bag, which he set on the table across from me, and nodded. I looked over to my brother and frowned. “What is going on?”
“Look, Grant is here to check things over.”
“Hey, Becs,” Grant said as he dropped another box of stuff on the floor, along with another duffel bag. “How you doing?” he said, coming over and pulling me in for an enormous hug.
I wrapped my arms around him, pressing my small body into his large, muscular frame, and breathing in his musky scent. He’d always smelled good, and today was no exception. I lingered in his arms a little longer than I probably should have, and when I noticed Chris staring, I finally pulled away.
“I’m okay. You don’t need to do anything though. My brother is probably overreacting. Besides, Dad changed the locks, and I have a new number,” I blurted, throwing down the T-shirt I’d folded to hide my undergarments that were sitting on the top of the basket. I eyed the box and duffel bags that sat on the floor as Grant wandered over to the sliding glass doors and fiddled with the lock.
“Becca, I want to talk to you.” Chris sat down on my couch and signaled for me to sit down.
“What is it?” I said, sitting across from him, worried that he may have found something out.
“Grant is going to stay with you while I’m out of town, Becca.”
My eyes flew to my brother and then over to the six-foot-two hunk of muscle that stood in my living room.
“Um, no, I’m fine, Chris. Really.”
“You’re fine? Really, Becs? What if this guy had gotten a copy of your key and when you were at work, he came in and installed cameras and listening devices throughout this apartment?” Grant murmured while still fiddling with the lock on the door. “You still fine?” he asked, looking to me.
It took me by surprise that Grant had spoken up. In all the time I had known him, he rarely interrupted when Chris and I were talking.
“Well...um... you don’t think he did that, do you?” I asked, glancing around my apartment, meeting Grants slate-grey eyes.
“Never know. I’ve seen it done,” Chris said, getting up and grabbing an apple from the bowl on the counter.
I took a deep breath and looked around the room. I swallowed hard. “Would you two stop trying to scare me.”
“He’s not trying to scare you. That is why I am going to stay here until we get your stalker.”
I glanced over to Chris, who kept nodding while he bit into the apple. Then I looked over to Grant, who stood staring at me. I already knew I didn’t stand a chance in trying to talk either of them out of this. Even if I could, I wouldn’t even know where to begin to try.
“All right, I’ve got to get home and get packed up for this trip,” my brother said, taking the last bite of his apple and turning to give me a hug.
“Be safe,” I whispered.
“You’ll be fine. I feel better knowing Grant is here. You should too,” he whispered in my ear before letting me go. “Anyway, man, I’m outta here.” Chris held out his hand and Grant shook it.