“It’s called introversion.”
“I know what an introvert is. I’m not one.”
“I can tell,” she said with a smile. “You’ve been up to talk to me every day.”
“Not just talk. I helped with some of the cleaning.”
“You did. Thanks again.”
“You don’t have to thank me. I should be cleaning the place. It’s my responsibility as a landlord to make it nice.”
“We had that discussion when you insisted on renting it to me at a ridiculously low price, remember?”
When Scarlett and Haylee had returned to the house that day last week, Haylee had said her goodbyes and left him and Scarlett to discuss arrangements. He’d asked Haylee to be there when Scarlett arrived because he didn’t want her to feel uncomfortable being alone with him. He didn’t know what her ex had done to her, but he knew it’d made her wary of men. He’d like to find the guy and put some fear into the bastard, truth be told.
“It’s not worth more than three-hundred right now. If I gut it and renovate, different story.”
“First of all, I don’t believe you. Even if you’re out in the country, it’s still within commuting distance to DC. And secondly, no need to gut it. It’s charming.”
“Charming. That’s one word,” he said, opening his door and stepping out onto the pavement. Maybe it was worth more, but he didn’t feel right charging her more when she was going to have to do a lot of work herself. It didn’t sit right with him. Plus, he didn’t need the money. He had enough with his military pay.
Scarlett walked around the truck to join him. “Don’t tell me you didn’t fall for some of that yourself when you bought the place. Your house isn’t exactly a testament to modern architecture. It has plenty of old charm.”
“And plenty of work to be done, too.”
“Why did you buy it then?”
He opened the door for her and she went inside the building, turning to wait for his answer inside the cool foyer.
“I needed something to do with my time when I wasn’t working. Plus, I grew up in an old house that always needed work. Living in something modern wouldn’t feel right.”
“I get that. We moved around a bit, but my favorite house was an old farmhouse with a barn and a well that you could still drop a bucket into. We were only there for a couple of years, but it was the most fun I think I had as a kid.”
“And now you’re having fun scrubbing floors and windows and vacuuming up spider webs, huh?”
“You know it,” she said with a grin.
“Come on, Scar,” he said, reaching around her to pull open the next door. “Let’s get your couch. Then we can grab some lunch on the way home. I’m starved.”
It was just a couch. And lunch. But Scarlett found herself surprised from one moment to the next that this was even happening. She hadn’t intended to say yes to Mal’s offer of help. She’d meant to go to the Home Depot and rent that truck, racing to the thrift shop to get the couch loaded and home again before an hour was up. Justine had said she and Neil would help on their next day off, so that’s what Scarlett had been planning for. She hadn’t asked, like she’d told Mal, but Justine had offered. Scarlett just wasn’t sure when that day would come.
But then Mal asked her when she was moving in. She’d explained about the couch—and he’d said they should go get it right then. She’d meant to say no. And then he’d pointed out the expense of the truck. She wasn’t an idiot, and math was one of her strong suits. The money she’d save on the truck would enable her to buy that cute little end table she’d been eying, provided it was still there.
Plus having the couch would mean she could stay the night in her own place instead of shuffling back and forth to Justine’s. Now that Scarlett had found a place, Justine was having contractors in to do some work before listing the house. The noise and dust were an annoyance Scarlett wanted to leave behind as soon as possible.
Scarlett walked up to the cash register to let someone know she was there for the couch. The woman behind the counter looked up, her eyes straying over Scarlett’s shoulder. She straightened suddenly, thrusting her boobs out, and smiled.
“Hi. Can I help you?”
“Scarlett Reed. I’m here for the sleeper sofa. I paid for it two days ago.”
The woman blinked at Mal, then dropped her gaze to Scarlett for a moment. Her expression wasn’t nearly as welcoming as it had been. “Sleeper sofa. Right. Give me a sec.”
She disappeared into the back room, but not before throwing a look over her shoulder at Mal. Scarlett shook her head when the door closed.
“You’re lethal, Mal.”
He shrugged. “Not trying to be. Can’t fight Mother Nature, though.”
“Modest too.”
“That’s me, Scar. Modest to a fault.”
“How’s your leg holding up?”
“It’s angry with me, but that’s okay. My therapist says I have to exercise it.”
“Your therapist also thinks you need to be careful and not push it too far. I believe she told you that as well.”
“She did, but between you and me, I think she’s overprotective of me.”
Scarlett snorted. “Really? Why would she do that?”
He leaned on the counter, his gaze sparkling as he raked it over her face. God, he was attractive. Dark hair, mossy green eyes, a chiseled jaw, and muscles that had muscles. Lean muscles, not crazy, overly veiny ones. His lips were firm, full, and kissable.
Kissable? Where the hell had that come from?
“Because she’s my friend. She likes me.”
Scarlett’s heart beat far too fast for a conversation between friends. The disappointment throbbing in her brain because he’d called her a friend shouldn’t be there, but it was.
“She thinks you’re okay.”
“Just okay?”
“Really nice. And a little dumb too. Renting your apartment to someone for a ridiculously low amount of money when you could get more. That’s not bright.”
“Not as dumb as you’d think, though. I didn’t lift a finger to improve anything and now I’m getting money for what was just an empty space.”
“Not as dumb as you pretend then. Hmm.”
He barked a laugh. “You’re fun, Scar. I really like having you around.”
She flushed with pleasure. “Happy to be of service.”
“You know, when I woke up in that hospital a month ago, I didn’t know what they were going to tell me about my leg. I didn’t know the extent of the damage, or if I’d even have a leg. I admit I was feeling kind of lost when the doc told me it was going to take time and I’d be out of work for a while, but meeting you has been the highlight of the whole thing.”
The flush grew warmer. Scarlett balled up her fist and socked him playfully in the arm. “Don’t even try and make me cry. It won’t work.”
He tweaked her nose and she rocked back, surprised but also flustered by his touch.
“I’m not trying. I just want you to know that I like you. Being with you is easy, and I don’t say that to many people. No reply necessary, so don’t wrack your brain trying to think of an appropriate response.”