Her gaze dropped. “Close to work if possible. I’m trying to find a small apartment by myself or a house to share with someone, but so far there’s nothing.”
He didn’t ask why she didn’t go to one of the bigger complexes and rent. There were always apartments available, but he didn’t know her financial situation. Maybe she couldn’t afford to rent in a big complex. Maybe she needed a roommate.
Or maybe she just needed something different.
“I have a garage apartment at my place,” he said. This time he wasn’t surprised by the words coming out of his mouth. He knew enough about Scarlett to know he wouldn’t mind her renting the space over his garage. “It’s in need of some cleaning and repair, but the building is sound and the space is safe. I was planning to rent it out after I repainted and cleaned, but it’s good to go if you don’t mind a studio setup.”
Scarlett’s expression was one of surprise. And maybe hope. “Are you serious?”
“C’mon, Scar, do you really think I’d make up a garage apartment just to tease you?”
She flushed. “No, of course not. But I’ve been thinking it was impossible to find what I wanted, and here you are, offering up a place that sounds perfect. I’m kind of astounded.”
“If you think an old studio over a garage sounds perfect, then you might need to up your standards.”
“Nah, my standards are fine. But are you sure you want to rent it out?”
“Very sure. When my organization moved here, I wanted a place of my own instead of sharing with friends. I bought an old farmhouse on a couple of acres. It’s not the most modern space in the world, but it gives me stuff to do when I’m not working.”
She looked apprehensive. “I don’t know. I mean we don’t really know each other…”
“No, not really. But we’ve gotten along well for the past couple of weeks, right? And I can get my teammates to vouch for me if you’re worried I’m going to turn into a jerk or something.”
“Are you insulted that the possibility has occurred to me?”
Was he? No. Whatever she’d been through, it’d obviously been bad if it’d made her so wary of men. But it was also safe to be wary as a woman. “Nope. I have a sister, remember? I realize that men don’t have to be as cautious as women, and that we don’t think about things like holding our keys as weapons when we walk to our cars in deserted parking lots. It’s a different world for women. I’d never be insulted over your caution.”
“Wow.”
“Wow?”
“I don’t think a man has ever said that much to me about women’s everyday fears.”
“A lot of men don’t stop to think about it.” He hesitated, thinking about what to say. But he needed her to know he understood. He sensed it was important to her. “My sister was attacked a few years ago. She wasn’t raped because someone happened onto them before the guy got that far, but it was close. I’ve never forgotten her fear or how long it took her to venture out again.”
Scarlett’s expression changed to one of concern. “Oh no, I’m so sorry. She’s okay now, though, right?”
“I think so. She doesn’t talk about it, but she’s got a boyfriend she’s serious with now. He’s helped her a lot too.” Mal took his phone from the table where he’d set it when he walked in and opened the pictures. Then he turned it toward Scarlett. “This is her. And here are my parents.”
Scarlett took the phone and swiped between the photos. “You two look a lot alike.”
“We’re twins.”
Her smile was instant. “Really? That’s so cool. No wonder you look so much alike.”
“She was born first and she never lets me forget it,” he said affectionately. He’d been in training when Mel had been attacked. He’d wanted to race home and take care of the guy, but that wasn’t a practical option. The justice system had worked, but only because the guy had committed a string of rapes that’d gone unsolved until a bystander saw him attacking Mel and intervened. If not for that, he’d have probably gotten away with another one.
Scarlett handed his phone back. “Is your place far?”
“Farther than you might like. About twenty-five miles south of here. I’m kind of in the country.”
“Hmm. How much are you asking?”
“How much can you pay?”
“Mal. I’m not a charity. And I still haven’t decided if it’s a good idea, so don’t go easy on me.”
He snorted. “Don’t go easy on you and make it irresistible?”
“Something like that.”
“Okay, well after I get it fixed up, I figure I could get about six-fifty for it since I’m not close to anything and it’s tiny. But if that’s more than you want to pay, I can take less. Especially since I can’t paint it right now.”
“You’re making this difficult.”
“I know. But come look at it after I get discharged. If you haven’t found anything by the time your roommate puts her house on the market, it’s yours. Bring a friend if you want, or I’ll have my buddies come and bring their wives and fiancées. Whatever it takes to make you feel safe.”
Her face scrunched up. Then her expression cleared. “Okay, I’ll come look at it. Thank you for offering. I really appreciate it.”
“Don’t thank me yet,” he said. “You may jump in your car and take off the instant you see the work it’ll take to clean it up. If you don’t, we’ll decide on a fair rent then.”
She held out her hand. Mal took it, enjoying the soft feel of her skin against his. He wasn’t quite prepared for the tiny spark that flickered inside him though. That was interesting.
“Deal,” she said.
“Deal,” he replied.
Chapter Six
Scarlett didn’t take anyone with her to Mal’s place when she went to see it a few days days later. She thought about it, but her gut told her it wasn’t necessary. She wasn’t afraid of him assaulting her. Her particular fear had nothing to do with that. No, she was more afraid of insidious abuse. The kind that made you question your own sanity as you asked yourself whether or not what you thought was happening was really happening.
Still, when she arrived at the white farmhouse set on two acres, Mal was sitting on the front porch with a woman. Scarlett realized it was Haylee, the woman who’d come to visit with one of Mal’s teammates a few times. Haylee came down the stairs, smiling as Scarlett got out of her car.
“Welcome, Scarlett. I was just visiting Mal and he said you were on the way. I thought I’d hang out and say hi.”
Scarlett took the hand the other woman offered and gave it a squeeze. Then she glanced at Mal, who was slowly making his way toward them. She didn’t know if he’d asked Haylee to be here on purpose, but she suspected he had. Yet another reason to like him.
Haylee’s phone rang as Mal reached them. “I have to take this,” she said. “Sorry. Be right back.”
“Sure, take your time,” Scarlett said.
“Hey, Scar. How’d that date go last night?” Mal asked when Haylee stepped away.