Never again.
Lucas shifted his gaze to me as I sat down on one of the stools, and he tilted his head slightly. “And you live here alone.”
Ah. I cleared my throat, a twinge of discomfort hitting me. He’d spoken to Cameron, probably. It was hardly a secret that I’d lost my parents. “Yes, Sir,” I replied with a quick nod. In my peripheral vision, I was acutely aware of Colt eyeing me, so I scrambled out of my seat again and aimed straight for the first distraction I could find. “Coffee?” I croaked. Like an idiot. I didn’t wait for a response; I turned on the machine and set it to regular coffee. Then I went to the fridge and grabbed some bottled water and sodas. Because for some idiotic reason, I didn’t ask what they wanted.
After dumping the drinks on the island, I went back for another round to get milk and creamer and two mugs. Just…in case.
“Rosa made cookies,” I said and took my seat again. “She makes the best ones with white chocolate and macadamia nuts.”
Lucas adopted a curious expression and sat down next to me. “Who’s Rosa?”
I removed the plastic wrap from the cookie plate. “She takes care of the house. I’d like to call her family.” But she had her own. “Anyway. I’m sure you’re more interested in hearing about the places my dad’s friend found.” I slid the printouts to Lucas and explained that the best option was actually on the next street over, but it was a long, long street. I lived in the first block on one end, and they’d be at the other.
Colt opened the cupboards under the sink and located the trash, where he threw away his sushi container. Then he chose to stand rather than sit down, so he stayed on the other side of the island and leaned over the countertop, his forearms hitting the marble surface.
“This is an awfully big property for the two of us,” Lucas said pensively, reading the first page.
“It’s a two-story version of this house,” I confirmed. Securing housing for out-of-town clients was only a small part of what my father used to do, and the number of private contractors who arrived with their families was even smaller. Therefore, the few houses and bigger condos the company had on hand were usually the ones that stood empty.
“This was a done deal the second you heard the house was nearby.” Colt quirked a wry smirk at Lucas. “You can’t resist this neighborhood.”
Lucas chuckled and turned the page. To me, he said, “My grandmother on my father’s side lived in Georgetown. I loved visiting her as a child, and I stayed in the studio apartment in her basement all through college.”
I smiled. We had a basement like that too. “Where did you grow up otherwise?”
“Bethesda,” he replied. “Colt’s a Texas boy.”
I half glanced at Colt to see him tipping his cap at Lucas.
They were sweet together. I bit at my thumbnail and caught the soft smile on Lucas’s face before he refocused on the documents, and my heart made an extra thud. Would I ever have what they had? Would I ever belong to someone?
To be honest, love was the last thing on my mind. It was a distant dream. I’d be beyond happy to make some local friends. I missed playing too.
Colt turned to me, instantly putting me on edge. “So, if the place we’re movin’ in to is a smaller version of this one, mind giving me a tour?”
I certainly would mind. “No, Sir. I can do that.” I prayed I didn’t sound as nervous as I suddenly felt.
Lucas would join us, right? He felt safer. In the presence of Colt, I’d already made a fool of myself once. Oh God, what if he brought it up?
Colt was the picture of casual as I slowly shifted off the stool, stalling an extra second to see if Lucas would spare me any agony. But he was immersed in the paperwork. I was a goner. He wasn’t tagging along.
I swallowed hard and left the kitchen with Colt in tow.
“You’ve, um, seen the living room.” I cleared my throat and gestured to the room past the living room. “The dining room is over there—”
“Where’s your room?” He glanced up the stairs, then cocked his head at me.
My jaw tensed. I didn’t want him to see my rooms. Well, the bedroom was safe, but he’d have opinions about my hobby room.
“Third floor,” I muttered.
His eyes glinted with amusement. “You know I gotta see it, kid.”
Heat flooded my cheeks, and I sort of wanted to kick him in the shin. “I know nothing of the sort,” I replied in a clipped tone.
He flashed a grin at that and entered my personal space. I instinctively took a quick step back, but there was the wall. Shit. I almost gulped, and my heart rate kicked up.