Rory (Coded for Love 1)

He simply nodded.

“Buy me pizza tonight and I’ll give you your precious USB.”

“Where?”

She pulled her hand out of her pocket and handed him the torn corner of a piece of paper. Rory accepted it from her hand and read it.

Islington Tube Station.

First left outside the station, second right, next left, 6th door on your right.

Press buzzer marked 6a. 7pm.

She’d prepared in advance. He looked back at her, curious. “6a?”

“My apartment, although that’s a bit of an exaggeration. It’s cramped, it’s damp. Not enough space to do my art either, but it’s cheap. And you’ll get your hands on your precious USB there, if you’re up for it.” She waggled her eyebrows, gave a secret smile, waved, and left.

He watched her. Up for my precious USB? No honey, I know what you want me up for. You want to play out your rebellious streak with me.

She’d even said it once.

She’d cornered him at the back of the garage, all candy colors and bubble gum, and propositioned him. “Let’s fuck to annoy our parents.”

He’d laughed it off, but he’d wanted it too.

But Sky was seventeen and still at school.

His dad sussed them out and Rory gained an earful of damning warnings, bruises and a fractured rib as a result. Shortly after, he’d hightailed it out of Wales, afraid for them both.

Now she’d stepped in front of him and was fast getting tangled in his life, once again putting them both in danger.

I should walk away, keep her out of this.

But Sky had his essential tool kit.

Staring after her, he made a vow. Once he got the kit back, he would do exactly that. He’d walk away.

CHAPTER FOUR

As soon as her shift ended, Sky was out of there.

Darting through the crowd in the tube station, she leapt on a train and waited impatiently by the door until her stop. By the time she got to her lodgings, she had less than half an hour until Rory was due.

Slamming the door closed behind her, she stripped out of her uniform as she crossed the small room to the cupboard and shelves that were the only storage s

pace, and pulled out the outfit she’d decide to wear.

She had to make the most of the evening. Once he got his precious computer gear off her, she might never see him again. She wasn’t stupid. He’d used her, leapt at her offer to take the bag, and she wasn’t fooling herself he was coming for anything else. Flirting—yes, he still had time for that. But it was all about his computer stuff. She wanted to know more though, about him and his life in London. Could she persuade him to keep in touch, maybe meet again? She hoped so.

Looking into the mirror over the bathroom sink, she pictured him waiting for her by the Coffee Hut while she applied her lipstick. Lord, he’d looked good. All hard lean muscle, built for purpose, and waiting for her. She untied her scarf and ruffled her hair, wishing she had more time to prepare.

He’d always been streetwise, edgy with testosterone, bringing a hard masculine presence into her life. She’d missed him like crazy.

Her mother knew. Although it had been a joke to them, her mother Shelly and Rory’s dad, Patrick. They treated her like a little kid. Then up and left for the Far East, and she’d moved in with her Nan, her and her older sister Rowan. By that time Rowan was pregnant and had dropped out of school. As much as she loved her Nan, they were tough times. Dealing with college, fighting back her feelings about her mother. She’d had to grow up, fast.

Now she was over it, and by lucky chance she’d found Rory in London.

He looked even better. Rougher around the edges, but sure of himself.