5. Colder

The rain was backin full strength. I woke to it, teeming along the skylight.

I flung my arm over my head, contemplating rolling over and sleeping the rest of the morning away. Sleep had been elusive, cut with dreams of summer blue eyes and a secret smile.

Naomi—still of the unknown last name—had snuck in unannounced.

I wasn't one to remember dreams. Hell, I wasn't even sure I actually dreamed some nights, though science said otherwise. I was the guy who came home, and faceplanted after a long night's work—no muss and definitely no overthinking fuss.

Until last night.

She kept walking away from me. Just out of reach, and always with that secret smile. Disappearing around a corner, melting into a crowd, and the final one of her escaping behind a closed door of the elevator.

I didn't even have a reason for why she put me out of sorts.

She was just a girl. A stranger for all intents and purposes.

I didn't have any hangups about women. I dated when I felt like dating, fucked when the needs arose, and I found someone as interested in me as I was with them. I'd even had a handful of relationships since I moved back to Kensington Square.

I liked easy. Sought it out because as far as I was concerned, women should be in the plus column of your life. Drama need not apply. I'd earned easy after my childhood.

I'd even loved a time or two.

Maybe not the big love that movies tried to push on a body, but easy and fun.

Naomi of the summer sky eyes shouldn't be tripping me up.

I flicked the lightweight blanket off and rose. Obviously, sleep wasn't going to happen, and I was tired of obsessing over her. Maybe a run was in order. This rain was a bit too much even for me, but handily, our swanky apartment building came with a gym.

I didn't relish the idea of running on the treadmill, but maybe a few episodes of the animated Batman would push out thoughts of my new neighbor.

I pulled on a pair of joggers and my Batman T-shirt to go with my mood. It was old and stretched out with holes along the hem from my brother's crazy cat who loved to climb all over me during my visits.

While I was locking my door, my dream girl was doing the same. Had I freaking conjured her? She had her bright pink raincoat on again, along with the lemon bag from our first meeting.

She turned away from her door and noticed me, her fingers immediately tucking a lock of that russet hair behind her ear. "Hey, Colder."

"Off and running?"

She hooked her thumb around the strap of her bag and headed my way. "Yeah, I needed to get out of my depressing bedroom. I sold off most of my stuff when I moved back."

"So you're really starting over."

"From the studs, as my dad would say."

I grinned. "Sounds like my old man." I leaned a shoulder against the wall. "What does he do?"

"Real estate." She rolled her eyes. "He keeps trying to convince me to buy a house now that I'm back in the area, but I'm not ready for that." She pitched her voice low. "You're throwing your money away with renting, NeNe." She pinked up. "That's what he calls me."

I grinned down at her. "Cute. Though you're not much of a NeNe to me. Naomi suits you."

She licked her lips. "Thanks, I think. Kind of an old-fashioned name."

"Naomi Campbell would disagree." I sighed heartily. "My mother loved George Michael and played his videos on this old projector all the time. That Freedom video was…an awakening." A surprisingly sweet memory, when I had very few of her. Twelve-year-old me definitely had gotten an education with my mom's 90's era of music videos.

She smiled—the same one that chased me in dreams—and my chest tightened.

I folded my arms because some small part of me wanted to move closer to her. "Not old-fashioned at all. Glamorous."

The sweet smile went wide, and the pull turned into a punch. Damn, she was gorgeous.

"Glamorous, I am not. Iona has that one down." She glanced down at the yellow hoodie she wore under her jacket with cartoon daisies. "She'd have my head for wearing this out in public. She's always put together."

"Not always. I've seen her on a Sunday."

"What's with this Sunday you guys keep mentioning?"

"You'll find out." It wasn't that exciting, but trivia night in the lobby got pretty heated. It was all about comfort and fun and most of us were hungover from our respective Saturdays. I straightened up. "Where are you off to?"

She shrugged. "I thought I'd walk around. Get to know what's around here."

"Want to see a cool place?"

She tipped her head slightly. "Maybe."

"Don't worry, it really is cool."

She nibbled on the corner of her lower lip. "I don't want to keep you from whatever you're doing today."

"I was just going to head to the gym. If you don't mind me looking like a bum beside you..." I pointed to my place with a thumb. "Or I can change."

"No, you look great."

I grinned. "You don't have to lie, but everyone will be looking at you over me, anyway."

"Doubt it," she muttered.

I laughed. "Don't be so sure. Bonus points, this place has coffee." I gestured her ahead of me.

"Hallelujah. I was going to try and figure out that coffee maker downstairs, but it's a little intimidating."

"That it is. If Deb is working, she'll always make you a cup."

Her fingers tightened on her bag. Was she nervous or nervous to be with me? "She's really nice. Kinda took over when I was moving in."

"That's my Aunt Deb. She's scarily efficient. Knows everyone in the building and I'm pretty sure the whole block of businesses."

"Your aunt?"

I nodded. "Only way a bum like me could get into this place. She pulled some strings, and I think she likes to keep tabs on me."

"Who said you're a bum? I don't see that."

I tapped the down button on the elevator. "The Heights is the jewel of this end of Kensington Boulevard. The guy who renovated it lives here too, not that we see much of him. He also owns a crapton of the buildings between Hyde and Royal."

Her big eyes went even wider as she stepped into the elevator. "Really?"

"Yeah. Royce Warner of Warner Investments. Kensington Square was always a nice area, but just like everything, it needed updating. This building in particular. My aunt worked here when it was under the old management. She was pretty much the only one he kept on."

She leaned on the railing in the elevator and lowered her voice to a whisper. "He's not like an evil overlord, is he?"

I laughed. "Definitely not. You've got quite the imagination."

She blushed and looked down at the floor. "Not really."

"Not many people use evil overload in a sentence." I tapped the button for the lobby. "But that means you're really going to like the place I'm taking you to."

"What is it?"

"You'll see."

She sighed. "Another secret?"

"Nah, just one of those things you need to see." One of my favorite places for a rainy day, and a helluva lot more exciting than the gym.

I definitely didn't mind the company. Or the fresh raspberry scent of her in the elevator.

"Whatcha got in that huge bag?"

"Oh, my laptop. I'm job hunting, so I figured I'd work on my resume while I was out. Surely there has to be a Starbucks or something around here."

"Not on this block—Warner took care of that coming in. Wanted to keep the local shops in business."

"Oh. I guess I didn't notice that. I haven't walked around our area much yet. I actually ended up over in Crescent Cove yesterday."

"Oh, baby town."

"Baby town?" Her eyebrows shot up.

"Yeah, just a joke around here. The baby boom has really…boomed over there." I laughed. "One of my buddies lives in the apartments near the gazebo and is always telling me stories."

"Oh, right. I walked around right by there. It's really pretty. Different vibe from Kensington Square."

"Exactly. Nice to visit Crescent Lake during the summer. They rent out Sea-Doos and boats if you like that kind of thing. The Mason Jar even has a party boat."

"You sure know a lot about this area."

I shrugged. "I hear a lot from working at Lonegan's. People like to talk, and I don't mind listening."

"I can't imagine keeping all the drinks straight, not to mention people and their stories."

"I don't know. I've always been good at it. Probably the same way you're good at your job."

"Ahh, but I have research and notes and annotations for mine."

"Are you a professor?" And there went a new rabbit hole for me to lose sleep to. I'd never had a teacher kink, but it could happen with her.

"God, no." She snorted. Then pinked up again as she realized she did and wrinkled her nose. "Sorry."

I just grinned at her. All she needed was some freckles to be the most adorable redhead in my recent memory. Nope, her skin was just soft as water and pale as rain. Seemed to emphasize her huge eyes all the more.

I held my hand over the sensor of the door to keep it from sliding shut. "So, what do you do?"

"I'm a writer—well, a technical writer."

"There's no technicality if you write. That's impressive as hell."

She tucked her hair behind her ear and ducked her head as she walked past me. "If you saw what I write—wrote—you'd be less than impressed."

"As I suck at writing a grocery list on my notes app, I'm going to disagree."

She gave me that secret smile over her shoulder as she walked into the lobby. It was a Friday and busy with it. Many people in the building worked from home and escaped for lunch to the various eateries, including Lonegan's.

A handful of people were using the tables to visit and a few more were busily working at iPads and laptops. The coffeemaker was doing all the steaming and noises that lured brave souls forward. I steered Naomi out the front doors. "It's not a long walk if you're cool with getting a little wet."

She flipped her hood up. "Think you're the one who's going to get wet."

"Not if Murray has anything to say about it." I urged her forward. "Speak of the devil."

Murray jumped up from his chair near the doors. "You're up and about early, Colder."

"Going to show Naomi around. Naomi, have you met our gatekeeper?"

She laughed. "Murray was just as helpful as Deb when I moved in on Tuesday."

"And I didn't notice you until yesterday? How is that possible?" I shook my head. "How am I supposed to keep my ambassador of The Heights status?"

"We're happy to have you, Miss Taylor. Watch out for this one, he's too charming for his own good."

"I'm getting that." Naomi peeked from her drooping hood and damn if that sweet face didn't do something to me.

"Got one of those backup umbrellas for me, boss?"

"I suppose I do."

I gave Naomi a little wide eyed faux shocked face and made her laugh, then took the black umbrella from Murray. "You're the best."

"Someday that charm won't work, boy."

"Won't it though?"

Murray just shook his head and held open the door for us.

"Which way are we going?"

"Hang a right. You're going to love it."

"So you keep saying."

Now that I knew she was a writer, I was pretty sure I was about to rock her world.