“You know what you need?” Mia said when she stopped by Alyssa’s desk. “You need another serving of that guy you had last week when you came in here all smiling on a Thursday.”
“No.” Alyssa shook her head.
“He took the stress away for a good day and a half,” Mia added while Freddie nodded in agreement.
“Everything looks better with a hot guy lying next to you,” he purred.
Alyssa shook her head again and the friendly advice dispersed, but it was too late. Alyssa was already thinking about Grayson Hollinger.
The next morning, Freddie was waiting when she came in.
“You are going to name your first born after me,” he said holding up a sticky note.
“What have you done?”
“I’ve set up an appointment for you to see a room in an apartment close by.”
“Oh, really?”
“Yes. The place sounds perfect. You’d have a roommate, but you’d also have your own room so even if he is a dick, you can stay away from him.”
“A guy?” Alyssa’s brows creased. “What is this guy’s name?”
“Um. I didn’t write it down. It started with a D. Dave or Drew or something. Doug, maybe. He seemed like a nice guy. He went on and on about the kitchen. So I’m thinking gay.”
“How many times have I told you? Straight men like to cook too.”
“I guess. I told him you’d stop by after work. Here are the directions.”
“Thank-you.” She took the note and nodded. At least it would keep her from hunting down Grayson. She’d been thinking about his offer for days. She needed a new place to live more than she needed a two-night stand.
After work, she walked to the building where the room was for rent. It would be nice to be able to walk to work. She put that on the pros side of her list. Being able to afford it was already on the plus side. Basically, pest free and a roommate who wears clothes at all times, were the last boxes to be checked. Everything else was workable.
She took the elevator, smiling at her wavy reflection in the stainless steel walls. It was a very nice elevator. No pestilence and it didn’t even smell of urine.
Stepping off the elevator, she smoothed down her shirt and rang the bell, taking in the trendy carpet in the hall. She was halfway home.
“Please let the guy be wearing pants. Please, even sweatpants will do.” She crossed her fingers for good measure until she heard the sound of locks and the door opened.
“What the hell?” she stared at the man who was wearing pants. Nice pants. Pants that didn’t really matter because she’d seen him without his pants. “Grayson?”
“Hi.” He looked down the hall and tilted his head. “How did you know where I live?”
“I didn’t. I was given this address about a room for rent.”
His eyes went wide.
“You’re here about my spare room?”
“Your name doesn’t start with a D,” she pointed out.
“No. My friend Doug was helping me out.”
“My friend Freddie was helping me find a new place.”
“Hmm. Are you sure you don’t believe in fate?” he asked with a smile.
At this point maybe she did believe in fate, and Fate was a sadistic bastard.
* * * *
“Come in. Let me show you around,” Grayson offered, opening the door wider. He made a valiant attempt to keep his smile at a normal level. He knew how skittish she was about things like fate and friendship.
“No need. I won’t be moving in.”
“Hold on. You didn’t even see it.”
“It doesn’t matter. I’m not moving in with you.”
“But you were willing to move in with a complete stranger?” So they had history—a very satisfying history. Not to mention short. “Wait. What happened to your roommate?”
“She’s kicking me out.”
“Because of what happened the night I came over?”
She turned to head back to the elevator, but he jumped in front of her, blocking her path. It seemed like it was the only way to hold a conversation with the woman.
“It wasn’t working out anyway.” She shrugged it off, but he could tell she was worried.
“But that means it’s partly my fault.”
“It isn’t.” She ducked around him, but he cut her off.
“Come inside. Let me show you my place. We can pretend I’m a stranger.”
“Pretend?” She gave him a doubtful look, but she stopped her retreat.
“I know you have a thing against being friends with someone you’ve slept with, but a roommate is in another category altogether. There’s nothing more than common courtesy and sharing some household chores.”
“And if I were to bring other men home?” She squinted as if watching for him to hide an untruth.
“It’s none of my business. Unless you were to yell out my name from memory. That might be awkward.” That got a laugh. “We’ve already established that we are able to reach a common goal. It wouldn’t be too much of a stretch to assume we’d be successful roommates.”
Her shoulders sagged and she let out a breath.
“Fine. I’ll take a look. Just a look.”
He ran back and held the door, giving a little bow as she entered. She paused inside the door and looked up at the high ceilings, then down at the wood floors. He imagined she was comparing his place to her own. Her old apartment could probably fit inside his living room and kitchen. There were still two bedrooms and a bathroom to go.
“This is really nice.”
“Thanks. I’ve been here for six years. My sister was dating one of those guys who flips properties and he got stuck with it. I was able to rent it for a bargain.” But he still needed a roommate.
While he didn’t know Alyssa that well, he knew the basics. She wasn’t crazy. Or if she was, she was able to hide it well and was a functioning kind of crazy.
She walked through the kitchen, her fingertips trailing along the granite countertop. He shivered at the memory of having those fingertips trail down his chest and lower.
“Your room would be down the hall to the left.”
“And this is your room?” She pointed to the door directly to the right.
“Yes.”
He waited as she inspected the empty room. He heard the closet door open and close. It was a small closet, but it was still a closet.
“And the bathroom.” He pointed to the last door. The bathroom had all the necessities— tub, shower, toilet, and sink.
“Did you clean before I got here?”
He stepped closer, wondering if something was amiss.
“No. Why?”
“Because it’s clean.”
“Oh. No. I like things clean. Would that be a problem?”
“No. I like things neat too.” He would have guessed that from the way she’d put fresh sheets on the