The moment Jamie’s out the door, I lean back on the sofa and run my hands through my hair. Oh, my God! When he stood and stretched, his shirt rode up, exposing his waist. I’m sure it wasn’t intentional, but I got a front-row view of his muscled abdomen, lightly furred with brown hair. I saw so many muscles I couldn’t count them all. All I know is that my gaze went right to his happy trail, which disappeared beneath the jeans hanging low on his hips. I can only image what’s beneath those jeans.

Seeing him like that, in a moment of weakness, lit a fire deep in my belly that I thought had been extinguished for good. I honestly thought Todd had killed my desire for intimacy. Just now, I’d wanted to reach out and grab him and pull him back down on the sofa with me. I’d wanted to wrap myself around him and feel him sink deep inside me.

As Chloe would say, what fresh hell have I gotten myself into? How can I continue to spend time with him and not want him? And knowing he’s interested in me just makes resisting him that much harder.

I head to the bathroom to make good on my promise to freshen up. I run a comb through my sleep-mussed hair, brush my teeth, and splash water on my face, all the while staring at myself in the mirror.

Do you have any idea what you’re doing?

What does Jamie see in me? He doesn’t even know what I look like – but maybe that’s a blessing. I guess I’m moderately attractive, although I’ll never win any beauty pageants. And I’ll always be struggling to lose an unwanted ten or fifteen pounds.

After setting Charlie’s dinner out for him, I lock up my apartment and head down the hall to Jamie’s place. Standing outside his door, I steel myself against temptation and take a deep breath.

Just friends, I remind myself. Just friends.

But why? asks a little voice in my head. Why not more than friends?

Because Todd! And because I’m missing a couple of key body parts, that’s why.

But the little voice in my head isn’t satisfied with those answers. He’s not afraid of Todd. And maybe he won’t mind so much about your missing body parts. You’ll never know unless you tell him.

* * *

“Now you’re just making me look bad,” I tell Jamie as I sidle up beside him at the stove.

I’m so glad he enjoys cooking. One of us should. I’d be happy to do the dishes every night, if he’d cook the meal.

He’s just taken two foil packets out of the oven and laid them on the cutting board to unwrap. Inside each packet is a baked chicken breast on top of a little mound of cut-up roasted new potatoes. The chicken, which he seasoned with rosemary, garlic, oregano, and thyme, smells delicious.

“Well, I will admit I’m trying to impress you,” he says, sticking a meat thermometer in one of the chicken breasts. The thermometer beeps. “It’s ready,” he says.

I watch as he carefully dishes the food onto two plates, arranging everything just so.

When he reaches for a serving fork, he brushes the back of his hand against the hot baking dish he’d just taken out of the oven. “Shit!” he hisses, jerking his hand back. His hand is curled tightly into a fist, and I can tell from the grimace on his face that it hurts.

“Here, put your hand under cold water,” I say, moving around him to turn on the faucet. “Come on.”

He follows me to the sink and holds his hand under the stream of water. His jaw is clenched tightly, his lips flattened. His nostrils flare as he breathes hard.

“Do you have any aloe?” I say. “It does wonders for the pain.”

“Don’t bother,” he says, gritting his teeth. “The pain’s fading. I’ll be fine.”

“You don’t sound fine.”

I glance up at him, and he turns his face away, as if he’s embarrassed. That’s when I realize… it’s not the pain that’s bothering him. He’s angry because he burned himself. “It was an accident,” I tell him. “It could happen to anyone.”

I watch the muscles in his jaw clenching and flexing as he grinds his teeth. Reaching up, I brush his hair gently, then lean close enough to kiss his arm where it meets his shoulder. “No one’s perfect, Jamie. Not even you.”

That earns me a smile, and he relaxes his fist under the stream of water. I grab a clean hand towel from the cupboard and pat his hand dry, careful not to touch the burn.

“Is it feeling better?”

“Yes.” He laughs. “If I knew burning myself would earn me a kiss, I would have done it long before now.”

* * *

He bumps his shoulder against mine. “Food’s ready. Can you grab the bottle of red wine in the fridge? I’ll carry the plates.”

While I bring the bottle of wine to the table and open it, Jamie carries in the plates, then goes back to the kitchen to fetch the dinner rolls.

“Jamie, thank you. This is a really nice dinner. You didn’t have to go to all this trouble for me, you know.”

He smiles, looking pleased. “It’s no trouble. You had a rough day. You needed a good meal.”

The food is amazing, cooked and seasoned perfectly. I have to admit, he’s a better cook than I am.

“How’s your hand?” I ask him.

He flexes his hand and closes it into a fist. “Much better now. I think I’ll live.”

When we’re finished eating, we clear the table and clean up in the kitchen together. I enjoy this little moment of domesticity with him. Housework is always more enjoyable when there are two sets of hands.

The kitchen is cleaned up in no time, and I don’t know what to do. I should leave, I suppose. I’ve taken up all of his afternoon and part of his evening. I’m sure he has work to do. But the thought of leaving him and going back to my empty apartment holds little appeal.

“I should go,” I say. “You’ve probably got stuff – work – you need to do.”

I’m feeling torn. Part of me wants to leave before I get even more attached to him, and part of me hopes he’ll insist I stay a while longer. In the back of my mind, I’m worried about Todd showing up this evening. I don’t know if the police have arrested him yet or not. Or if they did, if he’s managed to get out on bail. Here, I feel safe.

“Molly, are you okay?”

How does he read me so well? “I’m fine.”

“You don’t sound fine.” He lays his hands on my shoulders, and I’m sure he can feel the tension in my body. I’m fairly radiating with it. “Are you worried?” he says. “About Todd?”

“A little bit, yes.”

He frowns. “You’re worried he’ll try to get into the building tonight?”

“He has a knack of getting into places he shouldn’t be. And I don’t know if he’s been arrested or not yet, and if he was, how soon he’ll get out on bail. He’s going to be so angry.” Just the thought of how he’ll react when he’s arrested makes me shudder.

“You’re welcome to stay here tonight. I have plenty of room.”

“Thanks, but I don’t want to inconvenience you.”

“It’s no inconvenience. You can have my bed, and I’ll take the sofa. Or, if you’d feel more comfortable, I’ll stay with you at your place. I can sleep on your sofa.”

“I wouldn’t mind staying here tonight,” I say. My belly is happy and a glass of wine has warmed my body. I feel like tempting fate tonight. “Just this once.”

* * *

I’m curled up on the sofa next to Jamie, and we’re twenty minutes into a sci-fi movie when Jamie’s intercom buzzes, announcing the arrival of a visitor. I nearly jump out of my skin when Gus shoots to his feet and runs to the door, barking.

Jamie laughs and pats my knee. “It’s okay, it’s just Jake.” He pauses the movie. “His team must be done installing the security system in your studio.”

Jamie walks to the intercom and speaks to his brother, then buzzes him up. A few moments later, there’s a firm knock on the door.

Jake steps inside the apartment, his presence a bit overwhelming in the small space. Dressed in all black, as he is now, he’s incredibly intimidating. I wonder if he’s married, or has a girlfriend. I can’t imagine being on the receiving end of all that intensity.

Jake takes off his black leather jacket and hangs it over the back of one of the dining table chairs. He’s wearing a T-shirt, also black, and it accentuates his muscular build. There’s a black handgun holstered to his chest.

“The system’s in and functioning,” he tells us in his slightly gruff, deep voice, as he absently reaches down to pat Gus on the head. Then he pulls a packet of folded papers out of his jacket pocket and lays it on the table. “Here are all the instructions you’ll need, Molly, including your passcode. We’ve installed a couple of panic buttons in strategic locations in your shop. If you hit one of those buttons, the police will be on your doorstep in no time.”

“Thank you,” I say.

Jamie nods. “I’ll walk her through everything tomorrow. Thanks, Jake. I appreciate you doing this on such short notice.”

“No need to thank me, bro.” Then he turns those obsidian eyes on me. “You okay, Molly?”

I nod. “Yes, thanks.”

“If anyone bothers you at your shop, you just push one of the panic buttons and help will be on the way, I guarantee it. No more worries, okay?”

I smile gratefully. “Okay.”

Jake glances at the flatscreen panel on the wall. “What are you guys watching?”

“Aliens,” Jamie says. “Molly’s never seen it before.”

Jake looks at me like I’m from another planet. “Seriously? You’ve never seen Aliens? My brothers and I were weaned on Aliens.”

I shake my head, laughing. “I’ve never really been a big sci-fi fan.”

“Jamie will fix that,” he says, grabbing his jacket and pulling it on. “Well, enjoy your movie, kids. I’ve got to get back to work.”

“This late?” I say, surprised. It’s got to be nearly nine o’clock. “Aren’t you done for the night?”

Jake shakes his head. “Surveillance work is never done. I’ve got to go relieve one of the teams in the field. We’re keeping tabs on a drug distributor who’s trying to muscle his way into the city. Fun stuff.”

When the movie ends, and most everyone in it is dead courtesy of slobbering aliens, I’m pretty sure I’ve carved permanent scars into Jamie’s arm. I’ve been holding onto him for dear life for the past hour and a half, digging my nails into his arm every time one of those disgusting monsters popped out of nowhere to kill someone. Gus slept blissfully unaware of the carnage while I was on the verge of having a heart attack.

“Oh, my God,” I say, leaning back against the cushions as the credits roll. “That was absolutely horrifying. I’ll never sleep now.”

Jamie laughs. “Oh, come on! It’s just a movie.”

“That’s easy for you to say. I hate scary movies.”

“Okay. Next time, we’ll watch a chick flick. Your pick. How’s that?”

I smile. “That would be wonderful. Thank you.”

I unfold myself from Jamie’s cozy sofa and get to my feet to help him clear away our glasses and the empty popcorn bowl. Apparently, we both have a soft spot for buttery, salty popcorn.

When we’re done cleaning up, Jamie comes up behind me and lays his hands on my shoulders, squeezing gently. His touch sends shivers down my spine.

He kisses the back of my head. “It’s getting late. I’ll make up your bed.”

* * *

While Jamie takes Gus out for a late night potty break, I run back to my apartment to get my toiletries and some pajamas. I’m relieved to find Charlie waiting for me at the door – which lets me know the coast is clear. I reach down to pet him. “You’re such a good watch kitty, you know that?”

Charlie responds with a plaintive meow.

“Are you feeling neglected? Do you want to sleep over at Jamie’s too? I’ll ask him about it. Maybe you can come next time.”

I placate Charlie with a handful of kitty treats. Then I take a moment to brush my hair and teeth, and wash my face.

I grab my overnight bag and fill it with just the bare necessities… toothbrush, hairbrush, a change of clothes, and a T-shirt to sleep in.

After petting Charlie one last time, I lock up my apartment and head back to Jamie’s place. Just as I reach his door, he and Gus come in the front entrance and jog up the stairs.

“Got everything?” Jamie says, as he follows me into his apartment.

“Yes.”

He reaches out and touches my arm, then leans close to kiss my forehead. “Come. I’ll show you to your bed.”

More slippery slope. Just friends don’t kiss each other, do they?