Page 17 of When Annika Met Thom

She’d tell Leo the good news first.

Annika smiled, reassured by her own thinking.

“Thank you, Thom.” It felt nice to say his name and her doing so seemed to surprise him. He gave her another of those inscrutable looks, and if anything, it provoked even more of a response in her. She couldn’t help but look at him and wonder whether everything was in proportion, then she blushed at her own thoughts. Thom just studied her in silence, those eyes boring into her deepest secrets.

It was kind of hot to have a guy study her with such intensity.

She definitely needed to see Leo.

Tomorrow couldn’t come soon enough.

“No problem.” Thom retreated to the bedroom and returned with a backpack.

What was Annika going to do when she went to work? She’d assumed Percival would be safe in Leo’s apartment. Maybe things would work out by Monday.

She had to hope so.

Thom, meanwhile, was writing a number on the pad on the counter near the phone. “This is my cell phone, in case you need me. You can have the couch. I’ll feed Cerberus and take her out when I get home. She’ll probably just sleep while I’m gone.” Annika nodded understanding. He turned and pointed out the window, down one side of the street. “There’s a little grocery on the corner over there. Wine store beside it and a take-out Thai place next door. You can use Leo’s half of the fridge and cupboard. We wash up our own stuff.”

Annika was amazed that he could be so loquacious. “Got it. Thanks.”

Thom headed for the door, then paused and looked back with a frown. Cerberus went to his side with her ball, wagging hopefully, and dropped the ball at his feet. He patted her head and ignored the ball. She stared at him with adoration. “Did you bring a litter box?” he asked Annika.

“Hardly.”

He nodded again and pointed the other way. “Dollar store and pet store, one block over in the other direction. Rhea used to buy one brand of cat food in a pinch. It’s not perfect for ferrets, but he’s probably starving.” He named the brand and it was one Annika knew. “Keep him zipped up there.”

Because they would know he was a ferret. Annika nodded.

“Reusable grocery bags in that cupboard.” Thom pointed again and she liked that he was environmentally conscious. “I’ll see you at nine-thirty or so.”

Annika thanked him once more, but Thom was already out the door. Cerberus slid down to her haunches, staring at the bottom of the closed door. Her ears pricked as she obviously listened to Thom’s fading footsteps, then she put her chin down on the floor and sighed as if the world had ended.

The apartment did feel empty without his presence, but Annika had a lot to do. She’d go out for supplies, then have a hot shower. Chances were good that she might be asleep by the time Thom returned from work. She’d check in with the Portland office, then maybe contact the client here about starting earlier. She’d hoped to spend the next day with Leo, but it sounded as if he’d be in transit—and she didn’t want to sit around here when there was so much to see.

Cerberus got up suddenly and took her ball, dropping it on the window sill as she stared down at the street with fixed attention. Annika followed to look, guessing what she’d see. Not surprisingly, Thom was striding across the road with purpose. He turned back and waved and the dog’s tail swept back and forth.

Annika smiled. She had to like a guy who waved goodbye to his dog.

Thom seemed thoughtful to her, not dumb. He’d kept her from making a potentially fatal mistake and had anticipated Percival’s needs, too. He’d been nicer than he had to be and that made her bite her lip, thinking.

Maybe Leo had it all wrong.

* * *

“What exactly is your plan?”Thom demanded when Leo answered his phone.

“I don’t have one.” He sounded defensive, like a kid caught stealing a pack of gum. “And it’s none of your business anyway.”

Thom could hear Cerise. Leo obviously put his hand over the receiver but he could still hear kissing sounds.

He spoke in a hard tone, trying to snap Leo back to reality. “Your fiancée is in our apartment, so that makes it my business.”

“Our apartment?” Leo echoed. “Myapartment, dude.Ihave the sublet.Ipay the rent.Myapartment. You’re the one on shaky ground.”

Thom was alarmed. “I paid you my rent already!”

“And your name isn’t on the rental agreement. It’s not on the sublet agreement. You don’t exist as far as the superintendent and landlord are concerned, which means you can find a new place to live or you can play this my way.”

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