Page 4 of Ms Perfectly Fine
He took a bite, wiping the juice from the corner of his mouth. “Don’t mind if I do.” He winked. “I’m happy to share.” He offered her a slice of her own food.
There is no way he’s staying here.She crossed her arms, silently rejecting the offer.
“Forgive me, just trying to lighten the mood. I have a lot to get done today, and since I’ve explained myself, if you wouldn’t mind leaving us to it?” His eyes landed on her bare legs. “You should probably get dressed; there are quite a few movers here today.”
“I’m a grown woman! You can’t tell me what to do,” Autumn snapped, trying to find her composure. If he did live here, she’d never feel at ease.
“Then you should act like one. Accept the situation. Let the movers get on with their work. This matter is between us,” he reasoned.
She wanted to throw the mug on the counter at him, but it was her favourite. Anger clearly wasn’t getting her anywhere, so she softened her attitude. “I can’t move out. This place is close to the theatre where I work.”
“Then we should both stay. I can see that my sudden arrival has been a shock between us, but Tim told me you’re like a daughter to him. He assured me how nice you were,” Elijah said. She noticed his gaze lingering on her hair, and she wondered if he was trying to figure her out as she was him.
“I’m nice to those who don’t invade my home without warning,” she countered coldly, picking up her phone. “You’ll leave my home before the day is out, so stop putting holes in my walls.”
“Our walls,” he corrected her.
“Not for long. Tim will get this straightened out. In the meantime,nopermanent changes to potentially shared spaces. No drilling in the kitchen. Even if I allow you to live here, which I’m not going to do, you don’t get to just change the layout of my kitchen without at least politely asking me about it.” She moved around him, but he reached for her hand.
“Wait!” He blocked her path as she dodged his grasp and made to leave.
With a sigh, she crossed her arms, giving him one last chance.
“Let’s not get off on the wrong foot. I should have introduced myself before I moved my stuff in. I honestly thought Tim would clear it with you.” Elijah extended his hand once again, and a strand of hair fell over his forehead. “Can we start over? Elijah.”
Autumn got the feeling he was used to getting what he wanted. If his looks didn’t win others over, then his charm probably did.
“Autumn Adler,” she replied, taking his hand. She didn’t want him to think she was unreasonable. “I’ve rented this place for nearly six years. Alone. Tim probably didn’t tell me because he knew I wouldn’t agree,” she added, and realised Elijah was still holding her hand. He dropped it gently.
“I understand your want for privacy, and I promise to stay out of your way, but there’s more than enough room for the two of us. I’ll find a place once my latest deal closes, and you’ll never see me again,” he promised.
She shook her head. They were going in circles.
“How about we split the house? You rent the top floor—I won’t go upstairs,” Elijah suggested. “This is a two-floored terraced house, right? I’ll keep to the ground floor front room, and we’ll share the communal spaces. C’mon, I’m only using the front room—as an officeanda bedroom.” He looked at the sliding doors that divided the front room from the kitchen. “Close the doors and I disappear. You said you need to practise; I won’t move your piano, since it’s in the communal space, and I’ll give you space to practise. Tim told me you were a pianist.”
His plan was reasonable, almost considerate.It’s only one room, and Icouldjust ignore him…She almost opened her mouth to agree, but then she pictured it. Getting up on a particularly anxious morning and having to practise with a stranger in the next room listening instead of the blissful solitude she was used to. Having a particularly bad pain day and feeling like she couldn’t get dressed but she had to because she might run into her housemate. Never being able to sit in the kitchen with a cup of tea without wondering if he’d walk in.
“No. I’m sorry, but I have my routine and I can’t have it disturbed,” she said flatly.
He groaned, and for the first time, she saw a crack in his charm. “It’s my understanding that you don’t have a contract with Tim. I do,” he said bluntly.
She didn’t like how he was looking at her. It was too piercing. She hated that she was the first to look away.
“I practise at all hours, and it’ll affect your business,” she argued.
“Noise doesn’t bother me.” Elijah shrugged again, crinkling his suit as he folded his arms.
“It’s your noise that bothersme,” Her tone was harsher than she’d intended, but surely he could see how invasive his request was. From the computer and multiple screens to the tailored suit and motorcycle helmets, it was obvious he could afford a place of his own.
“I’ll stick to my space. We share the rest and do our best to stay out of each other’s way,” Elijah said flatly, walking away from her as though the conversation was over.
“There’s only one shower, and it’s onmyfloor. You don’t plan on showering in the foreseeable future?” She smirked when he stopped in his tracks.
“I get the feeling you’re an only child,” he muttered under his breath.
Autumn glared at him for making assumptions about her, even if they were true. “How many siblings I do or don’t have has nothing to do with our living arrangements,” she snapped, wondering where he was going with such a statement.
“It’s not going to help the situation because, clearly, no one taught you how to share,” he explained. “You’re overcomplicating matters when this is really quite a straightforward arrangement.” He undid the top button on his shirt. Good, she was getting under his skin.
