Page 26 of Wild Love
“Oh, he definitely likes Charli more than you,” I confirm.
9
Dakota
It’sdark when we get to the apartment. I’m too tired to scope out the surrounding area appropriately. We still have to get our stuff inside, and I have to unpack at least the essentials so that I can get ready for work tomorrow morning.
Work.Squee!I’m so excited about my first day.
Maverick pulls into a parking spot in the underground lot. Four guys lean against the wall, pushing off when Mav kills the engine and opens the door.
“Uhh…” I start uneasily. “Are we about to get shook down?”
Maverick shoots me a funny look then calls to them, “Hey, guys. Thanks for—” His voice cuts out as he closes the door and greets the guys. I stay in the truck, but I look them over more closely. They’re in matching green shirts with the words,Making Moveson the front.
The guys listen to Maverick. He points to the trailer, and two of them head toward it while the others walk to a work truck and pull out a tarp and straps. Well, that makes more sense. He hired people to move him in.
Maverick returns to the truck and opens the door. “Ready to see your new place?”
“Yeah. Umm… I can grab my stuff first since it’s at the back of the trailer. Can you help me with the big pieces? I think I can get the bed frame on my own, but not the mattress or the couch. Probably not the chair either.”
He gives me a confused look. “You think they’re going to move my stuff and not yours?”
“I—” Well, yeah.
“I called earlier. I figured as late as it was going to be, it’d be easier if we could bring in the small stuff and start to unpack while they get the furniture. You have a big day tomorrow.”
“You didn’t have to do that. Thank you.”
He smiles big. “Come on. Let’s check out your new digs.”
We take the elevator to the second floor. Mav tells me that the first is a lobby, and the front doors open to the arena on the opposite side of the street. There is also mail, dry cleaning drop off and pick up, coffee (there goes my side gig), and a concierge desk.
The building locks down overnight, and I’ll need the key card he flashes me to get in after nine. I’m giddy with excitement as he points to a door and says, “That one is yours.”
He hands over the key, and I swipe it. A clicking sound and green light tell me it worked, and I push inside.
It’s empty, as expected, but the space is huge. So much bigger than I expected.
I walk through a large entryway. The kitchen is on the left, and the living area stretches out in front of me. I move straight through to the windows on the far wall. The downtown lights up below, and my stomach flutters. Holy crap.
I want to twirl, and I’m so not a twirler.
“This is amazing.”
“Setup is a lot like mine.” He points to the right. “Bedroom and en suite.” He stands next in an open doorway and flips on a light. It’s a normal-sized bedroom with a decent walk-in closet and an attached bathroom. I can’t stop grinning.
“Laundry closet is here.” He opens a door where a washer and dryer should be, but it’s empty. “Oh, shit.”
“It’s okay,” I say quickly. “I’ll figure out laundry. This place is incredible.”
“You can use mine.”
I definitely won’t be schlepping my dirty panties up to Maverick’s apartment, but I appreciate the offer.
We continue to explore. There’s a small half bath on the other side of the kitchen and a dining area. It’s perfect. I’ve never lived alone, and I’m suddenly really excited about it and a little nervous. This place is all mine for the next eight weeks.
Someone must knock because Johnny goes to the door and pulls it open for the movers, but I don’t even hear it because I’m still too wrapped up in checking out every detail of the place.
