Delayed Penalty (Crossing the Line, #1)(37)

We didn't have time to stay if we were heading back to Chicago tonight so I stood. "You ready to go?"

Ami stood as well and leaned into me. Her pretty smile was contagious as she hugged me. She snuggled into me, lingering a few seconds longer than necessary. I let myself selfishly melt into her, my body hunched around her.

Over the past few days, I had gotten so comfortable with her on the phone I wasn't sure how she would react once I saw her again.

Apparently, I had nothing to worry about.

"Yes, definitely ready to see some live hockey."

Once we said good-bye to my parents and crazy grandmother, we were just about outside of Pittsburgh when Ami turned to me in the car.

"I can't live with your parents, Evan. I'm not their daughter, and while I appreciate the gesture, I can't do it."

"Okay…" I knew she wouldn't stay with them long, and the idea of her living with me was terrifying, but I also didn't want her anywhere but with me or my family. It went back to protection. I'd become attached to this girl and couldn't stand the thought of her alone.

"Stay with me for a while," I suggested. I had just asked her to move in with me. The decision and the question stunned me, even as I asked it. It was completely unlike me.

"What?" Ami looked at me, clearly shocked by my request.

"Stay with me. In Chicago. I need a roommate."

"No, you don't."

"Yes, I do. My cat hates me. I get lonely."

"Highly doubtful."

We were silent, a touch of awkwardness settling over us when she spoke again. This time she looked over at me. "I'm not your charity case. I don't want to hurt you, but I hope that's not what this is, some pro athlete trying to help the poor girl he found or something like that. I'm just a girl that lost her family and got caught at the wrong place at the wrong time. Maybe…I'm not a good thing for you right now."

"Why don't you let me decide what's good for me?" My answer was sharp. I didn't want her thinking that was what this was, but to be fair, from the outside, to those doctors, to Ami, it didn't look that great. Here I was completely taken by this girl, basically stalking her, and for what?

She sighed, taking a deep breath and looked out the window at the passing cars.

"Just think about it." I reached across the console for her hand, wanting to touch her in some way. She let me, a slight tug to her lips informed me I was wearing her down. "I'm not home much, the building is secure, and you wouldn't have to worry."

"I need to get a job, Evan, and figure out what the hell I'm doing with my life."

"Well do that living with me for a little while."

I was well aware of what this situation was, and though I knew my intentions weren't harmful to Ami, I had to keep in mind that she didn't really know me. But she also didn't know my parents either. Fuck. I was all over the place.

"So?" I asked, pushing when she didn't say anything after about an hour.

"So?" she returned, not sure what I was searching for.

"Stay with me?"

"What do you think?" Ami gave me a slightly annoyed, slightly amused side-eyed glance.

I chucked a little. "I think you're going to say yes."

So, it was set. I was about to have a girl live with me for the first time.





My apartment, well, condo actually, at Trump Towers was on the 30th floor, facing north, with a somewhat shaded view of Lake Michigan. Leo was on the 35th floor. I both hated and loved that he lived in the same building as me. You could imagine why.

When we pulled into the parking garage, she said nothing, her eyes following the lights of the city just as they had done when we drove to Pittsburgh. Even through the lobby and into the elevator, nothing was said.

When we got to the door, her eyes found mine as I unlocked the door. "I haven't even seen the place yet, but I can honestly tell you this is the coolest place I've ever been."

I laughed, wrapping my arm around her and led her inside. Trump Towers was cool.

I watched carefully as she explored my two thousand square foot condo. There had only been about three or four girls that had ever stayed the night here. Callie was the only one that had stayed multiple times, and she didn't give a shit about what my place looked like other than if it had a bed.

I had a feeling Ami would have a reaction similar to Callie's. It was just a place to sleep. Sure, it had some perks that some other places didn't, like a private health club, but it was still just a condo.

The more Ami moved through the place, looked at pictures on shelves, and the decorations Caitlin had put in there, the more nervous I got.

"Are you hungry?" I asked when I saw that my assistant had put dinner on the counter for us.

"Did you cook dinner?"

"No, I ordered pizza and had it delivered." I raised my hands, showing her the box from Lou Malnati's. I wasn't sure what she would want, so I had them send over wings, a salad, and then my favorite deep dish pizza: the Malnati Chicago Classic.

Naturally, like everything else that surprised me, Ami went straight for the pizza.

"You like pizza, eh?" I asked, leaning against the island in the kitchen as she sat at the bar eating. Reaching behind me, I grabbed two bottles of water and handed her one.