Free Opposites Attract by Cat Johnson

killer and she’d
just handed him the keys, as well as her life. No, she argued with
herself. God would not be that cruel and put the mind of a serial
killer inside a package like this. No way. Besides, this was a secure
building and no one could even get in the front door without checking
in with the doorman, so this guy must live here. Yummy, she sure
hoped so.
    “ The
deadlock key turns toward the right, you can remember that because
you want the deadbolt to pull away from the doorframe. Okay?”
He looked over his shoulder at her.
    She
nodded, feigning interest in what he was saying when in reality she
was far more interested in watching his butt in those tight jeans.
    “ And
the door knob turns the opposite way. Turn the key and the knob at
the same time. It’ll probably take two hands for you.” He
glanced down at her hands.
    Doesn’t
take two hands for you, does it, big boy?
    Oh
boy, wouldn’t those big hands feel good right about now. Jeez,
it had been way too long since she had a man in her life. She better
get herself under control before she started drooling.
    The
door swung open easily and he handed her back the keys, picked up her
overnight bag and placed it effortlessly just inside the doorway.
Still standing in the hall he asked, “Anything else I can do
for you?”
    She
shook her head. “Nope. Thanks for the help.” What are
you, crazy? her libido yelled. Don’t let him get away .
“Um, I guess I should introduce myself. I’m Amy Gerald.
I’m a friend of Maria’s.”
    “ Ah.”
One ginger-colored eyebrow rose.
    “ Ah?”
What the hell did that mean?
    “ I
meant that makes sense since you don’t look like the typical
burglar. I’m Troy. Troy O’Donnell. I live right across
the hall.” He extended his hand. Amy reached out and shook it,
enjoying how big and warm it felt against her own.
    “ Nice
to meet you—” A blur of motion caught Amy’s
attention as the cat came whizzing out of the door. “Shit. I’m
not supposed to let the cat out.”
    She
hadn’t even gotten into the apartment and she’d already
messed up.
    “ Not
to worry. He and I have a special relationship. I cat-sat for Maria
last year while she was away.” With a smile, Troy bent and
scooped up the cat that was weaving its way in and out between his
legs, rubbing and purring loudly.
    Amy
knew just how the cat felt. She wouldn’t mind doing some
rubbing against him herself and she was sure he could make her purr.
    “ I
guess maybe I didn’t do such a good job, since she didn’t
ask me again this year.” Troy stroked the cat in his arms.
    “ Oh,
that’s not it at all.” Amy’s mouth was now dry from
watching all the petting. “I offered. I needed to get out of my
apartment for awhile.”
    He
raised an inquisitive brow. “Oh? Roommate trouble?”
    “ No,
I live all alone.” She wanted to assure him of that. No
roommate, no husband, no boyfriend, hint, hint. “It’s
just my landlord thinks that because it’s after March first, it
means he can turn off the heat no matter how cold it is outside.”
    He
nodded and handed her the cat, which she took from him with as much
enthusiasm as if he had handed her a dirty diaper. “Well if you
need anything while you’re here, just knock. I should be
around. I filled in for a guy at work and did back-to-back
twenty-four hour shifts so I have the next few days off.”
    “ Those
are some hours. What do you do?”
    He
opened his ski jacket and pointed a thumb at the fire department
insignia on his sweatshirt. “I’m with Ladder Company #3.”
    She
tried to control her glee. It was too good to be true. This guy was
her dream man, the very stereotype of her fantasy of the hunky
fireman. “That’s near my neighborhood. It’s good to
know that my fire safety is in such capable hands.”
    The
cat was now in the process of trying to claw its way out of her arms,
hooking her favorite cashmere coat in the process. A greased pig
would be easier to hold than this thing. Talk