Tiff nodded slowly, but then shrugged. “Sorry, no.”
“Damn Sawyer,” he muttered, turning to lean his elbows back against the counter.
“I’m sorry?”
“Nothing,” he added. “So, what’s up over there? Someone get a puppy or something?”
The young lady laughed. “No, definitely not. It’s our newest resident.”
Something tingled at the base of Michael’s spine. “Oh, really? What’s her name?”
Tiff gave him a good try look and smirked. “You know I’m not going to tell you who it is. That’s the reason all you football boys live here, because we can keep our mouths shut. But the fact that you seem to think it’s a female is telling. Maybe you should tell me who you think it is.”
He patted the top of the counter and shot her a grin. “Thanks, Tiff. Looks like I’m gonna meet the new neighbor.”
And it better not freaking be who I think it is.
Chapter 2
Kat crossed her legs and laced her fingers together over one knee. It hurt the ring finger on her right hand, thanks to still being a bit swollen from having been dislocated the other week after a mishap with another racket, but it made a nice picture. “So which one of you gentlemen can show a girl around town? I’ve never been to Santa Fe, you know.”
Several men started talking at once, and Kat bit her lip to keep from grinning. It was sweet that they all wanted to give her suggestions for places to check out. None of them stared at her like she was a sexual leper, like she was someone to avoid. “Are there any fun places around? Nightclubs, maybe, or decent bars?”
“There’s this jazz club,” the man to her left said, starting to launch into why paying twice the going rate for drinks was totally worth the entertainment it came with.
“Jazz, hell no.” The man who had introduced himself as Matt shook his head, his dark dreads brushing against her shoulder. “You want fun, we can go to Sin’s Inn. Tonight, in fact. I’d love to take you.”
The man to her left—had he ever told her his name?—made a sound low in his chest and started to tense. Whoops, not what she’d intended at all. “That sounds like a great offer, but it’s my first day. I think I’ll take tonight to ease in. Unpack, all that. You understand, right?”
Both men nodded, as well as a few who had just been standing around listening.
The crowd had been totally unintentional and not at all her doing. On that, she knew for sure. But like Sawyer loved to say… spectacles found her wherever she landed. When she’d rolled her two suitcases plus carry-on over to the side of the lobby to make a call and then text Sawyer she was here, first one tall, broad-shouldered male had come up to greet her and ask if she was moving in, then another, and another. Then they’d just started… multiplying like minks.
Glancing at her watch, she stood. The men sitting beside her stood as well. “Gentlemen… all of you,” she added, looking around her, still slightly in awe of the sheer size of them. She wasn’t a tiny woman, and they made her feel petite. “I appreciate the offers. Since we’re neighbors, I know we’ll see each other soon. But I should roll myself on up to my room, get situated and get started on unpacking.” She patted the top of her rolling suitcase as evidence.
“Let me carry those for you.” Matt-with-the-dreads reached for the bag just before another hand closed over the handle.
Looking up, Kat found herself staring into an intense pair of hazel eyes. Eyes that looked none too pleased to see her. Which was odd, since she had no clue who those green-brown eyes belonged to.
“I’ve got it,” he said in a soft voice.
“I can—” Matt started.
“No,” Hazel Eyes said again. “I’m on it.”
The men started to dissipate around her, several telling her they’d see her around or shouting apartment numbers at her so she could “come visit” if she got bored. The man with dreads hung around a little longer, almost as if making sure the pushy leader would take care of her. She sensed he had a sweet, protective nature. But he, too, eventually took off.
Sorry, fellas… not tonight. Probably not any night.
After most had taken off via the stairs or elevators, Kat flashed her Hazel Mystery Man a grin. “I’ve got it. I’m a big girl, I can wheel my own luggage.”
“Well, I’ll say one thing… you’re definitely not a rebellious teenager.”
Kat reared back. “Who the hell do you… oh. You. The manny.”
“No, Michael.”
Kat sighed and tugged on the bag. He didn’t let go. “Male nanny. Manny. Everyone needs to improve their lexicon. I can carry that myself, you know.”
“I was raised right,” was all he said, then started walking toward the elevator. He froze just as she began walking, and her nose connected with his arm.
His rock-hard arm.