Page 36 of Choosing Stella

“You just happen to own a fortified warehouse apartment?”

“Something like that.”

“That sounds normal.”

“I’ve never claimed to be normal.”

She faced me again.

For the first time since the hallway, some color returned to her face.

I pointed toward the corridor.

“Your room is the second door. It locks from inside. Bathroom is across from it.”

“You’re not keeping the key?”

“I don’t have one for the interior lock.”

“Seriously?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Because if I put somebody somewhere for protection and tell her it’s her room, she should be able to keep me out of it.”

She went still for a second.

“Thank you.”

“You don’t have to thank me for a door.”

“I wasn’t thanking you for the door.”

I let that sit.

“Put your bag down. Then you need water and food.”

“You’re back to ordering me around.”

“You got pale enough in that hallway that I considered carrying you.”

Stella’s eyebrows rose.

“I would’ve objected.”

“I assumed.”

“You’re six-four and built like a moving wall. I’m not saying you couldn’t have done it.”

A quiet laugh slipped out before I could stop it.

Stella blinked at me.

“What?”

“Nothing.”