The sun was right in my eyes, and I looked over at the curtains. Brent’s jacket was staring at me next to the window. What was I supposed to do with it? Would he come back for it?

I got up and ran my fingers over the smooth leather, wondering what adventures it had gone on or the girls it’d seen. The jacket was well worn and had just the right number of creases to show it was used but loved. A few creases here and there. It had been through a lot and found myself relating to it in a way. Looks like we’ve both been through some things.

A thought hit me.  “You know what? I’m going to return you to your owner. You’ve had a fun stay at my house, but I think it’s finally time you go home.”

There was no time to talk myself out of it. I pulled the jacket off the rack and stomped my way over to the living room while the sleeves slapped back and forth. He was going to get his jacket back so there were no ties left. I didn’t want him holding this over me somehow.

I swung open the front door and the cold air hit me. Was this a bad idea? Probably. Was I going back? Nope. The jacket was going back to him—goosebumps and cold be damned.

My eyes adjusted to the dim light outside as a figure stepped onto my porch.

“Hey, Blondie.” His voice was just as smooth as the first time I spoke to him—he dripped silk and charm on all the girls most likely. It was irritatingly charming while he used that godforsaken nickname.

I froze in my tracks. “What the hell are you doing here?”

“Me? Out for an evening stroll. You?” His tone was so casual. How was he so nonchalant with everything? He probably wouldn’t flinch at a dead body with how at ease he was all the time.

“I’m bringing your stupid jacket back.” My voice was a mix of irritation and exhaustion.

He crossed his arms and smiled. In the low light, I saw where the tattoos crept up his neck and ended at his jawline. His hair was short enough in a buzz cut that everyone could see the tattoos kept going up the sides of his head. Brent was tatted to the max and his face always said try me. “Yikes. Lots of attitude tonight, babe.”

This guy is ridiculous. I fully stepped outside and closed the door, standing as tall as possible. There was no way I’d let him see me shrink away from him even though he looked down at me from his height. He was a tower of a man. I held his jacket in one hand with the other on my hip. “Here.” I held it out while looking him in the eyes.