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right out on the water.”
    “This one does too. It’s a huge house, and I still can’t believe I’m living there for free.”
    She smiled. “Living anywhere free is a good deal.”
    “It is, although it comes with caveats.”
    “And my guess is this is where the story gets interesting.” She took a bite of her chicken salad.
    “So last night after my friend tried to set me up on a horrible blind date—”
    “Ugh, I hate those.” Rachel sipped her water through a straw.
    “Me too, so you’ll understand when I say I was in a bad mood.” I hesitated, wondering if it was a mistake to tell her more.
    “What happened?”
    “Now it sounds stupid.” I sounded ridiculous. Why had I even let him stay at all?
    “Try me. You’ve got my attention. You can’t leave me hanging.”
    “A guy showed up in my house.” I looked down at my salad. Was I really admitting this?
    “Showed up how?” She set aside her fork.
    “He climbed in the balcony door in my room.”
    She leaned forward with a terrified expression on her face. “Did you call the cops?”
    “No.” Now it got worse.
    “Why not?”
    “Because he knew the kids who used to live there. He was even in some of their pictures.”
    “But that doesn’t mean he’s allowed to break in.” She was in attorney mode. I’d seen her during a deposition before. Her whole face and mannerisms changed.
    “I kicked him out eventually…” After I’d talked to him and shared way too many details about my life.
    “Eventually?” She raised an eyebrow.
    “Yes.”
    “So in other words, the guy was really hot.”
    At least she understood. “Extremely. Does that somehow make up for it?”
    “Have you called the owner yet?”
    “No. I do everything through a neighbor.”
    “Did you call the neighbor?”
    “I’m going to. I sent an email.” I sounded pathetic and out of my mind. What girl did nothing when a guy broke into her house?
    “I’d be careful. What’s there to stop him from breaking in again?”
    “He didn’t seem dangerous.” I tried to come up with a plausible explanation for my behavior so she didn’t write me off as crazy.
    “Psychos don’t always look like psychos.”
    “That’s a good point.” Who was I kidding? There was going to be no saving face.
    “I’d talk to the neighbor before you go home tonight. If you’re still worried, you’re welcome to crash at my place. I have an extra bedroom.”
    “Oh, that’s really generous, but I’ll be fine.”
    “It’s your choice, but let me give you my cell number just in case.”
    I pulled out my phone and typed in the numbers as she recited them. “Thanks.”
    “You all set?” She glanced at her watch. “I might be able to get you back within your fifty-eight minute time limit.”
    I laughed. “Thanks. I really appreciate it.”
    The waitress came over with the check and Rachel insisted on paying for it. “You can get it next time.”
    I nodded. “Deal.”
    I walked back to the office in a good mood. Lunch with Rachel was nice, and despite her warnings, I wasn’t worried about James. If he’d wanted to hurt or take advantage of me, he would have done it right off when I’d been in only a towel. My body heated thinking about the way his eyes had raked over me. I wondered how much more intense the gaze would have been without the towel. I pushed away those thoughts. Completely inappropriate. Rachel was right. The guy could have been a pyscho.

6
    James
    D espite the hard time I gave Henry, I had no problem paying Charlotte a visit. Even if it were not my job to protect her, I would have still spent time with her. She was the truest friend I had, and I trusted her more than anyone else alive. I headed toward the castle. It was located deep in the city, closest to the mountain that served as a secondary fortress to the already strong wall.
    I detoured through the open air market. Despite the delicious food options in Charleston, none compared to the food of Energo, especially the