Alone With You by Aliyah Burke Page A

card, telling them to look him up when they were a bit older and he’d help them out. Lunch was filling and fun but then it was time to work again.
    They finished up around eight that night and he waved to his friends as they drove off, saying they’d see him tomorrow. Unhooking his tool belt, he strode to where Connie and Ariel stood. They were beside Ariel’s Land Rover and a green sedan.
    “I’ll see you tomorrow, Connie,” Ariel said.
    “You got it. Night, Tuck.” She gave him a nod then got behind the wheel and drove off.
    “Ready to head out?” Ariel faced him.
    “After you.”
    She opened the hatch and he placed his belt in the back before heading to the passenger side.
    As they drove he cracked his neck. “I’ll bring my truck tomorrow.”
    “Okay.”
    He had been expecting a bit more of an argument and slanted his gaze at her. “No problem with that?”
    “Should I have one?”
    “Not sure. I’m thinking maybe you should but I’m glad you don’t.”
    She laughed. “More of those others you have been with, I’m assuming. I’m not totally confrontational, you know. You want to drive, I have no problem with it. I’m just stoked you aren’t running away and feel like coming back again tomorrow.”
    “Why are you so surprised I’m not bailing?” He was genuinely interested in knowing.
    “You do this every day. I can’t imagine it’s fun for you to do the same thing on your days off.”
    “I love construction work. Besides, how sucky would it be if I didn’t want to help out a church in need? What kind of man would that make me?”
    “Like a lot of others who don’t feel it’s their job to help.”
    “I’m nothing like other men, babe.”
    “No argument there, Tuck. Not a single one from me.”
    He smiled and leant back. “Is Connie dating someone?” He paused for a moment then added, “Todd wants to know.”
    “Not that she’s told me. I can ask her tomorrow if you’d like.”
    “If it comes up.”
    Ariel laughed. “Really? If it comes up? We’re women, we talk about anything. I can make it come up.”
    “Ain’t that the truth,” he muttered.
    “Mind out of the gutter, Tuck Carter.”
    He shrugged dismissively. “Just talking true.”
    At their building, he walked up with her and kissed her at her door before heading into his own place. Steve wasn’t home and he found a note from the man stating he’d be gone for another week.
    He showered and changed, after which he crossed to the other apartment on his floor. After knocking, he waited.
    “Come on in, it’s open.”
    He entered and found her seated on her couch, book in hand.
    “I’ve been meaning to ask you something,” he said, shutting the door behind him.
    “Dinner is in the oven and will be ready in about a half-hour.”
    “Nice to know, but that’s not the question.”
    “What is?” She closed her book.
    “You work at a security firm. Were a Marine. How is it you’re okay with leaving your door unlocked as you do?”
    She laughed. “Honestly, I don’t.”
    “You call out for us to enter and we can. Hell, sometimes we just come over and walk in.”
    “I know. But it’s not that simple.”
    “Really?” Call him sceptical.
    “I carry around a device that allows me to see who’s at my door. I can activate or disengage the lock at the top and bottom of my door dependent on who’s there.”
    He turned to look at her door. There were black squares on the top. “The landlord is okay with this?”
    “He doesn’t know. They look like nothing. It’s from work—Slater let me take them and give them a trial run. Soundless and very strong. Even if someone were to try and kick the door in, those would help stop them. Now, I know the door is flimsy but it wouldn’t bounce in like could happen with just the deadbolt.”
    “Where’s the camera located?”
    “That’s above the door.”
    “More from Prometheus?”
    “Absolutely. It’s kind of smart tech. Your face and Steve’s have been entered