Beneath his charm

UNEXPECTED

The next few days settled into an unexpected routine.

Natasha would leave for work in the morning.

Sometimes she'd see Sam across the pathway.

Sometimes she'd hear his car leaving before she stepped outside.

And now and then, they'd exchange a few words.

Nothing serious.

Nothing that meant anything.

At least, that's what Natasha kept telling herself.

Until Thursday evening.

She had just returned from work when she noticed Sam standing outside his house, struggling with a box.

She stopped.

"Need help?"

Sam looked up.

His expression immediately changed.

"Are you offering?"

"Don't get excited."

He laughed.

"I could use it."

Natasha walked across the pathway.

"What is this?"

"Books."

She looked at the box.

"All of these?"

"Apparently."

"You actually read all this?"

"Some of them."

"Then why do you have so many?"

Sam smiled.

"Maybe I like having options."

Natasha shook her head.

"You're strange."

"So I've been told."

She picked up one of the smaller boxes.

"Where does this go?"

"Inside."

She followed him in.

The house was still only partly arranged. A few boxes remained scattered around the living room, but most of the furniture was already in place.

Natasha looked around.

"You're almost done."

"Almost."

She placed the box down.

"Then I'll leave you to it."

"Already?"

She looked at him.

"You said you needed help. I helped."

"I thought neighbours were supposed to be helpful."

"I've done my part."

He laughed.

"Fair enough."

Natasha turned towards the door.

Then Sam spoke again.

"Have you eaten?"

She stopped.

"Why?"

"Because I was going to order dinner."

She looked at him suspiciously.

"And?"

"And you can join me."

Natasha hesitated.

There was nothing particularly strange about the invitation.

They were neighbours.

He wasn't asking her on a date.

At least, that's what she told herself.

"Fine."

Sam smiled.

"Good."

Dinner was simple.

Nothing fancy.

They sat across from each other, talking about random things.

Work.

The neighbourhood.

Their favourite foods.

Things they normally wouldn't bother telling someone they'd only known for a short time.

Natasha found herself laughing more than she expected.

At some point, Sam looked at her.

"What?"

She frowned.

"You're staring."

"I'm listening."

"You can listen without staring."

"Maybe."

She smiled and looked down at her food.

There was something different about him when he wasn't being mysterious.

He seemed... normal.

Easy.

Almost familiar.

And Natasha liked that.

She wasn't sure when it happened, but somewhere between the teasing and the conversation, she stopped thinking of him as the stranger she'd met twice.

He was just Sam now.

Her neighbour.

Someone she was beginning to enjoy talking to.

That thought should have worried her.

Instead, she smiled.

Later that night, Natasha stepped back into her apartment.

She closed the door behind her and leaned against it.

She didn't understand why she felt so light.

Maybe it was just the good conversation.

Maybe it was because she hadn't allowed herself to have moments like that in a long time.

She smiled faintly.

Then headed towards her room.

Across the pathway, Sam stood by his window.

He watched Natasha's light come on.

For a moment, his expression softened.

Then his phone rang.

He looked at the screen.

Eli.

Sam answered.

"What's up?"

Eli's voice came through.

"Your mother called again."

The smile disappeared from Sam's face.

He looked towards Natasha's apartment.

"Did she say what she wanted?"

"She wants you to come see her."

Sam was silent.

Then he looked away from the window.

"I'll handle it."

"Sam..."

"I said I'll handle it."

He ended the call.

For several seconds, he stood there quietly.

Then he looked back towards Natasha's apartment.

Whatever had started between them...

He knew it was becoming harder to separate from the reason he'd approached her in the first place.