Page 16 of The Reluctant Roommate

“I never asked what exactly you do. You said you work for Mattingley. Is that financial planning?”

Morgan’s gaze skittered away to a corner of the ceiling. “Financial planning, portfolio management, that sort of thing. It’s pretty dull stuff.” She went over to a cabinet. “I’ve got some cookies here somewhere.” She pulled out a packet of chocolate chip. “These are my favorite.” She used scissors to open the pack and offered it to Heidi.

“Thanks. Are you a contractor that you can work from home, or do you have your own clients? That’s probably a stupid question—I obviously know nothing about the finance world.”

Morgan visibly hesitated. “My own clients, mainly.”

Maybe she was worried Heidi would learn confidential information—that would account for her reluctance to discuss her job. “I don’t mean to make you uncomfortable. I get that you’re privy to a lot of confidential information. Is your job interesting or just a way to earn a buck?”

“I mostly like it. The hours are long, though. You have to keep up-to-date on financial trends. And, of course, some people aren’t…pleasant to deal with.”

Heidi nodded. “I get that. My job too. Oh, not the confidential information. The biggest secret where I work is how our boss gets away with all the workplace transgressions that he does. Oh, nothing too illegal—no drugs or guns—but I caught him watering down the spirit bottles the other day. Not by much. But he was doing it.”

“You should report him.” Morgan pushed a strand of fine blond hair behind her ear.

Heidi tried not to stare as it sprang free again, Morgan’s hair brushing the side of her pale cheek. “Then I’d be out of a job. My mate Lula says it’s not an unusual practice. I’ll stick it out until I find something better. That doesn’t sound like your problem, though. I bet financial planning is all super-polite people and Zoom calls.”

“You’re not so far off.” Morgan slid off the chair. Her pale-blue sweater was thin enough to cling in all the right places.

Heidi looked down at her own loose shirt. But Morgan obviously dressed to impress, and she didn’t.

“Do you want some toast?” Morgan said. “I’m about to make some.”

“If you don’t mind, that would be great.” Heidi bit her lip. “I promise I’ll grocery shop later this morning.”

“There’s a Whole Organics store a few blocks to the south. That’s where I usually go.”

Lula called that chain “Whole Paycheck.” She’d have to find the nearest King Soopers. Hopefully, it was within walking distance.

Morgan opened a cabinet and took out a gleaming-white toaster and put four slices of dark bread on. “I have peanut butter or grape jelly. Or both, of course.”

“Peanut butter sounds good.” It had been a long time since the chicken wings last night. She really should have gotten up earlier. She found the plates and knives as Morgan took the spreads from the pantry.

The toast popped, and Heidi’s mouth watered worse than Pavlov’s dogs. Toast at the hostel was sliced, white, and tissue thin. Morgan’s toast could probably reshingle the roof.

The peanut butter was the natural sort with no sugar or salt and stuck to the roof of Heidi’s mouth, but she’d still finished hers while Morgan was nibbling at the first slice. Heidi gulped her coffee, then put both plate and mug in the dishwasher.

“Um, please, can you rinse them first?” Morgan said.

“Sorry.” She took them out again and rinsed them under the tap, filing that away in her mind so she remembered next time. “Do you want anything from the grocery store?”

“I’m good.” Morgan was staring at the counter.

Heidi followed her gaze. A smattering of crumbs and a smear of jelly adorned the white counter. She found the cloth and wiped.

“Disinfectant spray is under the sink,” Morgan said.

Really?That seemed extreme, but whatever. She found the spray and wiped the counter. “Thanks for the toast. I’ll catch you shortly.”

“I should get back to work.” Morgan didn’t move, and her gaze drilled into Heidi’s shoulder blades as she headed for the stairs.

Chapter 11

Adding to the List

An hour later, Heidi arrived home lugging two bags of groceries, which she hoped would last her a week. There was no sign of Morgan, so she went to the kitchen and started putting food away. Her cell phone rang, and she propped it on the counter as she worked. “Hey, Lula.”

“Hey yourself. How are the new quarters working out?”