Chapter 3

Lyra's POV

The eyes were similar to his, striking pale blue but warmer somehow. This man was taller, maybe six-four. And his skin was sun-kissed caramel where Cassian's had been light porcelain. His hair was darker, almost black instead of Cassian's platinum blonde hair. And his features, while similar in structure, were less softer.

"Hi," I managed to mutter. I shifted Eleanor higher on my hip and tried to remember how to breathe. "You must be.."

"The tenant, yeah." He grinned a lazy, easy grin.

"Sorry if I startled you. You looked like you had seen a ghost there for a second."

I forced a laugh that sounded hollow even to my own ears. "No, I just... you reminded me of someone for a moment. My mistake."

Eleanor chose that moment to grab a fistful of my hair and yank. Hard.

"Ow—Eleanor, baby, gentle."

The man's grin widened, and he crouched down slightly to be at Eleanor's eye level. I then realized he had a split tongue, and black gemstone studs on his ears.

"I smell mischief in you. I like it."

Eleanor giggled and buried her face in my shoulder, suddenly shy.

I swallowed hard, trying to regain my composure. Trying to be a normal, functioning adult instead of someone whose past had just walked up to her doorstep wearing a stranger's face.

"I'm Lyra," I said, awkwardly shifting the cupcake tray so I could extend my hand. "Lyra Edevane."

He took my hand, and his palm was cold. Unusually cold.

"Great. I'm Lucanoisan. Luca for short, actually."

I could swear I had heard that name somewhere. In fact, many times. I ransacked my memory, and when it came to me, I took a step back.

"W-What is your last name?"

"Hugon....?"

I shook my head.

"No..no...uh. your unofficial last name."

He looked surprised at that.

"Oh. Rourke."

Fuck.

The cupcake tray slipped from my grip and crashed to the porch floor, buttercream splattering across the wood.

Eleanor gasped. "Mama! The cuppycakes!"

But I couldn't move.

"Lyra?" Luca's voice seemed to come from very far away. "Hey, are you okay? You just went really pale."

Rourke.

Four months. I had agreed to rent my home to someone for four months.

And that someone was a Rourke.

Eleanor immediately scrambled for the counter and dragged down the wet rag.

"Mama?"

I cleared my throat and stood up, patting her hair and forcing a smile.

"Hehe. Clumsy me."

I turned to the man in front of me who stood with his brows arched awkwardly.

"Um, Luca. Yeah? Please come in." I stepped aside and held the door open.

I couldn't snap out of it. I kept looking at his face while he dragged his suitcase in.

When he entered the living room, he looked around, shrugging slightly.

"So...I guess my wing is on the other end?"

Maybe there was a possibility that this was just a simple coincidence.

"Uh... Lyra?"

Afterall people shared similar features with other people all the time.

"Um... Hello?"

It had to be.

I snapped out of it when Eleanor yanked on my dress. Equally looking at me weird.

"Oh... hey, sorry..I...uh.." I massaged my forehead.

Great.

I'm officially a weirdo now.

"Everything okay?"

"Mm hm. I'm just... a little bit under the weather that's all." I gestured towards the other end. "Come, let me show you to your new home. For the next four months."

He followed quietly and shrugged. But I didn't miss the way he looked at Eleanor.

"Your daughter could pass for a mini-me."

He chuckled.

I felt my nerves kickstart again and evaded giving a response.

"This will serve as your living room."

"Wait, isn't this like... an office space?"

I nodded.

"Yes. But it is moderate enough to serve as a living room for your guests and you, your room is quite big. Almost as big as mine, so I'm sure... you won't mind."

He crossed his arms and I noticed the intricate pattern of vines that crawled up to his wrist.

Tattoos?

His eyes followed my line of sight.

"Yes. Any problem with them? The agent said you weren't a prude so..."

"Ofcourse I'm not. I just...have never seen tattoos like those."

He leaned in.

"Colourful? Extravagant? Sexy?"

My lips parted and I closed them almost immediately.

"We are discussing the living room arrangement. You just moved in and you are flirting with me?" Eleanor was far from earshot. "I don't fraternize with college boys."

A gleam passed his eyes and they appeared even more feline.

He stepped back and placed his hand on his suitcase.

"That wasn't flirting. It was simply a question."

His physique. Ear studs, tongue piercing, slightly disheveled hair. The fact that such a powerful surname like Rourke fit him so well could only tell me one thing about him.

He was definitely going to be trouble.

"Look. Just... take the office space or whatever. The main living room is where my daughter likes to play. And it's not part of your wing."

He flashed me a smile.

"I paid a lot of money for comfort, I deserve it, don't you think?"

"Well. If we are to live peaceably and successfully co-exist, I'd prefer you follow my rules and regulations."

I was trying too hard to not get intimidated by his build, or heavy gaze. His arms were crossed and my feet were fixed.

"I'll give you 300 bucks if you allow me to share your living room. Deal?"

I shook my head.

"400 bucks then."

"No."

"500 bucks?"

"No."

"Hm. In case you are assuming that I am a danger to your child because I don't look like a prim and proper golden boy with a gold stick in his hands. You are wrong. I am a very responsible adult."

The dramatic way he put his hand on his chest and declared that made me doubt it even more.

But for some reason, Eleanor found him very funny.

"You're like what... Twenty four? Well, young man, I'm twenty seven. Meaning I am older, and by virtue of that you should listen to me."

He waved his hand dismissively.

"A three year gap? Come on, I've railed women in their fortie—"

I gasped.

Eleanor giggled.

"Rail momma! Rail!"

I glared at Luca whose lips were pursed.

"Sorry. I'm not used to being around children."

"You—"

"Especially ones that look like my brother."