Andy felt horrible gauche in her stupid formal clothes and broken down house. And she had been trying her best to look good and the house presentable. She had scrubbed and cleaned the house and then scrubbed and cleaned herself all morning. She couldn't help it, one just had to make a good impression on company, especially if it was a hot guy.

But then Leo had turned up looking like a supermodel in GQ. His hair perfectly slick and combed, a casually worn flannel shirt with a buttery-soft tan leather jacket and a Levis that hugged his long legs. He may claim to not be rich, but he sure blew a lot of money on clothes.

Next to him, she felt like a redneck. For the most part, he had focused on the job at hand and completely ignored her, though he made witty comments here and there. Then, he had turned and talked to her and for some reason she was giggling and smiling at him. Leo, however, seemed to turn on the charm effusively, and she was an easy and even willing target.

Leo strode to the attic and rose an eyebrow at her as he found it locked. With a sheepish smile, she took out a key and opened it. He bowed and bade her to entry, she did with her lips pressed.

She hated the attic!

Many nights, she heard bumps and thuds from the top. She sometimes even heard whines. They must almost certainly be raccoons or some other animals, but she had locked the door and never bothered to find out.

She turned on the light on the landing and marched forward.

The stairs seemed stable enough, but Leo moved himself in front of Andy to test them anyways. Once they mounted the attic, a cold frigid air hit them in spite of it being mid-morning. The attic stank of dust and rodent feces.

"Phew!" Both Andy and Leo held their noses and exchanged smiles. It really wasn't scary to explore the attic with Leo, Andy thought. Though, she wouldn't dare to venture here alone.

She stood uncertainly in the middle of the floor as Leo looked through the mess and dirt that was her attic. The windows were so dirty, that it was dark in there, so she was thankful for the light bulb that emitted a feeble light. She spotted huge cobwebs in the roof and the round skylight at the top had a big crack. No wonder that she was always cold.

Leo shook his head as he muttered to himself and wrote in his notebook. She watched him move around and was somehow less scared, ridiculously glad that she wasn't here all alone. He was real easy on eyes, was Leo. She wondered if he had many girlfriends. If he looked like that and lived in LA, undoubtedly.

After he was done checking, they moved downstairs and Andy let out an audible sigh of relief. Leo chuckled, "You did a great imitation of a statue there. Like you were super-glued to the middle of the floor."

"Shut up!" Andy said, but grinned. "I hate attics of old, dark houses and this one's the worst."

Before Leo could reply, the landing light went out with a pop. With a ridiculously girlish scream, Andy launched herself at Leo. The landing was pitch black and she was glad to have somebody to hold. Damn, this is the reason she had avoided the attic like the plague.

She felt Leo's body vibrate with a chuckle as his arms wrapped around her. "Really honey," his soft Texan drawl resonated in the darkness, "I knew you couldn't keep your hands off of me."

"Yeah, right", Andy scoffed, but buried tighter in his shirt. He smelled outdoorsy and fresh and let out warmth like a furnace. She was reminded of the first day they met, he was buck-naked and skinny-dipping in the freezing water. She sighed and his hand came around to clasp hers.

"You're shaking, Red. Don't be scared, honey, I won't let anything happen to you." His lips brushed her forehead. Andy stiffened, then closed her eyes with a sigh.

"How convenient for me, I have my knight in a shining armor, right here."

"Yeah, I can be that for you, honey."

The words were spoken with such quite conviction, Andy opened her tightly clasped eyes. Leo could be so flirty, she never thought he could speak so much assurance.

He winced. "Whenever you are ready to let go."

"Oh, sorry!" Andy squeaked and jumped back. She had dug her nails in his upper arm and she hadn't been even aware of it.

"That's alright, come on now."

Leo held her hand and led her down the stairs. Not only that, he fixed the fused out lamp which had gone out due to "fluctuations", bought her a coffee from the store and talked her ear off until she relaxed. Then with a wink and a wave and a promise to give her the correct estimates, he was off. And Andy was left to her own devices in the big, old house.,

----------

"I am just seriously concerned that no one in this town worries about a single girl living out of ways in an old house, alone. And she doesn't have a car, did I tell you that? What is this town coming to, anyways? What is the world coming to?"

Mark Knight lowered his newspaper to shoot his younger brother a quizzical look. Emily hid a smile as she fed a gurgling Zack. It was breakfast time at the Knights and Leo was laying it on thick with his case for Andy.

"Who was Andy again? How long has she been here?" Mark turned to Emily.

"She's the cute redhead I was talking to you about. She's inherited Holden House and wanted to fix it up and sell it."

"Oh, I may have some developer interested in it. I will ask around in my contacts. The house is old, right, what are the estimates you've for me?"

Leo felt like standing up and pulling out his hair. He couldn't believe they were all talking about a frigging house when Andy was alone in the old house all by herself. He had keep it to himself that the skylight in the house was cracked and the filthy attic windows had broken locks. If somebody wanted to break in, he just had to climb up the oak outside the house, swing in through the attic window and a flimsy lock on the attic door wasn't stopping the intruder from getting to Andy.

He took a deep breath. "Hang the house, how come no one's asking about Andy? I am the one who saw the fear in her eyes and I know she doesn't want to stay there alone, why am I the only one concerned here?"

Emily and Mark just stared at him. Even Zack stared at him without gurgling.

Mark raised his brow at his brother.  "While your concern for a single, attractive woman is touching," his voice dripped sarcasm, "I ain't sure what we can do about it."

"Oh, to hell with you!"

"Ok, ok, stop it, boys! Look, Leo, I spoke to old Mrs Tucker who lives in town. She has an apartment over her garage and she's looking to rent it out. Four hundred per month including utilities. Do you think Andy would be interested in it?"

Leo jumped up and kissed Emily on her cheek. "Thanks, I'll talk to her."

*****

Mrs. Tucker's house was near the gas station, which put it only four blocks from Prescott Pizza Place where Andy worked. 

Mrs. Tucker was the apple-cheeked, round woman who had cooked a lot of pies for Leo as a child, and her place would be perfect for Andy. Now if only he could convince her of it.

"What do you mean that you want me out of the house as you fix it up?" Andy narrowed her eyes at him, as if to determine if he was joking.

He had picked up Andy after her shift at the diner and after a lot of hemming and hawing, she had gotten inside his car and accepted his lift. As if she was doing him a favor.

"Mrs. Tucker has a perfectly good place just four blocks from the place you work. You can stay there as I fix the place up."

"And how much is the rent?"

"You don't have to worry about it. At Knights, we provide relocation assistance."

"No."

Leo felt a headache coming on. Damn, the girl was stubborn. The thought of dropping her off in the cold, dreary place wasn't exactly pleasing to him. He hated the thought of Andy spending time in the house where she wasn't safe.

"Andy, why not?" He said, much sharper than intended.

Andy turned to him with a smile. "Can't believe you called me Andy, it's always Red this and honey that."

"Minx," Leo smiled back, "what's wrong with the fabulous relocation we are providing you?"

"Well, nothing, it's just that in life, I have learnt to be wary of things that are either free, fabulous or complimentary."

Leo let out an exasperated breath. "So jaded for one so young. You should tell me your story sometime."

Andy turned to look out of the window, watching the street lights whiz past. "I doubt you'll find it interesting. I wasn't sheltered or coddled, so I had to make my own way in life. People are quick to take advantage of you when you're sixteen and orphaned."

Leo felt the headache move to the base of his skull. "Who took advantage of you, Andy?"

And he would like to know why he wanted to kill him. Andy was too young to act so reserved and mature. She should be out taking chances, enjoying her life and making mistakes. The way he was just a few months back, he thought. Carefree and living it up.

He saw Andy press her lips together but she just stood staring out of the windows. He pulled up at the house and turned to her, pulling her hands in his. "Tell me."

Andy let out a sigh and pulled away her hands. "See you tomorrow."

She got out of the car and Leo noticed the inward shiver as she stumbled up the rickety porch. Who in the his ever-loving mind would voluntarily stay here?

Stubborn red-headed chicks who had more pride than common-sense.

If she was going to be staying here alone, Leo wondered if she would mind company. Of course, she won't. He was Leo Knight. Charming was his middle name.

"Wait, Andy."

Andy whirled around to him, the key to the front door tightly clutched in her hand.

Slowly, he sauntered to her. She eyed him warily, but didn't move away.

He closed his hand over hers in an effort to wrest away her keys. He didn't break eye contact and saw her eyes widen in comprehension.

She pulled her hand away. Leo scowled, he was too pissed to keep up his facade. But if he had to get anywhere with Andy, butting heads wasn't going to get him anywhere.

He raised a finger and touched her smooth skin, from her temple to cheek then up to her ear. Her skin was so smooth and flawless, and he stepped closer without realizing it.

Her breath hitched and his breath started coming in pants, too.

She bit her lip uncertainly and Leo's gaze followed her plump and too pink lips. He felt like he was compelled for a taste.

Andy let out a long, shuddering breath. "Leo."

And that's when he stopped thinking and bent down to kiss her.