“He wasn’t there,” Shadow said. “His woman’s name is Lyric.”
“The illegally pretty blonde?” I asked.
He grinned. “She’s a little tall and skinny for my taste, but, yeah, she’s pretty.”
“So how did Doom set you right?” I asked, then shook my head. “Sorry, that’s way too personal. You don’t have to answer it.”
“Story for another day.”
I smiled. “Okay.”
His phone buzzed on the table and he glanced at the screen, then answered it. “Hey, Lyric. Were your ears burnin’?” He smiled. “Yeah. You did?” He glanced at me, then sat back slowly. “No shit? Okay. Yeah. Absolutely. Thanks, sweetheart.” He hung up and set his phone back on the table. “Your landlord’s a piece of shit.”
“He is?”
“Yeah. He knows those ranges are defective and has been warned multiple times to fix them. There’s written evidence, so Lyric says you shouldn’t be on the hook for any of it.”
“Even though I cooked the box?”
“Oh, so you’re admitting you cooked the box now?”
I grimaced. “Only to you.”
He smiled gently. “Yeah. If the oven had been airtight, it would have just burned out, so none of that’s on you.”
“Not sure I can go up against him, however.”
“You don’t have to, Posey. Lyric’s prepping to fight it for you if your landlord gives you any grief. I plan to be there, in my Savannah FD uniform, to walk him through exactly what he did wrong and how he’s going to fix it.”
“Seriously?”
“Unless you don’t want me to.”
“Oh, no, that would be amazing,” I breathed out. “I just don’t want you to feel like you have to.”
“I don’t feel like I have to.”
I bit my lip. “Okay. Thanks, Shadow.”
“You’re welcome.”
Our food arrived and our conversation moved to more surfacy topics like work schedules and weather. I honestly couldn’t remember a time when I’d had a better date.
Not that this was a date.
Jesus, I needed to pull myself together.
“You went silent on me again,” Shadow observed.
I forced a smile. “Sorry. Lots to process.”
“I got your back, Posey. You’re not in this alone.”
I smiled, nodding. “Okay.”
“You ready?” he asked once he’d slipped cash into the check folder.
“Let me get—”
“My treat,” he interrupted.
“Okay. Thanks.”
“You’re welcome.”
“Yes, I’m ready,” I said, and he walked me out to the truck and drove me home.
After walking me to my door, he waited for me to step inside my apartment and close the door before walking back down to his truck. I watched him from my window. The man was ridiculously gorgeous.
I sighed. Whatever. The man probably has women throwing themselves at him all the time. I was probably one in a long list.
I shook off my desire and took a long shower before watching a little television and falling into bed.
CHAPTER SIX
Posey
THE DAY BEFORE my landlord was due to ‘inspect’ my unfixed kitchen, Shadow arrived to do a couple more measurements.
“I thought you’d gotten everything before,” I said, as he walked into my apartment.
“Figured I’d double check a couple of things, because I don’t want this asshole to slither out of anything.”
I sighed. “Do you have any idea how terrified I am that this is all going to go tits up, while at the same time so fucking grateful you’re going to bat for me?”
His eyes softened and he smiled. “It’s not gonna go tits up, Posey. At least, not for you. And I appreciate that you’re grateful for something so insignificant as taking extra measurements.”
“It’s not just that, and you know it.”
He looked like he was going to say something, but in the end, just nodded and headed into my kitchen where he pulled out a tape and started to work again.
I couldn’t stop staring at his hands. His fingers were long, but they were callused and manly looking. He wore a skull ring on his right ring finger and a leather cuff on his left wrist, and his long blondish hair was left to hang around his shoulders.
My breasts suddenly felt heavy and my nether regions zinged with need.
Lordy, I wanted to run my hands through those curly locks.
“You keep lickin’ your lips, we’re gonna have a problem,” he warned, without looking up from his phone.
I sucked my tongue back into my mouth. “I’m not—”
“Yeah, you are, Posey.”
I crossed my arms and silently ordered my nipples to retreat.
God, I needed to get laid.
“You offerin’?” he asked, never once taking his eye off his phone.
“Did you just read my mind?” I accused.
He raised an eyebrow and focused on me. “Yes, I absolutely just read your mind.”
“Oh my god,” I groaned. “I did not just say that out loud.”
“You did. And you know I think you’re fuckin’ hot, baby, but I got somewhere I gotta be.” His eyes raked my body. “But if you want me to come back later, you let me know.”
“Depends on if you plan to bring dinner,” I whispered under my breath.
Shadow laughed.
“Oh my god, there’s no way you could have heard that.”
“I have ears like a bat,” he retorted as he pulled his tape measure off his belt loop again.
I rolled my eyes. “As long as you have eyes like a builder, because I was always taught to measure twice and cut once.”
“This here tape measure is a sophisticated piece of equipment, but I think I’ve got the hang of trying to read it.”
“Are you sure?” I sassed. “Because in my experience, most guys don’t actually know what ten inches looks like.”
He burst into deep laughter, shaking his head as he slid his phone into his pocket. “Jesus, you’re funny.”
“I really can’t take credit for that.” I smiled. “I studied at the feet of Monty Python.”
“Oh, really?” He raised an eyebrow. “Favorite Monty Python?”
“Movie or sketch?”
“Sketch, of course.”
“Live or on record?”
“Holy shit, you are a fan,” he exclaimed. “Hm, dealer’s choice.”
“The Cheese Shop,” I said.
“Why?”
“It was equal parts silly and smart, plus I’m a sucker for comedy that contains absurd lists.”
He chuckled. “And cheese.”
“Oh, definitely. Always cheese.” I cocked my head. “What about you?”
“Mr. Creosote from the Meaning of Life.”
“Of course, that’s every guy’s favorite.”
“What can I say, I’m a sucker for vomit-based humor.”
I couldn’t stop a laugh as I mock-scoffed and bit out, “Ugh, boys.”