“Do you have a shift this week?”
“Tonight,” I said. “I’m heading to Posey’s first to deal with her asshat of a landlord.”
“I heard.”
I frowned. “What haven’t you heard?”
She raised her hands in surrender. “All I know is that her landlord’s a slumlord. I know nothing else.”
I hummed in suspicion.
“Swear,” she said. “I get more information out of the women than I do Shutter.”
“Do you try to get it out of Shutter?”
“No. And I know him well enough to know that he wouldn’t tell me anything if I did.” She laughed. “Bossy britches.”
I grinned. “Guilty.”
“I miss you, Nolan,” she admitted. “We’ve spent no time together all month.”
“I know.” I squeezed her arm. “How about I take you out to dinner next week?”
“Like our brother-sister dates before we became adults?”
“Exactly. Only, we can drink now.”
“Well, legally,” she reminded me.
“True.”
“I would love dinner,” she said. “I’m working Wednesday through Sunday, but normal people hours, so I should be home by six. Five-thirty if traffic cooperates.”
“Okay, I’ll find out which day I’m working and we’ll go from there.”
“Can’t wait.”
“You good?”
“I’m good,” she said. “When will I be released from my ‘protective’ detail.”
“When you’re dead,” I retorted and rose to my feet. I leaned down to kiss her cheek, then climbed on my bike and headed over to Posey’s.
CHAPTER TEN
Posey
I DRAGGED MYSELF up to my apartment about half an hour before Shadow was due and took a quick shower. When I stepped out, I noticed a puddle of water on the floor that had never been there before.
“Crap,” I snapped, grabbing a towel, and dropping it on the floor just as my doorbell pealed. I snagged my phone off the nightstand and texted Shadow.
Me: Is that you at my door?
Shadow: Yeah
Me: Give me a sec.
I wrapped a different towel around my body and rushed to the door, still checking the peephole, before pulling it open.
“I’ve got a leak,” I said, and headed back the way I came, confident he’d follow.
I heard the door close and Shadow’s heavy footsteps behind me. “What kind of leak?”
“I got out of the shower and stepped in an inch of water. I have no idea where it’s coming from.”
“Okay, baby, you get dressed, I’ll have a look.”
“Did you bring your tools?”
“Like what?”
“A hammer, maybe?” I asked.
He chuckled, stepping into the bathroom. “No need for swinging a hammer today. Unless it’s the one in my pants. Happy to show you that later, but I wouldn’t want to put a hole in your wall.”
I rolled my eyes even as I bit back a laugh. “Just don’t break any of the tile.”
“Fuck,” he growled, and I peeked my head into the room.
“What?”
“Pipe burst. Do you know where your water shut off is?”
I bit my lip. “Um…”
“I’ll find it,” he said, and headed out of the room.
I scooped my hair into a messy bun on top of my head and moved to follow him, but he returned before I could. “Water’s off.”
“Thanks. I’ll clean up.”
“Don’t. I want that asshole to see the damage.”
I could feel rage pouring off of Shadow and I frowned. “You okay?”
“No, I’m fuckin’ pissed. Your landlord’s a piece of shit, and he needs a lesson in manners.”
“I always thought he was nice.”
“Well, he’s not.” He sighed. “Come on, I’ll show you.”
“Wait.” I grabbed his arm. “I have yet to be properly greeted.”
“Sorry, baby.” He smiled gently. “Come here.”
He pulled me close and kissed me sliding his hands to my butt.
“So handsy. I like it,” I retorted, cupping his face. “I thought you were coming in your uniform?”
“I figured my cut would be more intimidating,” he said, kissing me again.
My doorbell rang before he could show me whatever it was he wanted to show me, so we headed to the front door where he positioned me behind him. “I’m gonna take care of this.”
I tried not to let out a quiet squeal of excitement as he pulled open the door. Never, not ever, had I had someone take my back like this.
“Ah,” Mr. Calloway stuttered. “Who are you?”
“I’m Posey’s man.”
My stomach fluttered.
Hell, yeah, he was my man.
“She’s not authorized to have another person on her lease.”
I scowled. Maybe Mr. Calloway was a dick.
“I’m not livin’ here,” Shadow growled. “I was hired to fix the damage caused by your defective stove.”
“Where’s Posey?” Mr. Calloway demanded.
“I’m here,” I said, stepping out from behind Shadow. “Hi, Mr. Calloway. Come in.”
I tugged on Shadow’s leather vest, pulling him away from the door. He stepped back and Mr. Calloway stepped inside and immediately stalked to my kitchen.
“This damage is far worse than you inferred, Miss Walker.”
“And that’s on you,” Shadow said.
“I don’t know who you think you are—”
Shadow grabbed a manilla folder, opening it and slapping it on the peninsula. “Let me tell you exactly who I am. I’m a Savannah firefighter and I’m also a contractor with a long list of projects under my belt. I understand what kind of damage fire can do and I also understand how to fix it. Did you know there was a recall on this stove—and be real careful how you answer that, because I already know the answer, so if you fuckin’ lie to me, you’re gonna be in a world of hurt.”
Mr. Calloway stuttered out a few unintelligible words and Shadow leaned toward him which made Calloway step back.
Shadow flipped a few of the pages in the folder and held one up to him. “Here is an email that you received two years ago warning you of the recall.”
“I never saw that.”
“You wanna retract that?” Shadow warned, picking up another piece of paper.
“Ah…”
“That’s the work order, that you signed, replacing the range in your daughter’s apartment because hers was recalled.” He jabbed a finger at a squiggle at the bottom of the page. “You fuckin’ signed it and it references the unit, and all units made in that batch, were recalled.”
Again, Calloway sputtered out words that didn’t make sense.
“Right, so now Posey has a leak in her bathroom because there’s a busted pipe, so let me tell you what’s going to happen next,” Shadow said. “You’re gonna let her out of her lease. In fact, you’re going to return her security deposit, plus twenty percent due to the fact she lost work. You’re also gonna give her back this month’s rent, considerin’ it’s the second day of the month and the place is unhabitable because I had to shut off the water, because she has a busted pipe.”