“Like all at once?” Sangre asked, a devilish tone in his voice.
“Sure. Why not?” She looped arms with Chains and Goldie while Sangre followed behind them. They walked toward the door leading to the backyard.
“You wanna get in on a poker game? We’re starting in about fifteen minutes,” Paco said.
“Nah, I’m beat. I’m headed upstairs.” He slammed his glass on the counter and stomped up the stairs. When he got to his room, he kicked off his boots, whipped off his T-shirt after carefully hanging up his cut, and lay down.I know I didn’t imagine her attraction to me. The woman was fuckin’ comin’ on to me. What the hell’s her deal?
He threw his arm over his eyes. Tomorrow was another day, and he’d just go over tohisplace and pay his pretty tenant a visit. He’d be remiss as a landlord if he didn’t follow up to see if the plumbing problem was fixed. It didn’t matter that Deanna had already done that. He wanted to do it himself.
And he’d give her another chance at him.I’m sure she was just tired.
As he thought of all the wicked things he wanted to do to her, he slowly slipped into a deep sleep.
***
Brilliant summer sunlightbathed the town as the heat pushed in on him while he rode over to his duplex. On the shaded porch, he took out his key and inserted it into the lock of his rental. It didn’t turn. He took it out and reinserted it. Again, it didn’t turn. As he tried for the third time, the heat from the day was soon replaced by hot streaks of anger zigzagging through him. Once again, the lock didn’t turn.
Wiping the sweat from his forehead, he tossed the key in the grass.She fuckin’ changed the locks!Enraged, he pounded on the door. It groaned under his assault while the picture window shook.
Behind the door, he heard rushing footsteps and then a pause before the door flung open. “What the fuck’s your problem?” Raven’s eyes flashed and her brow creased.
“You changed the fuckin’ lock. You can’t do that.” He pushed his way in, making her stumble back. “You’re fuckin’ out of line, and I’m not gonna put up with your bullshit.” He stormed into the kitchen and opened the cupboard under the sink, inspecting the new pipe.
“I changed the locks because you seem to think you can barge in here whenever you want.”
“I can. And you can’t change ’em unless I give you permission, which I didn’t.” He stood up and faced her. The sunlight streaming into the kitchen made her black hair glisten, her lips look redder, and her big eyes shine brightly.She’s so damn gorgeous.She had on a pair of jean shorts and a white T-shirt knotted in the middle. She wasn’t wearing a bra, and from the way the sun was hitting her, he could see her pert breasts and their nipples. How he wanted to suck on one of those nipples. He’d always thought that a woman’s nipple was one of nature’s most eye-catching works of art. How he craved to suck on hers, drawing it into his warm mouth and then gliding his tongue over the hardened bud, giving her the erotic attention she deserved.
I gotta concentrate here. Why am I pissed?
“The lease is supposed to explicitly say that I cannot change the locks. It doesn’t, so I can change them without your permission,” she said.
That’s right. She changed the fuckin’ locks!
“You really should’ve hired a lawyer to draft your lease.” She placed her hands on her curvy hips. “I have a friend who’s a lawyer, and he said that a landlord cannot just enter a tenant’s house. The landlord has to give twenty-four hours’ notice before he can barge in unannounced like you did a few days ago, and were attempting to do just now.”
The smug look on her face infuriated him. “Fuck you.” He brushed past her. “And I need a copy of the key in case of an emergency. And that’s allowed. Ask yourlawyerfriend,” he said over his shoulder as he went into the living room. He heard her padded footsteps behind him.
“Why did you come over here?” she asked softly.
“I wanted to see how the plumber did.”
“How’d he do?”
He knew she was right behind him, her intoxicating scent surrounding him, threatening to strangle him. He whirled around and she jumped back. “Fine.” They stood facing each other, an awkward gap between them.
“You want something to drink?”
He leaned forward, his gaze still on her. He liked the way she seemed a little anxious and kept licking her lips.
“I have a bottle of Jack and a couple cans of Coors. There’s always water and cranberry juice.”
“Coors is fine.”
She looked relieved that she had a reason to leave the room. As she went to the kitchen, he sat down on the couch. A cat jumped up and sat on the other end, its shining eyes staring at him. Muerto stared back.
“Sooty, are you trying to show our landlord who’s boss?” She laughed as she handed him his beer.
“I’m the boss,” he said as he brought the can to his lips.
