Page 27 of My Favorite Hero

She laughed. “No, I craft things to relax. I’m working on a set of wind chimes for the front porch.”

I grimaced. “You’re kidding, right?”

“No.”

“I hate wind chimes.”

“Why?”

“They’re annoying as hell.”

“I find them relaxing.”

I shook my head. “New rule. No wind chimes on the porch. I’m not so big on your wreath either, but I’ll let that one pass.”

“There isn’t anything wrong with my wreath,” she snapped.

“It’s rather girly.”

“As I’ve pointed out to you before, I am a girl.”

“It’s unnecessary fluff. I’ll let you keep it, but no wind chimes.”

She stood, once again looking angry. “You can’t keep adding on rules.”

I stood too. “My house. My rules.”

“My apartment. My rent is paid.”

“I said no.”

“You can’t tell me what to do.”

“I can. I’m the landlord. I overrule you.”

Her eyes narrowed, and she stepped closer. Instinctively, I stepped back. She looked really pissed, yet I couldn’t help noticing how the angry flush highlighted her ivory skin. Or how her eyes darkened, making her look sexier than usual. Anger was a good look on Casey.

But I had a feeling now wasn’t the time to tell her that.

“How old are you?” she demanded. “You look well into your forties, but you act like you’re seventy. You’re a curmudgeon.”

“Forties?” I snarled. “I’m thirty-five.”

“Well, you act like an old man.”

“No, I don’t.”

“No music, no drugs, no boyfriends, no wind chimes. What’s next? No lights after ten? No cooking with garlic? No moving around before eight? When do the rules end, Thorne?”

“When I say they do.” I ran a hand through my hair and tried to placate her. “Hang your wind chimes by your desk,” I offered, sounding lame. That was a bad move on my part since that made her angrier.

“I’ll hang them wherever I damn well want.”

“I said no.”

“I said get out.”

I walked to the back door, calling for Miller. He wasn’t happy about coming with me. “We gotta go, buddy. She’s mad again. She might eat you.”