Page 40 of Rising Heat

Coop motions across the table.

“That’s your answer?”

“It’s part of the answer,” Ty says. “She doesn’t seem like the type to wait around for somebody else to solve her problems.”

The table goes quiet for half a beat. Tyler has somehow managed to learn more about this chick in three weeks than most people learn in three months.

“You like her,” Marco says.

Tyler snorts.

“I barely know her.”

“Sounds like you know more than most landlords would,” Coop teases.

A laugh works its way around the table.

Tyler flips him off.

I take my cup to the sink, rinse it out, and make the mistake of looking in Coop’s direction on the way back to the table.

He’s already watching me.

The grin should’ve been enough warning that he’s still not finished.

“What.”

“Nothing.”

“Coop.”

“I’m just saying.”

Tyler laughs.

Coop ignores him.

“You still haven’t met her.”

I flip open the maintenance log.

“I’ve been on shift.”

“You’ve also had days off.”

“Remarkable. You can read a calendar.”

“It’s your building.”

“I know it’s my building.”

“And the drain on three⁠—”

“I know about the drain.”

“Do you?”

I look up.