Page 9

Kitchenette was more like it. The location was to die for, but the rent was a nightmare for two sisters drowning in student debt. It was either a dining table or a sofa, and the choice was obvious. Two stools for two butts. And a couch as soon as either of their first paychecks hit either of their bank accounts.

She grabbed a tall mug and filled it to the brim with coffee so strong, one could stand a spoon in it. One of these months, she’d find a rhythm and kick swing shifts in the ass. The nearly-dead tended to present in the wee hours, so Eryn was doomed to live as a night owl.

“Morning, Sunshine,” Lexi said as she blew inside, the ocean gust helping to expedite her entrance. Closing the door was another matter. Lexi persevered until the door clicked, and she sealed it shut with the deadbolt. Her sister brushed her wild waves off her face.

“While I appreciate the mockery, I am trying not to get my days and nights completely backward.” She glanced at her watch. “See? It’s only one in the afternoon. Actually, what are you doing home so early?”

“An exciting day. Computer orientation.” Lexi sighed with an equally bleary smile. “I finished early, so they told me to run away while I could.” She dropped her bag next to the coat rack and kicked off her clogs. “I’ll be on night shift every other month.”

“What’s your sense? Busy?”

“Considering the small population, that office is remarkably well-staffed and well-funded. They warned me there won’t be much downtime after orientation. But, on the plus side, I’ll have so many other forensic pathologists to consult with, and I haven’t even met all the technicians yet.”

“Did you warn them they’re about to get a lot busier?”

Lexi’s brow dropped in the same old argument. “Please, Eryn—”

“I’m not in the mood.” Eryn checked her watch again, even though she already knew the time. She poured a warmup to fuel her search for food.

The argument had been had. Many times over. There was no winning. If she didn’t hold up her end of the bargain, no amount of pleading could save Lexi this time.

She cradled the thick stoneware in her hands and inhaled steam before savoring a fresh sip. Hmmm. The cabinet door squealed open.

Lexi squeaked with it and covered her ears. “I’ll pick up some WD40 or something.”

Eryn grabbed a bag of cheddar and sour cream potato chips and crackled open the bag. She slurped a sip of coffee, and dug in for a salty, cheesy crunch of goodness to tide her over.

“Antarctic research stations might be recruiting physicians. Not many people die there, and probably no evil bitches—”

The rumble of a big truck shook the walls of the above-the-garage apartment. A commercial back-up beep heralded the truck closing in.

Eryn fired her sister an eye-roll as she moved to the window.

An orange moving truck backed down the narrow road, and turned into their driveway.

Red lights flashed as brakes slammed on.

“Shit.” She searched for a spot to set down her coffee. With her first paycheck, she was getting a damn entry table. After the couch. Balancing the full cup in one hand, she slid her feet into her flip-flops. She braced against the inevitable gust of wind that would whoosh in and knock her on her ass.

Lexi followed close behind, hopping on one foot at the top of the landing as she slipped on her shoes. “As he never gave us the garage door remotes, he should expect we’d be blocking the driveway.”

The engine shut off.

Bedraggled and flushed from too hot of a shower. Not entirely awake. And probably with powdered orange cheese on her face.

So far, he’d been polite, albeit curt, on the phone and by email. Either not chatty because he didn’t have the time or interest in being attentive to his tenants, or he was a busy man. Either way, not ideal landlord material.

She grasped her coffee and stalked down the steps. May as well get it over with. First impressions and all that. Precedent. Begin as you mean to go on. Friendly and approachable.

The driver’s door creaked open. Despite the height, a man casually hopped down. Sandy brown hair, intense eyes, and holy hell, he was maybe Lexi’s height, but he was broad and built, and my oh my.

Fucking gorgeous, with an arrogant smile that could tempt the pants off… well, anyone. He strutted toward her. “Good morning.”

Eryn shifted her coffee to her left hand and extended to shake his hand. “Eryn. We spoke on the phone.”

“Oh, sorry. I’m Bennett, a friend of Vann’s. The man himself should be here in a sec.” Bennett glanced back toward the road.

Something in the way he moved. Confidence in his posture. Graceful, maybe, but he looked equally capable of a Hulk-smash. She could smell death a mile away, and he was… the complete opposite.