Page 33 of Firecracker

He laughed as he started the coffee maker. “Is that what you think I do?”

“It’s the stereotype, I know. Have you ever rescued a cat?”

“No. We don’t do that.”

“What? You just leave them up there?”

He turned and leaned against the counter, an amused expression on his face. “Have you ever seen a skeleton of a cat in a tree?”

She frowned at him, then burst out laughing. “Good point.”

“I did rescue a dog, though.”

Her eyes widened. “You rescued a dog from a fire?”

“No.” He grimaced. “He ran under a parked car and got stuck in the engine compartment.”

“Oh. Really?”

“Really. We had to lift the car and get underneath.”

“He’s okay?”

“He’s fine. Back with his family. Crazy mutt.” He shook his head, but smiled.

“You like dogs?”

“Love ’em.”

“Would Jamie let you have one?”

“Probably. We don’t have much of a yard though, with parking behind the building. I think I’d rather wait until I can buy my own house someday.” He rolled his eyes. “Which could be in fifty years, and I’ll be too old to look after a dog.”

“Buying a house is hard.”

“Unless you’re Jamie Lennox.”

She sighed and accepted the cup of coffee he handed her. “True.” She eyed him. “Am I sensing I’m not the only one who’s a little envious of Jamie?”

“Nah.” He started making another cup. “Jamie deserves everything he has. He’s worked his ass off for it since he was seventeen.”

“True.”

“And I’m exaggerating on the home buying thing. I’ve got some decent savings, thanks in large part to living here. Jamie and I have a deal so the work I do comes off my rent, and that’s really helped me put some money away.”

She found the idea that he might move away…unsettling. Even though she’d just arrived here and had no idea how long she’d stay. “I guess I’m in a similar boat. Jamie’s letting me live here rent-free because the apartment is still under construction.”

“Well, think of it this way. He can’t rent it to someone else; nobody would pay to live in an apartment that’s still being renovated. And it could take a while, since I just do it part-time.”

“What about Norton?”

“Huh?” He squinted at her.

“Sunday at the beach…he seemed upset that Jamie had given me the apartment. Was it promised to him?”

“No.” Tyler’s lips twisted and he shook his head. “Norton wants to live here. But he couldn’t afford the rent if Jamie charged him regular price. Norton still lives with his parents.”

She nodded. “That’s not unusual these days.”

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