Page 11 of His Hot Mess

It took every cell in my body to keep from snapping something at Chris. Instead, I took a long breath, chanting a mantra ofNew Sadie New Sadie New Sadieas he explained to Charles how the plumbing tended to work in these turn-of-the-century mixed-use buildings.

Then I thought about how he’d been looking at Charles and me. How he’d seemed flustered. Or jealous.

I hadn’t meant to tease him when something obviously bugged him about seeing the two of us together, but I hadn’t been able to help myself.

There was something about Chris that made mewantto tease him. I liked seeing him react.

I liked the way when he flicked his gaze at me a heat spread in the lower part of my abdomen.

But god the man was aggravating. Calling out the stain had been a low blow. So what if there was a leak? Leaks could be fixed. I couldn’t think of another empty storefront in downtown Barkley Falls that would suit Sadie’s. If he screwed this up for me, I’d go from irritated to genuinely pissed.

Chris had some nerve looking surprised when I elbowed him out of the way to finish the rest of the inspection, which now, thanks to Mr. Eagle-eye, would include my apartment upstairs. At least it was just a quick look to find the source of the stain.

“The bathroom’s kind of tight,” I said to Charles as we filed up the stairs. “I’m not sure there’s enough room for the three of us to fit in there at once. Why don’t you wait with me in the living room?” Better only one man sees the state of my bathroom. Particularly the one who I hoped was going to lease me the commercial unit downstairs.

“I don’t mind.” Charles said.

But Chris, bringing up the rear said, “If it’s that tight, you probably won’t be able to see anything anyway. No sense in both of us getting down on our hands and knees.

For once, Chris had said the right thing. I glanced at him as we crowded the landing while I opened my door. Was he being nice? Practical? Jealous?

His face was unreadable.

“If you say so,” Charles said, as I led them inside.

I spent an awkward few minutes running around my living room picking up last night’s pizza box, half-empty wine bottle and bathrobe as Charles pretended to admire the view out the window and Chris headed to my bathroom to check out the source of the stain. Even though I’d only brought a few suitcases to supplement the furniture and housewares Lucy left for me, I’d managed to spread myself out a little too comfortably in the two weeks since I’d moved in.

Finally, when the living room was slightly less disgusting than it had been a moment ago, I thought to offer Charles something to drink.

“Um…” I began, silently running through the options in my fridge. There was water, orange juice that may or may not be off, coffee creamer that was most definitely off, and the half bottle of wine I’d just picked up from the living room.

Thankfully Chris emerged from the bathroom just then, wiping his hands on one of my ratty bath towels.

“It looks to be old,” he said. “From the bathtub. A previous tenant must have let the tub overflow.”

The relief on Charles’ face was palpable. Then his eyebrows—strikingly thick and jet black—lifted. “There’s no way Lucy could have done that, by accident, of course?”

“Lucy would never do something so irresponsible,” I said, even though his question was probably rhetorical.

Chris didn’t even bother hiding his smirk this time.

I narrowed my eyes. Was that look suggestingIwould have done something like that?

He threw one back.Definitely.

I pinched my lips together. This man.

“It could be a lot older than a year,” Chris said to Charles, who was oblivious to the silent conversation going on between us.

“Before my time then. I just bought the building. Lucy was my first tenant.” Then, his face hesitant, he said, “So, you don’t think there’s any major damage?”

Chris shrugged. “Probably not, but I could take a more extensive look around up here to make sure.”

“Are you sure that’s really necessary?” I said.

The last thing I wanted was Chris poking around my apartment even more than he already had. I’d probably get a lecture about keeping my fire exits clear; which, when I thought about Chris telling me that, somehow sounded dirty.

“Debbie didn’t complain of any leaks did she, Charles? And Lucy didn’t mention anything when she was here.” I said.

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