Chapter 2
Chapter Two
JESSE
A knock at the door startled me, and I opened it, finding Casey standing there, holding a pizza box.
“What?” I growled, not in the mood to deal with her right now.
“I brought dinner. As a thank-you.”
I paused, the aroma of the pizza wafting through the air. I was hungry, and I had nothing planned for dinner anymore. Those ideas had gone sideways with her appearance.
“I’d have you to my side, but it’s a mess,” she said with a droll wink.
I hid my smile, not wanting to encourage her.
“Come in.”
She walked in, looking around. I indicated the table. “Sit. I’ll get plates. You want a beer?”
She shook her head. “Water, if you have it?”
I grabbed a bottle from the fridge and set it in front of her. “Enjoy.”
She flipped open the box, and the scent hit me harder. I looked over the cheesy pie. “What’s on it?”
“Pepperoni, bacon, onions, sausage and hot peppers. Extra cheese.” She lifted a piece, the cheese pulling as she did. “And chili flakes. Hope you like it hot.”
I picked up a piece, taking a huge bite, letting the heat hit me. I chewed and swallowed, taking another mouthful and chewing before I answered.
“Hot isn’t a problem.” I refused to tell her those were my favorite toppings.
“Good,” she hummed around a mouthful.
I took a swig of beer, letting the cold soothe the burn. We chewed and sipped in silence, the pizza slowly disappearing.
“You don’t talk much, do you?” she asked.
I shrugged. I spoke when I had something to say. The truth of the matter was I hadn’t been expecting a dinner companion. Especially one who looked like her. She was incredibly pretty.
“I didn’t expect you.”
“You mean the fact that I have boobs instead of a dick? Or in general?”
I withheld my chuckle. “Both.”
“What did you mean, unwanted tenant?”
I sighed, realizing I wasn’t going to have any peace while she was here.
I drained my beer, getting up and grabbing another one.
I sat down, twisting off the lid. “I didn’t want to be a landlord.
I agreed as a favor to Lou, and yes, I heard the name, the job, and mistakenly thought you’d be a guy, which I thought would be easier. Sims didn’t correct me.”
She shrugged. “I get that a lot, to be honest. My name is actually Katharine Casey. My dad thought it was funny. So, my initials are my name since I prefer Casey to Katharine. I sign most things KC,” she explained, signing the letters in the air.
“And Lou always signed my cards the same way. It’s fast in my business too.
” She finished her pizza and wiped her fingers on a paper napkin I had stacked on the table.
“It probably never occurred to her to say I was a girl.” She looked at me sadly.
“I know her mind wasn’t as clear the last while since she fell. ”
I nodded, thinking of Lou. “Are you related?”
She paused, her eyes unfocused as if lost in the past. “Through blood, no. But family isn’t always that way.” She shrugged. “It’s just a last name sometimes.”
I hummed in agreement as I sipped my beer.
“Why would a male tenant be easier?” she asked.
I paused, the bottle partway to my mouth. “Dunno. More independent. Less chance of them bothering me if a tap dripped or a door squeaked. No romantic music being played all the time.”
She crossed her arms, looking annoyed. “First off, I like classic rock. Plus, I’m independent, and I assure you I can fix my own damn tap or door.”
I couldn’t help the smirk. “But not break in to a place through a window.”
“I would have been fine if the counter had still been there. By the time I realized I had nothing to pull myself up with, it was too late. The casement fell, and I was stuck.”
“I remember,” I replied tersely, trying to block out the image of her creamy skin on display. Or her curvy ass. I needed to get a grip. Or get laid.
One of them.
“Why is the kitchen pulled apart?”
“There was a leak. We had to open the wall to get to the old plumbing. Seemed a good time to replace the cupboards since they were in pretty bad shape. I planned on having it all done when you arrived.”
“Ah.”
“You’ve been here?” I asked. “You know the layout?”
“Yes. My mom and I stayed in the apartment for a while.”
I made a low noise so she knew I heard her, but I didn’t comment. I sensed a story there, but I remained quiet. I had no desire to know her past.
She wiped her mouth with her napkin. “I’ve taken up enough of your time.”
“Where are you staying?”
She frowned. “Next door.”
“There’s no kitchen. And it would go faster if the place were empty.”
She shrugged. “I can eat out until it’s ready. Plus, I can help put it back together. I’m pretty handy.”
I didn’t respond, watching as she lifted the pizza box. “Breakfast,” she explained.
But she grimaced as she stood, and I frowned.
“You okay?”
“The window was pretty heavy.”
“Do you need to be looked at?”
She grinned, suddenly looking mischievous. “I think you did enough of that earlier.”
I scowled. “I barely looked at you. I’m a firefighter and have paramedic training. I could make sure nothing is broken,” I said firmly.
“I’m fine.” She headed to the door. “This was nice.”
“We’re not making it a habit,” I replied. “I have no desire to be friends.”
She began to laugh. “Oh, you are as grumpy as Lou told me. Do you ever speak without a grunt or a snarl?”
I narrowed my eyes.
“Don’t worry, Thorne. Barney and I will be fine.”
“Who the hell is Barney?”
“My cat.”
“I never said you could have a cat,” I sputtered.
“Too late, we’re a package deal.”
“I have a dog,” I snapped. “He doesn’t like cats.”
She looked around. “Is he invisible? Like your pretend dog?”
I stood, towering over her, realizing just how short she was. “Miller had an infection in his paw, and there was a complication. He’ll be home tomorrow.”
She stopped teasing. “Oh, I’m sorry.”
“It’s fine. Keep your cat away from him.”
She turned to go and began to laugh. “Barney and Miller. Wasn’t that a TV show in the ’70s?”
I snorted. “Neither of us was born then.”
“I know. But my mom and I loved it—we watched the reruns all the time.”
I ignored how delighted she looked. It did something to my chest.
I should never have let her in the door.
“Good night, Katharine.”
“Casey. It’s Casey, Thorne.”
“Jesse,” I corrected her.
“But Thorne suits you better. Because you’re all grumpy and thorny when you get riled.”
“I’m that way all the time. Remember that. And it’s Jesse.”
“Night, Thorne.”
I growled as she walked out the door, following her and unable to let her have the last word.
“Good night, Katharine Casey.”
And I slammed the door before she could respond.
Leaning my head back on the door, I groaned. I knew a tenant would be a pain.
I just had no idea how much of a pain.
And I had a feeling it was just starting.
“Be patient,” she said.
“Thanks, Lou,” I muttered.
I swore I heard her cackling.