She blinks and laughs again, like it actually didn’t occur to her. “Oh, right. Sorry, I’m so used to being in mom mode all the time. Mia, then Phoenix the other night, you. Does Havoc need anything while I’m at it?”

I’m sure he does, but I don’t feel like sharing right now. “Nah, just me.”

“Good. You know, it’s funny that I’ve been renting from you for the past year and we’ve never really met. I didn’t even know you were in the Screaming Eagles with Havoc, he just told me he had a friend that needed a renter.”

“And he just told me that he knew a family that needed a good deal and wasn’t worried about the house being outside the city, or a little dated.”

“Maybe he was trying to keep us apart,” she jokes.

I wait way too long to laugh, because I’m pretty fucking sure that was exactly what he did. “Nah.”

Not that I take it personally. I can see why he wants to protect her. Shelby is a pure soul, as Grandma woulda said. One of those people who can light up a room just by being in it. If I’d known her since she was a kid, like Havoc did, I’d probably be less interested in the way her tits sway under her shirt than I am right now.

But I didn’t. And I am.

When she pulls the wipe away, it's stained red. “That was a serious whack. I’m going to put some ointment on it. It doesn’t really burn, not like the stuff I remember from when I was a kid.”

It’s my turn to laugh. “Hell yeah. Grandma had this little bottle of something in the bathroom cabinet that I swear was pure acid. Don’t worry, I cut my teeth on that shit, nothing you can do can hurt me.”

“Tough guy, huh? She was the one that lived here, right? The couple in the house behind here told me she grew the best tomatoes in the neighborhood. I think they’re a little disappointed that I’m not keeping up the tradition, but I don’t think being an expert gardener is in my future.”

I nod, fascinated by the feel of her fingers stroking my hands. She’s right, the ointment she has doesn’t sting, but she could be using that old bottle of orange shit and I still wouldn’t makea sound. “Yeah, she and my grandfather bought this place after they got married. Lived here the rest of her life. I was here a lot. Used to sleep in the little room across from the bathroom.”

“Really? That’s Mia’s room now.”

Shelby's fingertips dance over my skin, just barely there as she finishes up. “There.”

“Gonna kiss it better?” I joke, not thinking of how it would sound.

She blinks up at me and her cheeks flush pink.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to be creepy. You’re just doctoring me up and—never mind.” I lift her hand instead and kiss the tips of her fingers. Fuck, why did I do that? She’s gonna think I actually am a fucking creeper. “I’m going to go check the gutter. Is there still a ladder on the side of the house?”

“Um, I think so?” she still looks a little flustered.

Yeah, fucking thought so. “Okay, no problem. I’ll go figure it out.”

“Wait.” She stops me as soon as my hand is on the front door. “Is it hard? Can you show me how to do it? Just in case?”

Jesus. She coulda phrased that differently, but I understand.

“You really want to see?”

Shelby nods. She pulls a hair tie off her wrist and twists her brown curls up into a messy bun. “I want to know how to do this stuff. It’s just me and Mia here, and I hate feeling like I can’t do something. It’s like that video that went viral, right? How hard can it be? Boys do it.”

Fuck she’s cute. “What if the boys do it ‘cause we like being useful? What are you gonna leave us with?”

She gives me a playful grin as she saunters up to me and bumps me with her hip on the way out the door. “Do you know how to work the washing machine? Make dinner?”

“Is that a fucking challenge? I’d be a pisspoor excuse for an adult if I was nearly thirty and couldn’t wash my own clothes or feed myself, girl.”

“Really?” She has the audacity to look a little surprised.

“Yeah, fucking really. Don’t mean I don’t like the idea of having someone who wants to take care of me sometimes, just like I’d want to take care of them, too. But when I have to, I can take care of myself.” I lead her around the side of the house, finding the metal ladder right where I left it, but covered in weeds and high grass.

I get the ladder up and check the corner I was worried about. Sure enough, most of the gutter is fine but there’s a clump of wet leaves and debris gathered right near the downspout. I climb down and hold the ladder for Shelby as she goes to look, it puts her ass right in front of me, and I’m not a good enough man to not look.

Shelby watches as I rinse my hands off with the hose after clearing the clog and checking to make sure it’s flowing free again. “Do you have someone to take care of?”