Page 16 of Joker in the Pack

“Someone shot at this house?” My voice came out as a squeak.

“Only four times. They did try a fifth, but the police came and there was a standoff. Like an episode ofThe Bill, it was, blue lights and one of those megaphones. But I looked in through the windows last week and the landlord’s done an excellent job of patching up the bullet holes. You’d never even know they were there.”

No, you wouldn’t, would you? How nice of the agent to mention that the house was inadvertently in the middle of a gang war.

“Well, it was lovely to meet you.” I glanced at my watch. “Ooh, is that the time? We’re late for our next viewing.”

I practically ran through the house, collecting Maddie on my way out the front door.

“It’s a no.”

“What? Why? Did you see the light-up mirror in the bathroom?”

“I don’t care if it’s a magical mirror that makes me look like a supermodel.”

Once I’d explained the story, her mouth dropped open.

“I’m going to castrate that bloody agent. No wonder he didn’t want to come to the viewing.”

“Please don’t. You know I hate the sight of blood, and I can’t afford to bail you out.”

“He deserves it.”

“I’m just glad I found out before I moved in.”

Back at the agency, Maddie threw the keys at the man who’d sent us into the danger zone. Hard.

“What the—”

He didn’t have time to finish the sentence before she marched out again, and I wasn’t about to stay and enlighten him either.

“One place left,” Maddie said once we’d made it safely out to the pavement. “Keep your fingers crossed.”

Another house share, and although I spotted a few weeds growing through the cracks in the front path, the maisonette itself looked tidy.

“I’m still not sure about living with a stranger,” I muttered to Maddie.

“You never know, you might meet the man of your dreams.”

The door swung open as I raised my hand to knock, and when I saw the person behind it, I almost fainted.

Holy cannoli! He could have been Mr. January. No, scratch that. He could have had his own calendar and been all the months.

“Ladies.” His wide grin made my underwear melt. “Do you want to come in?”

Maddie’s face bore the same glazed expression as it had two years ago when she won a thousand pounds on a lottery scratch card, so I took her hand and pulled her inside after me.

“Sven.”

The hunk held out his hand, and mine sizzled in his firm grip. Thatzing—I’d never felt anything like it before.

“I’m Olivia, and this is Maddie.”

Who was still gawping, mouth slightly open.

“Which of you is looking for the room?”

Maddie started to raise her hand, but I slapped it down. “Me. I’m looking for the room.”

---