Page 91 of Romeo

She wasn’t wrong.

He listened carefully for the slide of a chain and the click of a deadbolt to make sure she kept her door locked.

The second she opened it, he barreled right past her and inside her place.

“Come on in,” she said dryly.

“Why don’t your place have an elevator?”

“Why doesn’t yours? And if you haven’t noticed, my apartment complex is small. I’m capable of walking up a flight of steps. Apparently, you are, too, since here you are!” She tipped her head to the side and raised both eyebrows.

With his head on a swivel, he checked out her crib. At least the parts he could see from where he stood.

From what he could tell, her apartment was tiny. “You live here alone?”

“No. With my lover.”

His head spun toward where she still stood by the now closed door. She had a damn good poker face. “He got the initials LZ?”

“You know Zeke has a room at the Angels’ church.”

“Lotta MC members keep a room at church. Don’t mean they don’t sleep elsewhere.” Or bounce from bed to bed, depending on what female they were fucking that night.

“You must’ve forgotten. We already had a discussion about Zeke.”

With his hands on his hips, he turned to face her. “Women lie.”

She frowned. “You’re calling me a liar? That’s rich.”

“Ain’t you lyin’ about havin’ a lover?”

“I was only joking.”

“Yeah. Your jokes don’t make me laugh.”

“That’s why I’m a sports physical therapist and not doing standup.”

“Gonna give me the nickel tour?”

“It’s going to cost you more than a nickel. Have to account for inflation, you know.”

He dug into his front pocket and pulled out a quarter. He flipped it in her direction. After catching it, sheturned it within her fingers. “Not sure this will cover the cost of you being here.”

“Me bein’ here ain’t costin’ you nothin’.”

“Unlike you coming to my job.”

He had no idea what happened after he left Smith’s earlier because she refused to leave with him. Since he wasn’t in the mood to spend a night or ten in the slammer, he reluctantly left without her.

She headed into the small kitchen to the left of the entry. Only a half wall separated it from where he stood, and the living room situated to his right.

He followed her.

She went over to the stove. “You never said why you’re here.”

“Wouldn’t come to me, so came to you, instead.” He figured he’d hear from her once she left work. All he got was radio silence.

“Anyway… How do you know where I live?”

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