Page 20 of Faking Romance

“It’s not working today,” Cam calls out while crossing the street to the café.

Hutch groans and we start up the stairs. I take my shirt off after the first two flights and I wipe my face with it.

It’s balmy in here today.

As we round the corner to Kasen’s floor, I run smack-dab into a warm body. It takes me a millisecond to realize that my chest is flush against Roxy’s. We both stare at each other like we’ve just run into a troll or a zombie and then we both quickly jump back.

“S-sorry,” she stammers, looking everywhere but at me. Her eyes dart to my chest and then to my face. I watch the color creep across her cheeks, highlighting all those cute little freckles. Cute? Huh. Not going to unpack that thought.

“It’s cool. Hutch, anything?” I call out as I step around her.

“Nope. Everything seems fine. The door is locked. No signs of forced entry. I’m sure it was just someone checking on those animals,” he says.

“Animals?” Roxy’s voice calls out from behind me.

“Oh, hey, Roxy. Kasen has…what are they called again?” he asks me.

I sigh. “Sea anemones.”

“Interesting,” she mumbles.

The door flies open to Margie and Cornelia’s apartment.

“Was it a break-in?” Margie asks.

I shake my head. “Nope. Probably just checking on the sea anemones.”

Cornelia swats at her friend. “I told you. You’re so paranoid.”

“Well, we’re old ladies. What if that young man wanted to…you know?” she says.

Hutch presses his lips together to keep from laughing. I nudge him in the ribs because Margie is serious.

Roxy steps beside me. “You ladies just call me if you need anything. I’ll be downstairs all day. I’ll keep an eye out front for you.”

“Thank you, dear,” Margie says as she shuts her door. We can hear the two of them continuing to bicker through the metal barrier.

Roxy looks at both of us. “I have questions,” she asks.

“Hutch was trying to catch the flower gifter,” I explain.

She frowns and Hutch shrugs. “I would have been able to if it weren’t for those pesky kids,” he says, pointing to Margie and Cornelia’s apartment.

I start laughing as does Roxy. “Well, Scooby Doo, I do hope you can solve your mystery another day.”

“Oh, I will. Rest assured,” Hutch promises as he walks around us and starts down the stairs.

“What are you doing here?” I ask Roxy, eyeing her suspiciously.

“Al made me another key,” she explains as she holds up a single metal key.

Then she leans in toward me. “Or maybe, I was breaking into apartments,” she teases with a wink and spins on her heel heading downstairs.

I take a deep breath and shake my head. What a strange start to my day. I hope the party later will be full of fewer surprises.

* * *

“Good to see you,” Pierce says. An attractive woman with dark hair and dark eyes accompanies him. I shake his hand.

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