Page 41 of The Problem with Fire
With Leta out of earshot, though, I hit Thomas up. “Did you really go to the firehouse to confront Sayer, Thomas?”
He didn’t bother to deny it. “I told you we needed to talk,” he replied.
“We have nothing to talk about,” I hissed, as we approached my neighbors. “It’ll be a cold day in Hell before I’d evenentertainedthe idea of working things out with you, Thomas.”
“Neighbors!” Kerry Florence greeted, casting a curious glance at Thomas. “Welcome!”
“Hi, Kerry,” I greeted. “Leta wanted to be here for this, so Thomas was kind enough to share his time with her to be here.” I wantednoconfusion as to what Thomas was doing here.
Her face beamed. “Oh,” she gushed. “That’s so sweet.” She hooked her arm in Thomas’ and started leading him into the throng of neighbors. “Well, I can introduce you to everyone. You’ll have so much fun.” My lip twitched with how overboard Kerry was being, but her motives became glaringly obvious when we stopped in front of a man so stunning, I almost swallowed my tongue.
Well, hello.
“Reggie, I’d like you to meet Monroe Stewart,” she said, introducing us first, even though she had Thomas right next to her.
Reggie turned my way, and his smile was melt-worthy. He was about six-foot, with a fit built, and looked to be in his mid-forties. He had dark brown hair and matching dark brown eyes, and his skin resembled smooth, chocolate silk.
He reached out to shake my hand. “Reggie James,” he said, and his voice matched the smoothness of his skin.
Oh. My. God.
“Monroe Stewart,” I mumbled like a tool because Kerry had just told him my name. But I guess this just proved I was a bumbling idiot when it came any hot guy, and not just Sayer Hayes.
As soon as Reggie The God, although I was pretty sure that wasn’t the name on his birth certificate, let go of my hand, Thomas reached out and made a fool of himself. “Thomas,” he said, introducing himself. “I’m Monroe’s husband.”
Reggie’s brows shot up, but then Kerry came to my rescue and I wanted to kiss the woman. “You mean,ex-husband,” she clarified, then looked over at Reggie. “They’re divorced, but still get along famously for their daughter, Leta.” And I was surprised Kerry wasn’t placing me on a prize stool to present me to Reggie. Her matchmaking was so obvious, but sweet in a weird overstepping kind of way.
And who wouldn’t want to be matched with Reggie? I mean, just look at the man.
“You, you jerk,”my conscience whispered inside my head.“Just because you’re mad that doesn’t mean you’re no longer in love with Sayer Hayes, hoe.”
And do you know what happens when you say the Devil’s name?
The bastard appears.
But in this case, he was in the form of Sayer Hayes.
Kerry let go of Thomas’ arm and welcomed Sayer into the fold. “Oh, Sayer,” she greeted. “It’s so good to see you could make it.” Oblivious to the tension all around, she introduced him to Thomas and Reggie. “Thomas, Reggie, this is one of our neighbors, Sayer Hayes.” She looked over at Thomas and I almost laughed. “He actually lives right next door to Monroe and Leta.”
Reggie shook Sayer’s hand, but neither Thomas nor Sayer had made any attempt to shake hands. Everyone could feel the tension, except Kerry. Even Reggie smirked a bit when he, very astutely, took in the situation.
Those dark eyes of his flicked my way. “Kerry’s told me a lot about you, Monroe,” he said, and I swear there was a twinkle in his eye. My eyes narrowed, but if I didn’t know better-and I didn’t because I didn’t even know the man-I’d say he was a little shit stirrer.
Before I could comment, Leta came bouncing into the crowd, and Kerry carried on with her introductions. “Leta, honey, I’d like you to meet Reggie James,” she said. “Reggie, this is Monroe’s daughter, Leta.”
Take every cringe-worthy teenage awkward movie scene you’ve ever seen and multiply that by twenty, and that was where we found ourselves, ladies and gentlemen, when Leta went to shake Reggie’s hand. “Hi. It’s nice to-”
“Ourdaughter,” Thomas interrupted like a fool. “Leta isourdaughter.” Reggie couldn’t hide his smirk that time, and I wanted the ground to swallow me up.
But before Mother Nature could do me that solid, Sayer added to the madness by saying, “Yeah, well, you’re going to have to shareyourdaughter once Monroe and I get married.”
Kerry gasped.
I groaned.
Leta balked.
And Reggie, God bless the man, chuckled.
