Page 63 of Dirty Filthy Boy
"I moved in with a friend." Even to my ears, my voice sounds tight.
"Tight quarters?"
"No. Just the opposite."
"Bad neighborhood?"
"It's an exclusive, gated community."
She frowns, and then a light dawns in her eyes. "Oh. Ty Mathews?"
"Uh-huh." My cheeks heat up. "Please don't tell Mr. Bartlett. He'd blow a gasket."
"So why do you have a problem? Mr. Mathews isn't asking for something in return, is he?" Her brows thunder down.
"Something in return?" For a second, I don't get her meaning. And then a light bulb goes off. "Oh, gosh. No. Nothing like that. He's a perfect gentleman." Well, except when we're in bed, and then he's a total animal. But then I love that side of him. "A total sweetheart."
"Is he?" A crooked smile pops up on her lips.
Shoot. "Forget I said that, will you?"
Her brow scrunches. "Why?"
"He doesn't want anyone to know that he's, umm."
"Sweet."
"Yes."
She turns an imaginary key in her lips. "Don't worry. Mum's the word."
"Thank you."
She takes a sip of coffee. "So, if the place's great and he's a sweetheart, what's the problem?"
"I'm writing an article about him, so I don't want things to get too cozy between us. Better we maintain a professional distance between us. You get that, don't you?"
"Absolutely." She grabs a yogurt from the fridge. "Want one? I brought extras."
"No thanks." I pat my stomach. "Ate a big breakfast."
Sitting back down, she tears the lid off the container. "So what are you doing to do?"
I shrug. "I don't know. I can't afford a good place to live. And I can't go back to my apartment." Just the thought of going back makes me shudder. "I'll never feel safe there again."
She covers my restless hand with her own. "Maybe I can help."
"You can?"
"Yes. A friend of mine owns a unit in my building. Every year, she travels to Florida in the fall and returns in the spring. She usually sublets it, and had someone all lined up. But at the last minute, the arrangement fell through."
"You think she'd sublet it to me?"
"Absolutely. Especially since I'll vouch for you. Nice neighborhood. Not too far from here. Secured building with a doorman and everything."
"Yeah?"
"She doesn't charge much for rent. Six hundred a month."
