Page 245 of The Maxwell Brothers
CHAPTER 5
DECLAN
"Lookwho's home in the middle of the day," she said. She was sitting on a chair with a Kindle in her hand.
"Had court today. I took time off afterward and sanded the floors in the attic."
She narrowed her eyes, looking me up and down. Her eyes lingered on my chest before she snapped them back up.
Looks like she liked what she saw. Nice.
"I'm trying to guess if it was a victory or not, but you're surprisingly hard to read."
I barked out a laugh. "It was a victory."
"Then why do you look like someone pissed in your coffee? Is it the sight of me?"
I frowned. "No, not at all. I had other issues pop up. How come you're home at this time?"
She held up her arm. "This thing here isn’t helpful in the kitchen. Slowed me down, so they sent me home.”
"See what you get for being so stubborn? If you had listened yesterday and taken the evening off, it would have improved."
“Yes, please. By all means, rub it in."
"You never listen, do you?"
She smiled. "No, I'm stubborn and hotheaded, and yeah, I get into trouble often because of it."
I ran a hand through my hair, drying my forehead with the sleeve of my shirt. I was sweaty and covered in dust.
“I might go see Helen later since I have time,” she added.
“You visit her?”
Liz nodded. “Her family doesn’t live nearby, so she gets a bit lonely. I honestly think the only reason she rented out the guest house was because she wanted company. I mean, the rent was dirt cheap, and this is the most expensive neighborhood in the city. I miss her. She was always happy to chat, always seemed to be in a good mood.”
She’d surprised me again. She spoke about Helen as if she was family.
“She was your polar opposite,” Liz said, making me laugh.
"How about I take a shower and make us both coffee, and you can tell me all about it?"
“Right, we need to clarify a few things. Is this a temporary truce?” She tilted her head, a smile inching up on her lips.
Fuck me.I wanted to claim that mouth.
“I guess you’ll find out.”
She held her hand up. "I don't want coffee, but I'll take you up on the company."
"I see. So you want to hang out with someone who, by your own description, always has a stick up his ass? Why?"
"You're offering company. And being on friendly terms with my landlord is not the worst thing in the world. Besides, I'm starving. So if you can throw in some cheese or something with that coffee—or water, in my case—that would be amazing. I’m usually not home at this time, so I don't have anything good to eat. I eat leftovers at Richard’s usually. I could order something, but it’ll take forever to be delivered."
“I see. So you still think I have a stick up my ass. You just want to take advantage of me."
She grinned. "Exactly. Besides, I do have a degree in taking people's sticks out of their asses. Who knows, it might even work for you."
