Page 47 of Fierce-Trent

“How noisy is that?” she asked.

“It has its moments. I noticed you’re on the first floor too.”

“I’ve got a young active kid. I didn’t want to worry about him stomping or jumping around and bothering people.”

“Instead you get to listen to it?” he asked.

“Not so far,” she said. “The couple above me is retired. They’ve got a cat and I do hear it meowing at times but nothing major. I remember when Jeff and I had our apartment before Eli was born. Someone had a baby that cried a lot and it drove him nuts he could hear it.”

He lifted an eyebrow as he pulled his key out to open the door. “Babies cry.”

“They do,” she said. “But he hated it. He didn’t want to be the guy everyone was talking about. If Eli cried he had something put in his mouth quickly to stop it. I guess it was a good thing that Eli was a wonderful baby.”

“I’m sure a lot has to do with you being a good mother,” he said.

Trent had to hide his disdain for her ex. He was only hearing one side of it, but he was positive she was even downplaying that.

“I like to think so. And don’t get me wrong. Jeff is good with Eli.”

“Now that he’s not a baby and crying?” he asked. He wished he could have taken it back when there was silence. He’d walked into his place and turned to look at her. “Sorry. That was uncalled for.”

“No. It's fine. Jax has said the same thing. Before we moved here, Eli loved going to his father’s house. He still does as long as he doesn’t feel as if he’s missing out on things with his friends. Jeff is the cool parent.”

“Ahh,” he said. “More and better and lots of activities?”

“Something like that. He does adhere to the rules and structure I’ve put in place over the years.”

“That’s good,” he said. He was sure there was more to it, but wouldn’t say that. He needed to get the focus off her ex at this point and talk about them.

“It’s not all horrible,” she said. “Please don’t believe that. And your place is nice.”

“Just boring,” he said.

He looked around and saw the white walls it had when he moved in. His furniture and blankets on the back of it were the only color. He had some art on the walls, but they were gifts from his family, nothing he’d bought.

“Not everyone is into decorating,” she said.

“You’re right. Janine did the bulk of it for the office. I just had to make sure I liked it, but if I had to buy it myself I don’t think I would have.”

“That’s the fun part of the job,” she said. “I got to decorate my space too. They gave me a budget.”

“And you went under it I’m sure.”

“I did,” she said “I can’t stop being who I am.”

“Have a seat and I’ll get the wine glasses and we can toast my big win from yesterday.”

Roni never once commented on the amount or seemed curious either.

Most women would ask or want to know those things.

He was finding out quickly that she wasn’t like most women.

He got the glasses out of the cabinet, found his wine opener after moving a bunch of things around in a drawer, then poured them each a glass.

“Should we taste it together?” she asked.

“Sure,” he said. He handed her the glass. “Here is to my big win yesterday and hopefully more to come. Not even in the courtroom.”

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