Three Alarm Tenant. Christa Maurice
friend’s wife wasn’t so sure, so I said I’d take him. My landlord isn’t as happy about the arrangement. I have until the end of the month to get rid of Archer or find a new apartment.”
“So little time?”
Jack shrugged. “He doesn’t want the dog in the building.” He fished his keys out of his coat pocket. “Well, we shouldn’t keep you. You probably have Valentine’s plans.”
Katherine pursed her lips. “Not me.” Although walking up to the grocery store and buying a quart of ice cream for dinner sounded like a great idea.
“Really? I’m not doing anything either. You want to grab dinner? Nothing fancy, Wendy’s or something.”
“Are you serious?” Katherine warmed at the idea of seeing Jack again today. She didn’t know the appropriate words to describe how much she wanted to have dinner with him, fast food wrappers and all.
“Sure.” Jack shrugged. “Us singles should stick together.”
“I don’t know. We just met.” Katherine reined herself in. What was going on here? Did he want the place that much?
“I don’t bite, either. I can’t stand to see a beautiful woman alone on Valentine’s Day.” Jack glanced at his watch. “Listen, I have to take Archer to the park, but I’ll drop him home by about five and pick you up around six.”
Katherine looked up at him. His expression didn’t give her any real hints. This morning he hadn’t known she existed and now, based on two short conversations about an apartment, he was asking her to dinner. What if he didn’t need to move? What if he did think she was beautiful? And if he didn’t think she was beautiful and wanted the apartment, did it matter? She didn’t want to spend this holiday with Ben and Jerry’s again. She scratched behind Archer’s ear. “Okay. I’ll be ready at six. We’ll go Dutch.”
“Dutch? What does that mean? It’s not something rotten in the state of Denmark, is it?”
“Each pay our own way.” Katherine stifled the urge to giggle. He couldn’t possibly know a Shakespeare joke would win her over.
“If that’s what you want. I’ll see you then.”
Katherine stepped back so he could climb into his truck. While she waited, she skimmed his application. When she got to the employer line, air vanished from the atmosphere. “You work for the fire department?”
“Yeah.” He pulled the door closed. “I work up at nine.”
“You’re a fireman.” She said, hoping he wasn’t, but pretty sure it didn’t matter. He was one of the brotherhood. They were all heroes, or wanted to be.
“Firefighter,” he corrected.
“What?” She looked up from the traitorous application, blinking.
“Firefighter.” He smiled. “I’m not actually on fire, and I do my best to stay that way.”
“Oh. Firefighter. Right around the corner, you say.”
“Up on Garfield Street where Worcester dead ends.”
She nodded, but her head didn't feel attached to her neck. Naturally. The moment she saw him, she'd hit it in the head. The reason he looked as if he'd stepped out of an action adventure movie was because he had. His whole life was an action adventure movie. Cue soundtrack. Would this be the sweeping hero's theme or the ominous danger variation? Perhaps the comedy music. “I know where it is.” Drawing a deep breath, she pursed her lips. “Well, I guess I'll expect you at six.”
“I’ll be back at six. See ya then.”
“Yes.” She stepped back until her shoe bumped the bottom step. A firefighter. Even better than chasing armed bad guys, he ran into burning buildings. She must have a tattoo on her forehead, Heroes Only—normal guys need not apply. Wasn’t there one normal, intelligent guy in the entire city who would cross her path long enough to make an impression? Jack backed his truck down the driveway, pausing at the bottom long enough to wave before driving off. Katherine waved back. A firefighter. They were probably worse than cops.
Still, he might be a good tenant. He made enough money, judging by Gary’s city salary. If he was noisy, he’d be at work for long shifts. And he had a great dog. Who said they couldn’t be friends? Maybe he had friends who weren’t firemen—firefighters.
Katherine snorted at the likelihood and turned back to the house. At least now she knew what the catch was.
* * * *
“What just happened?” Jack asked Archer.
Archer looked at him.
“One minute she’s all for going out with me and the next, Wham! She’s gone. I thought she’d walked back into the house and left her body behind.”
Archer snuffled.
“I like her, buddy.” Jack chewed his lip. “I wonder if she’s always stiff or if it’s nerves. She's too cute to be snooty.”
Archer looked out the passenger window.
“Some help you are.” Jack sighed. “Well, she liked you. She said you were pretty. What do you think about being pretty?”
Archer ignored him, demonstrating his entire opinion of his prettiness.
“Maybe if she likes you enough, she’ll give me a chance, too. What do you think?”
Archer stood up on the seat still looking out the passenger window, offering Jack a view of his docked tail.
“Thanks a lot, pal.” Jack patted the dog. She’d been adorably pleased to see Archer, but a little suspicious of his dinner invitation. He knew he’d rushed it, but the delighted flush on her cheeks was worth the risk, and she’d agreed. He’d have to remember the word she used. Dutch. He might get another blush if he worked it into conversation.
Then, she’d looked at the application, and her eyes went big as saucers. What had she seen?
He had one whole dinner to figure it out. After that, he might never see her again. Providing she didn’t call off the dinner.
Now he wasn’t sure which he wanted more, the woman or the apartment.
Chapter 2
“So, do you think I should go to dinner with him?” Katherine twisted her office chair back and forth. She could picture her friend Pam leaning on her kitchen counter, arms folded with the phone wedged between her ear and her shoulder, puzzling out Katherine's question. Katherine had decided a long time ago that she trusted Pam’s judgment so much because they were so different. Pam was as opposite as possible without being a man, and if she came to the same conclusion, then it was probably correct.
“Wait a minute, I thought you were about to rent the downstairs to him. Why wouldn’t you go to dinner with him? Honey, don’t do that.” Pam scolded one of her kids. “In a minute. I’m on the phone. Did you call his references?”
“Well, yes. I called his landlord. He’s been living in the same place for seven years. Always on time with the rent. Quiet, polite. No damage the landlord knows about. Usually fixes things himself when they break. The way the guy moaned about losing him, I wondered why he didn’t change his rule on pets.” Katherine tangled the phone cord around her finger.
“Did you ask?”
Katherine heard banging on the other end of the line. “Yes, he said if he bent the rule for one, he’d have to bend it for everybody.”
“Then there’s your answer. This Jack is obviously a good tenant. You said your instincts were for him. Honey, stop that!”
The banging stopped.
“He seemed like a really nice guy. And he said he works at the fire station right around the corner.”
“Really?