And they planned on breakfast soon. Smith forced himself not to knock on her door, letting her come to him. Working out his upper body on his weight bench, he did several reps with the bar and hand weights, then finished his routine with sit-ups and pushups. He’d just taken off his shirt, sweating like a beast, when she knocked.
At least, he hoped it was Erin.
Unfortunately, he opened the door to Tilly.
She gaped at his bare chest.
He couldn’t help himself. “Shouldn’t you be in church, praying the sin away?”
“The devil’s scared of me. He’s smart.” She poked him in the shoe with her cane. “A hell of a lot smarter thansome.” She stared at his left pectoral and shoulder, where an Eagle, Globe and Anchor—the Marine Corps symbol—sat in a bed of snakes and smoke and the grim reaper decorated the outside of his upper arm. “I didn’t know you had a tattoo.”
He shrugged. “I don’t know your shoe size. We’re even.”
Her lips thinned, but he could see her trying not to laugh.
He bit back a grin as well. Fucking with each other was their special way of communicating.
“So, what’s the deal with the plumbers? They scheduled to come yet or what? You did call McSons, didn’t you? If I’m going to pay through the nose for a plumber, I want to be entertained.”
“Thought you said they were reasonable.”
“Spending money on a water heater isn’t reasonable. Spending money on fine beer and that50 Shades of Greymovie? Now that’s reasonable.”
He grimaced at her taste in films. “Whatever you say. McSons are coming next Tuesday to inspect the pipes in 6B as well as the hot water heater. I’ll make sure you have appropriate leering time.”
“Well, Pat used to clog her toilets on purpose to get them out there. At least my problem is legit.”
Smith shook his head, his mind already on how to deal with the possibility Erin might not show. Breakfast was no big deal. And so what if he’d gone out and bought a ton of shit for them to eat? If she didn’t swing by, he could eat it himself for days.
Tilly remained standing there, staring at him.
He wiped the sweat from his face with the back of his forearm. “What now?”
“You all alone in there?” She sounded disappointed.
“Nope. Got a date.”
“Erin?” Tilly smirked, looking way too smug.
“Nah.” He lowered his voice. “I met this one through work. Name’s Naomi. Red hair, stacked. She’s sweet.” He winked at Tilly, who glared back at him. “What?”
Erin opened her door and closed it behind her. When she noticed Tilly talking to Smith, she paused. “Is this a bad time?”
“Apparently. He’s got some woman in there,” Tilly barked, turned, and muttered to herself as she made the long, slow journey back to her apartment at the end of the hall.
Erin looked upset and tried to hide it. But man, was she bad at masking her emotions. That she didn’t like the thought of him with someone else gratified him. That she’d intended to join him for breakfast made him giddy with joy.
I am such a moron.
Smith nodded her closer. Erin, still frowning, took a few steps in his direction. He said in a low voice, “She was being nosy, so I lied. Get your ass in here.” He tugged her off balance and into his apartment, then closed the door.
She stared, not at his gym equipment, that he needed to put away, but at his bare chest.
“Oh. Wow.” She swallowed audibly. “You’re all sweaty. And you have a tattoo.”
Was it just him, or did her voice sound breathy? Aroused?
Or turned off. He realized he didn’t smell so good.
