I gasped. “That doesn’t seem like a nice thing to say about a friend.”
The man snorted. “Thurgood and I have a complicated friendship. And for this very reason. He led me to believe Alex Martin was a man who needed a place to stay for a while. You, my dear, are no man.”
I frowned. “I don’t know why Lance would tell you I’m a man.”
The handsome stranger chuckled. “I do. He wanted to get one over on me.”
My heart sank, and I started to panic. If he didn’t let me stay here, where would I do my house arrest? “Does this mean you won’t let me stay?”
The man’s smoldering gaze held mine before he sighed. “I’ll let you stay. Just like Thurgood knew I would. But rule number one is you need to shower regularly.”
I pursed my lips. “Very funny. However, I feel I need to tell you Lance has been my friend for a number of years, and just because he’s a defense attorney doesn’t mean he’s a bad guy.”
“I’ve known Thurgood for years too. We’ll just agree to disagree.” He stuck out his hand. “Name’s Chase Cryer.”
I shook his hand and pretended not to notice the sizzle that went up my arm. “Nice to meet you.”
Out of nowhere a car came careening down the driveway and skidded to a stop inches from the front stoop. Mimi Stiles popped out from behind the wheel while Kat exited from the passenger seat.
“Sorry we’re late,” Mimi called. “My Zumba class ran later than expected.”
Chase groaned. “Just what I need to cap off the rest of my night.”
But he didn’t sound angry…he sounded amused.
“Hey there, Officer Sexy,” Mimi said as she and Kat climbed the stairs. “Arrest anyone good lately?”
I gasped. “You’re a cop?”
He gave me an amused look. “What did you think I meant when I said Thurgood and I have a complicated friendship? And Mimi Stiles, why am I not surprised you’re also involved with this screw up?”
“Ain’t no screw up,” Mimi said. “This here is Alexa Martin. Didn’t she tell you her name?”
Chase pursed his lips. “Mimi, you aren’t fooling anyone.”
“Evening Chase,” Kat said. “Nice to see you.”
Cryer’s eyes softened as he looked at Kat. “Katherine, good to see you. Hope you and Caleb are doing well.”
“We are,” she said.
“You guys might as well come in.”
He stepped back and we all piled in after him. The foyer was a large room that had a curved staircase going up toward the back of the wall. To my immediate right was a wooden door. I assumed that’s where the complex Officer Cryer lived.
Chapter 2
“You’re upstairs,” he said.
We all followed Chase up the curved staircase to the second floor. The open landing at the top of the staircase overlooked the foyer downstairs, and I frowned at the lack of privacy. When Chase opened his apartment door, he’d be able to look up and see my living quarters. Granted it didn’t look like there were any rooms he could see directly into, but it was still unnerving.
“The whole upstairs is yours,” he said.
“I’m afraid I don’t have any furniture.”
“You’re in luck. The rooms are already furnished. The upstairs has a kitchen with a stackable washer and dryer, a bathroom, a bedroom, and I knocked out a wall between two other bedrooms to make a large living room.”
I walked into the living room and caught my breath. The walls were a warm butterscotch with heavy wooden accents. The room was furnished with a well-used sofa and recliner set, a flat-screen TV, and a little reading nook complete with a rocking chair.
