“I know it’s not much,” I said when he returned to the living room.
“Good thing I don’t need much. Just want to open up my own studio. If I can live in the back and set up the front rooms for clients, that would be ideal.”
“The zoning is mixed use, so I don’t see why not. Depending on local regulations about tattooing and that kind of thing.”
“I’ve been checking on it. Shouldn’t be an issue.” He made a slow circle, hands on his hips as he studied the space. “Yeah. I think this’ll work well.”
“But it’s such a mess right now. It needs repairs and there’s all this old stuff, both the last renter’s and my mom’s. There’s probably something better out there for you.”
A frown creased his mouth. “You changing your mind about renting the place? Or you just don’t want to rent it tome?”
“No. I don’t have any issue with you, Grayden.”
“Seems like you do. You hid from me yesterday when I was at Silver Linings.”
“I didn’t hide. I was very busy.”
“Sure, busy staring at me and gossiping with your employees.”
My mouth dropped open. “I was shutting down their gossip. But can you blame people for being curious? Everything about you is mysterious.”
“That’s your excuse for not renting to me?”
“That’s not what I said!”
He crossed his arms, his body language making a clear accusation. Defensiveness made me keep talking.
“You were gone for years, then showed up in town with no warning. You spent the night at my house and took off in the morning without any word or even a note.”
“Youexpected a note?”
Geez, I sounded like a disgruntled one-night stand. “Not necessarily. I’m just giving examples.”
“About how I’m mysterious,” he deadpanned.
“And add to that your broody aura, the neck tattoo and scruffy hair, the hot-guy glasses?—”
“Hot-guy glasses?” The frown hadn’t left his face, but I could’ve sworn he was smirking.
“Look, that isn’t the point. I’m just trying to say, I don’t have a problem with you.”
“You sure? You did just call me scruffy.”
Was he kidding or not? I sighed and rubbed my eyes. “Let’s sit down and talk. We can probably work something out with the rental.”
After a moment, he nodded. “Okay.”
“Do you want some tea? I’m pretty sure the kettle in the kitchen can handle that much. And there are some tea bags somewhere. Quilting lady loved her chamomile.”
“Sure. I’m an herbal tea guy.”
“When you’re not drinking double espressos?”
“Exactly.”
I snickered, which turned to a genuine smile when I saw Grayden giving me a soft yet sardonic smile back.
At least we weren’t lobbing snowballs at one another. Or perceived insults.
