“She puts her kid on the porch often, huh?”
Lance grins. “Clarissa is her name. And yeah, they fight like an old married couple. To be honest, he reminds me a little bit of me too, when I was his age. It’s entertaining. Come on,” he takes my hand before I can prod him further, “I think we’re good.”
“So, who’s home?” I ask as we approach the porch to the older two-story house.
“Just Theo.”
It’s then I hear the sound of a guitar coming from the basement.
“Wow, he’s really good.”
“Yeah and he’ll be at it most of the night.”
“Hmm. And Troy?”
“He’s gone most nights. I think he works graveyard.” He turns to me. “Wait, how did you know Troy lived here?”
“He saw me the other night when you kicked me out,” I say with an edge to my voice.
“And you’re just now telling me? Did you miss the point of our argument?” His voice carries a much more dangerous edge.
“He was three sheets to the wind or lost in thought or something. He didn’t even look my way. He just said, “Hey,” like he was on autopilot. He was at the kitchen table, staring out the window. I didn’t answer him. He was on another planet.”
Lance seems satisfied as he walks me up the stairs, the sound of guitar filtering throughout the house. “Wow, he’s incredible. You said his name is Theo?”
“Yeah, he plays in the Grand Band.”
“What does he play?”
“I don’t know, we don’t talk much.” Lance leads me up the stairs before closing the door to his bedroom and caging me behind it. “I didn’t kick you out,” he says, his masculine scent filling my nose.
“Threw me on my ass,” I clasp my hands behind my back. “Tossed me like garbage.” Lance bends, so we’re eye level.
“You really aren’t going to let this go, are you?”
“I do believe you mentioned something about your tongue and an apology.”
His eyes pool dark. “I didn’t mention an apology.”
He leans in, slightly lifting the hem of my T-shirt with his finger and lazily running it along my abdomen.
“You should apologize.”
“I did.”
“You should do it again.”
His deep chuckle sends goosebumps over my flesh as his finger runs up between my breasts before tracing the underside of my bra. “A little bit demanding tonight, aren’t we, Mami?”
“Maybe.”
“Well, let’s hear them.”
“Hear what?”
“Your other demands.”
“I don’t know yet. I’m new to this.”