“Because?”
“Because we own the building,” I finished, pushing the door open. “Oh, and don’t think I’ve forgotten, we need ground rules.”
Jordan tried to push past me. I stopped her halfway through the door. “Unless you want a repeat of that kiss—the rules need to be established.”
“Fine,” she snapped. “Then can I please take a shower?”
“You’re being kind of demanding, all things considered, don’t you think?”
“No.” She crossed her arms. “What I think is that this is all your fault to begin with!”
“How do you figure!” I yelled, tossing my keys onto the granite countertop, where they slid across the smooth surface and fell on the floor. Otis barreled over and started sniffing them.
“It was a normal day for me!” Jordan’s voice rose. “I was reporting to my job, not hurting anyone—”
“—except the eyes of the poor people who had to stare at you while you whistled your way to work!”
She let out a horrified gasp, and her hair actually seemed to grow with her anger. Seriously, she needed to get ahold of that hair before it took over the world. Max would be pissed if someone ruined his plans.
“You”—her nostrils flared. It would be cute if it weren’t so terrifying—“are the reason I’ve had the day from hell! Because of you and your evil brother—”
“Thank you!” A muffled voice came from the far wall.
“How thin are these walls?” Jordan screeched.
“Enunciate!” Max yelled back. “And for the love of God, project!”
I shook my head and walked over to the fridge, pulling out two beers, both for me, and briefly contemplated hitting myself over the head with the second bottle once I finished the first.
“Fine.” I held up my hands. “You win, it’s my fault, but now that I’m sharing my multi-million-dollar paradise with you—we’re even.”
Jordan marched over to the counter and grabbed the other beer, hitting the tab off the top via the side of the granite.
She made it look cool.
Not that I would ever say it out loud, lest she never move out and make my life a living hell.
“Rules,” I said for, oh, I don’t know, the fifth time in the last fifteen minutes? “No bringing men home to my house—ever.”
“Do I count?” Max yelled through the wall.
“Seriously,” Jordan said in a hushed voice. “Who built this place?”
“Who do you think?” I nodded to the wall. “Max was in charge of this project and offered me the other penthouse.”
Jordan shook her head. “Sneaky bastard.”
“Thank you!” Max said again.
“Can we block him out?” she whispered.
“Talk louder!” Again Max.
Jordan smirked. “Oh, baby, right there.”
I choked on my beer.
“That’s it!” she screamed, slamming her hand against the countertop. “Oh, you know how to make a woman feel so good!” Otis started barking. I wasn’t sure if that was a check in my favor or not as far as Max’s listening was concerned. “Oh, oh, yes, yes, yes, yes!” Bonus points for screaming, and suddenly I appreciated her hair and the wild way it seemed to bounce with every scream. I could definitely be down with that . . . oh, I could do a lot of things with that. I squeezed the bottle harder, blood pumping to all the wrong areas.
“Yes!” She slammed her hand against the counter again. “You’re so—”
Silence.
And then. “Guys?”
Otis barked.
“Guys?” Max yelled. “What happened? Since when has Reid ever gotten a girl to scream?”
“All the damn time!” I yelled back.
“Please,” Max replied. “I live here.”
“Really wish you didn’t!”
“You love me!”
I turned to Jordan. “It was a nice try . . .” This time I patted her hand. “Really, you had me believing I was a magic orgasm-giving unicorn.”
Jordan giggled, the beer teasing the edge of her lips. I wanted to take a step forward. Instead I backed up, nearly colliding with the fridge. “So, I guess the only rules are . . . don’t bring any guys back here. Ever. Keep it down until Max gets married and moves somewhere else, and well, try to keep the apartment clean.”
Jordan set down her beer, and her teeth teased her lower lip as she slowly held out her hand. “You’ve got yourself a deal.”
“Oh.” I tugged her closer to my body. “And another thing?”
“Yeah?” she said breathlessly.
“You need to take a shower before dinner. I refuse to claim you and that thing on your head.”
She stomped on my foot and walked down the hall.
“Second door to the left,” I yelled. The door slammed.
It was worth it to see the fire in her eyes. “Well.” I nodded to Otis. “What do you think, boy?”
His answer?
To lift up his leg and pee on my keys.
Fan-freaking-tastic.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
JORDAN