Free Everything by Melissa Pearl Page B

concerned neighbor call me, saying there was a bit of noise coming from your apartment, and I was wondering if I could assist you in any way...like maybe helping you turn down the TV?”
    “I don’t need your help.” He went to close the door in my face, but I held it open with my hand.
    “Please, Mr. Kransten, part of your tenancy agreement is that you will respect your fellow neighbors, and your TV is way too loud. You need to turn it down.”
    He was a tall, spindly man with hardly a hair on his head. His beady eyes narrowed as he peered down his long nose at me. “And what are you going to do if I don’t?”
    “Do I really have to answer that question? I’m asking you nicely to turn it down.”
    “I can’t, it’s broken!” he barked again.
    “Well, maybe I could take a look at it.” I moved to step into the apartment, but he blocked my way.
    “What makes you think I’m going to let a little kid into my house?”
    I sighed. “Mr. Kransten, we’ve been over this before. I’m not a kid, and my job is assistant to the building manager. Please let me help you.”
    “I want to deal with a grown-up!”
    It was impossible not to roll my eyes. “At least let me look at it, and we can go from there.”
    “Grown-up!” he yelled in my face before slamming the door shut.
    I couldn’t help a grunt of frustration as I stomped my foot and turned back up the stairs. I hated disturbing Leo. I didn’t want to have to face him, yet again proving that I wasn’t cut out for this job. But if I didn’t swallow my pride, Ms. Thornby would be up my ass, and she’d make sure Leo fired me.
    “Damn it.” I stopped outside Leo’s door and caught my breath, screwing up my face and knocking.
    “Just a minute!”
    I pinched my bottom lip as I waited for him, hating the sound of his lock clicking open.
    “Hey.” He smiled at me. He was wearing his pale green Quicksilver shirt today. I liked that one. “Everything okay?”
    “Oh, ah, no, not really. I’m sorry, I don’t mean to disturb you, but Mr. Cray-Cray is causing a disturbance on the third floor.”
    “Mr. Cray-Cray?” Leo’s face wrinkled with confusion.
    “Sorry, I mean Mr. Krantsen. I dubbed him a couple of weeks ago when he was yelling at the pigeons on his windowsill.”
    Thankfully Leo grinned, his green eyes dancing. I think that shirt made them look even greener.
    “So, what’s the problem today then?”
    I sighed, flicking my hands in the air. “Apparently the volume on his TV is broken. The neighbors are complaining, and he’s refusing to let me look at it for him. He said he wanted to speak to a grown-up.” I lifted my eyes to the ceiling. “I should never have worn pigtails the day I went to introduce myself to everybody. I was going for sweet and friendly, like Hey, I’m approachable. What a total backfire,” I ended with a mumble.
    Leo chuckled. His smile was adorable, his barely there dimple showing beneath his short stubble.
    I couldn’t help a rueful grin as I scratched the top of my head. “I really hate bothering you over this, but he just won’t deal with me.”
    “Don’t worry about it. The guy’s a sexist, old-school bastard. He treats me like a third-rate citizen, too.” Leo grabbed his key off the hook beside the door and locked it behind him. “Let’s go deal with the old grump together, aye?”
    We headed downstairs, and of course Mr. K let Leo in immediately. He glared at me as I brought up the rear, probably because Leo had just reminded him that I was in charge of these matters and that I’d happily call a repairman if he wanted me to.
    Mr. K just grunted and opened his door, stomping back into the living room.
    His house smelled weird—old and stale. It matched him perfectly.
    I wrinkled my nose and crossed my arms, resisting the urge to lean against the wall as Leo and Mr. Cray-Cray yelled at each other, competing against the insane volume of the TV. Leo started by trying to switch it off, but the TV was