Free Opposites Attract by Cat Johnson Page B

neighbor—hmm,
what would he be doing at this very moment?
    That
question opened up an entire realm of possibilities that made her for
the first time in a long time happy she was single so she was
available for him.
    Jeez,
what was wrong with her today? She hadn’t looked more than
twice at a man in months. Well, maybe a second glace last week at
that cutie working on his laptop at the coffee shop. And she always
had a smile for the guy who changed the oil in her car. But she
wasn’t picturing either of them naked the way she was Troy.
Must be a full moon or something, making her hormones run on high.
    Maria’s
phone rang loudly and she jumped. She grabbed the portable off the
kitchen wall and recognized Henri’s cell phone number on the
caller ID readout. Probably calling to rub it in that he was out
having a great time while she was there cat sitting of all things.
    “ Go
ahead, tell me I’m a loser for house sitting on a Friday night
instead of being out.”
    She
expected him to agree. Instead, a huge sob came through the line and
Henri ran on with a hysterical explanation that she could barely
understand.
    “ Hold
on, Henri. I can’t hear half of what you’re saying. Where
are you?”
    “ I’m
at the club,” he began. Well, that explained the loud voices
and pounding bass in the background. “Kenneth and I had a big
fight. That bitch took off and left me stranded here with no car and
no money to get home.” Henri’s voice now reached a pitch
so high only dogs should be able to hear it. He let out a big sob.
“Can you come and get me? It’s the club on Ninth.”
    “ Of
course. Hang tight, I’ll be right there.” It looked like
she would be getting out on a Friday night after all. Whoopee.
    At
least she’d never gotten around to changing out of her work
clothes or taking off her makeup. She grabbed her coat and purse and
then remembered to take Maria’s keys off the kitchen counter
where she’d left them. Locking herself out of the
apartment—wouldn’t that have been fun.
    As
she opened the door and stepped out into the hall she glanced at the
hunky fireman’s door. Being locked out would be a good excuse
to get into his apartment though. Something to consider…
    Said
apartment door suddenly opened and startled her so much she actually
jumped.
    “ Hey.”
He appeared as surprised to see her as she was to see him.
    “ Hi.
What are you doing out at this time of night?” Hopefully he
wasn’t off to some midnight rendezvous with his girlfriend.
    He
jingled a bunch of quarters in his hand. “Laundry. Time to swap
it from the washer to the dryer. The machines are in a room at the
end of the hall, if you need them.”
    Well
wasn’t he helpful and domestic too. “Thanks, I think I
will take advantage while I’m here.”
    “ Where
are you off to?” He took in her office attire with a quick
downward glance. All right, so she wasn’t exactly dressed for
clubbing. Was everyone a critic?
    “ A
friend is kind of stuck and needs a ride. Which really stinks because
I was actually able to find a parking spot, even if it is like five
blocks away, but now I’m going to lose it.”
    He
frowned. “You shouldn’t be out walking to your car at
this time of night alone. Hold on a sec.” Hunky Troy
disappeared and was back with his jacket and keys in hand. “I’ll
walk you to your car.”
    Wow,
did guys like this really still exist? Perhaps chivalry wasn’t
dead after all. She was about to tell him he didn’t have to
come with her when her practical side kicked in. First of all, she
was a little nervous walking alone since this wasn’t her own
neighborhood. Second, who in their right mind would give up a chance
for a moonlit stroll with this man? “That’s very nice of
you. Thank you.”
    “ My
pleasure. So where do you have to pick up your friend?”
    “ It’s
a club on Ninth. Near Broad.”
    He
frowned deeper. “Ninth? That’s not a great neighborhood
and parking there stinks too. Maybe I