Landlady: A New Adult Romance (Northbridge Nights Book 1) Read Online Free Page B

attic?”
    “It's mostly storage space, but I don't keep anything there. The
basement is move-in ready if you want to find another tenant.”
    I felt like an idiot. Again. Why did I feel so stupid and naive every
time I saw this man?
    “It's the middle of the month, I can't possibly—”
    “—Then move in with me.”
    “Huh?”
    “Move in. Downstairs. Problem solved,” Asher said smugly. “Now
if we're done here, I have a deposition to attend.”
    Asher was out the door before I'd even fully processed his words.
    +++
    “HE SAID WHAT?”
    “He asked me to move in with him. Well—what he meant was—”
    “How romantic,” Callista teased, twirling spaghetti around her
fork. I'd returned to her place an hour ago, and pasta was on the
dinner menu for the fourth night running. It was about all Cally knew
how to cook. Not that I was complaining. Food was food. Besides, I
probably couldn't do much better.
    “That's not funny, Cally.”
    “So what's the problem?” Brandon interjected. “You have a place
to stay now, rent-free.”
    “The problem, Brandon, is—” I paused mid-sentence. Was there
really a problem with this offer?
    Callista giggled. “The problem, Brand, is that Asher the Trespasser
is hot as hell and Sisi won't be able to keep her kitty paws off of
him.”
    Brandon did not look happy at that comment.
    My cheeks flamed. “I would never!”
    Cally kicked me under the table. “You don't have to lie, Sisi,
we're all friends here.”
    An image of Asher's naked, rippling chest popped into my head. I
quickly dispelled the fantasy. “I guess I don't really have a
choice, do I?”
    “Nope,” Callista smirked. “I'm not putting up with your sloppy
ass for the rest of your life, you know.”
    “Gee thanks, babe.”
    Callista finished her plate and took it to the sink. “So when are
you moving in?”
    I hadn't given it much thought yet, to be honest. “I guess this
weekend. If you're willing to help. Again.”
    “Wouldn't miss it for the world.”
    “About fucking time,” I thought I heard Brandon whisper.
    At least someone was thrilled by my new predicament.

CHAPTER 4
    ASHER
    COLD BEER IN HAND. Hi-def live streaming of the game on my 80-inch
flatscreen. BBQ ribs cooking in the oven. Bowser snoozing at my feet.
Life was good. Mackenzie couldn't score for shit, but Lukos
was showing some real promise. During the second half of the game, I
got a text from Sierra.
    SIERRA: Can I move in this weekend?
    I smiled. The sooner, the better as far as I was concerned. I
couldn't wait to get to work melting that frozen heart of hers.
    ASHER: You can move in tonight if you want. ;)
    Three little dots started jumping around as she wrote her next
message.
    SIERRA: In your dreams, pretty boy.
    ASHER: So you admit, I am pretty.
    SIERRA: Pretty cocky!
    ASHER: Can't deny that either. I'll take compliments wherever I
can get them.
    SIERRA: Are you sure the basement is move-in ready? There aren't
any dead bodies or chained up ex-girlfriends down there, right?
    ASHER: I don't chain my women unless they ask me to. And as far as
I can tell, I haven't smelled anything rotten down there.
    SIERRA: You're getting off on this, aren't you?
    ASHER: Do you want me to get off on this?
    SIERRA: GOOD NIGHT, ASHER.
    ASHER: Sweet dreams, Landlady.
    I put down the phone and wondered what the hell had gotten into me.
Was I flirting with her? She was at least ten years younger
than me. Practically my little sister Adele's age. And she was my
fucking landlady. Talk about off-limits. I raked my fingers through
my hair and popped open another beer. I prayed to God that her moving
in wasn't a bad idea.
    This could backfire in a million different ways...
    Worst of all, I was the one who had suggested it.
    The next morning, my lips tugged into a smile when I noticed Sierra
had sent me a message late last night. Unlocking my phone, I wondered
why the sight of her name on my home screen made my heart beat
faster.
    SIERRA: Ground rules: no