Landlord Wars(10)

“This is Karl and Kitty Burrows,” he said.

Kitty was blonde with very few wrinkles, wearing a cream pleated shirt dress and expensive-looking loafers that had metal buckles on top, while Karl Burrows had a full head of salt-and-pepper hair, dark eyebrows, and sparkling blue eyes. They were sitting, but by the looks of it, they were around average height, while Max stood well over six feet.

Max’s parents were an attractive older couple, and it was clear where Landlord Devil got his looks, if not his height. “It’s nice to meet you,” I said automatically.

Kitty Burrows looked me up and down. “You’re Jack’s new roommate?” She glanced at her husband. “Hopefully this one is better than the last,” she murmured under her breath.

Karl Burrows chuckled. “Be nice, Kitty.” He smiled warmly at me. “Pleasure to meet you, Sophia.”

My back stiffened. I was already off on the wrong foot with Max’s parents. Why didn’t that surprise me? I turned to Jack. “What happened with your last roommate?”

Jack’s jaw stiffened and he glanced off. “I should probably see what Max is up to.”

Had I said something wrong? Already?

Kitty gestured to the chair opposite her. “Have a seat, Sophia.”

Clenching my wineglass, the sweater draped over my arm, a sinking feeling settled in my stomach. I was certain I’d touched on a sensitive subject for Jack, and I felt terrible. Would it be rude to leave early? I hadn’t been this uncomfortable in forever.

“You didn’t hear about Jack’s last roommate?” Kitty turned to her husband. “Didn’t Jack date the woman?”

“He did,” Karl said.

Kitty flicked her fingers dismissively. “Yes, well, our sweet Jack dated this young woman, who started out as his roommate, and she completely ruined the apartment before she broke things off with him. Can you imagine?” She tilted her head as though pondering. “I suppose she never actually broke things off. She simply disappeared.”

“I’m sorry to hear that.” How awful. No wonder Jack hadn’t wanted to talk about it. Was this woman the reason he rarely left the apartment?

Kitty lowered her voice. “She thought Jack was as wealthy as our dear Max.” She shook her head. “That woman was a gold-digger,” she said in a hushed tone.

I glanced at Jack, who had gone up to Max and was laughing at something he said.

The corner of Max’s mouth lifted into a smile and his blue eyes flashed with mischief as he took in Jack’s reaction to his comment.

Whirls of sensation ran up my back. Max was beautiful, and he knew it. When one of his naughty smiles escaped, it made me forget all the reasons I disliked him.

But the lapse in memory was brief. No way would I let my guard down around Landlord Devil.

“That must have been hard on Jack,” I said, thinking of ways I could be a better roommate. I would not leave my mugs around for more than twenty-four hours. Those suckers were getting picked up every night before bed.

Kitty’s chin turned down. “Max was livid, and Jack ended up staying with Max while my son had the place remodeled top to bottom to repair the damage.”

That explained why the apartment looked like something out of a decorator’s magazine. “The damage was that bad?”

Kitty pursed her lips. “The woman had a party when Jack and Max were out of town on business, and she managed to scorch the kitchen cabinets with her drunken friends. Don’t get me started on what she did to the furniture. My Max paid for everything.” She reached across and touched my leg, and I nearly flinched at the unexpected contact. “Please don’t hurt our Jack,” she said imploringly.

What in the hell? “I would never hurt Jack.” Or anyone, for that matter. But what she implied was that there might be something between me and Jack, and there absolutely wasn’t. “We’re just roommates,” I emphasized.

Kitty sipped her wine, staring at me over the rim of her glass. “Jack has a reputation for dating his roommates. It’s best you remain friends.”

I nearly choked on my wine. “Jack is more like a brother than a guy I would date.”

“But he’s handsome, no?”

Was she setting me up or warning me away? “Jack is very good-looking,” I said diplomatically. And it was true. But I meant what I said about only seeing Jack as a friend.

“Mom,” came a deep voice from behind me, and this time I jerked so hard I nearly doused my white blouse in wine. “Gwen wants to talk to you about the gala.”

I twisted around to find Max standing behind me, his towering height making me feel small and insignificant.

When the hell had he walked up?

His gaze dropped to my face, and the look in his eyes said he was not happy.

Had he heard me tell Kitty Jack was handsome? It would be just my luck he’d walk in on that part. I sighed, resigned. I should never have come to this landmine-filled party.

Kitty stood. “Yes, yes. So much to be done for the gala.” She turned to me. “As one of San Francisco’s first families, we’re kept very busy.” She smiled and sashayed away.

First family? It sounded like she was comparing herself to royalty.

Karl turned to me. “What is it you do for a living, Sophia?” I’d almost forgotten he was there. He was more of the silent type.