Lawrence had two books in his hands and was busy telling Isabel about a book he was writing when they walked in. Isabel looked up at them from the cheese she was slicing in the kitchen.

“All done?”

“Yeah, I think so.” Valerie replied. “That’s all for now anyway.”

Lawrence sized up Alex when Valerie introduced them. Annoyed that she didn’t refer to him as her boyfriend, Alex smiled anyway. Lawrence held out his hand, and Alex shook it.

“So, you moving out, Val?” Lawrence’s eyes made their way down Valerie’s body.

Alex definitely didn’t like this guy.

“No, not yet, but soon.” Valerie glanced back at Alex and smiled. “Just let me grab one more thing.”

She walked into her room, leaving Alex alone with Isabel and the prick. Lawrence immediately turned back to Isabel. “I’m telling you, Isabel.” He tapped the book in his hand. “The classics are not to be taken lightly. You have to take your time, digest them. Read them as many times as you can before you can really appreciate what the author is trying to elucidate.”

Alex rolled his eyes and walked over to a table with pictures on it. There was a knock on the door and then he heard Romero’s voice.

“Hey, Alex.” Alex turned just as Romero walked in. He wore a black polo with his security firm’s name on it.

Alex acknowledged him and Romero turned to Isabel and Lawrence.

“Izzy? You cooking? I thought we were going out for dinner?”

Lawrence seemed taken aback. He scrutinized Romero the way a man would scrutinize a busboy at a restaurant flirting with his wife.

“No, just making snacks.” She introduced Lawrence to Romero. Romero barely cracked a smile. Alex could only imagine what Romero thought. The same thing he’d be thinking if he walked in and Valerie was standing there with him. Who is this crumb and why is my girl making him snacks?

Romero walked into the kitchen and planted one on Isabel. Alex smirked. Romero didn’t do subtle.

Lawrence was obviously bothered but tried to keep his composure. When Romero took it a step further and rubbed his hand over Isabel’s behind, Lawrence cleared his throat and excused himself.

“Let me know, Isabel, when you’re ready for some Tolstoy. I have them all.” He started to the door.

“Tolstoy?” Romero asked.

Lawrence shook his head with what could construed as a sneer. “Nothing you’d be familiar with I’m sure.”

Romero peered at him. But before he could say anything Isabel spoke up, “I’ll walk you out, Lawrence.”

Romero gave Alex a look when Isabel hurried around the counter and walked out the door with Lawrence. “Who is that guy?”

“Their neighbor.” Alex shrugged. He wasn’t about to open up that can of worms.

Valerie finally came out of her room holding a small duffle. “Okay, I’m good. Oh, hey, Romero.” She glanced around. “Where’d Isabel go?”

“Outside with that dude. Does he come over here a lot?”

Valerie glanced at Alex then back at Romero. “Lawrence? No, not really. He was just here to pick up some books Isabel borrowed.”

She started to the door, and Alex followed. They were just out the door when Alex heard Lawrence talking to Isabel, Lawrence’s back turned to them.

“…I mean really, Isabel. I can see Valerie with someone like that, all brawn and undignified. But you? I gotta say, not only am I stunned but a bit disappointed.”

Alex clenched his fist. Before he could say or do anything Romero jumped out from behind them. “What the f**k does that mean?”

Lawrence backed up, startled, when Romero got in his face. He regained his poise quickly and held his hands up. “I was just making an observation. There’s no law against that.”

“You don’t know shit about me, ass**le.”

Lawrence made the mistake of pointing his finger at Romero’s chest. About to say something, Romero pushed him in the chest with both hands. That’s all it took, and Lawrence was in the bushes in front of Valerie’s apartment.

“Oh my God,” Valerie gasped.

Alex jumped in front of Romero—who was ready to charge at Lawrence—and stopped him. “Easy. ”

Romero was furious, and he didn’t blame him. But Lawrence looked like the type to make a big thing out of something like this, so Alex held Romero back. Isabel tried helping Lawrence up.

“You see?” Lawrence barked at Isabel. He stood up red-faced and swatted her hands away. “This is exactly what I’m talking about.”

“Did you just push her?” Romero almost broke free from Alex, and Alex had to bear hug him.

“Get him out of here, babe,” Alex warned Valerie.

Surprised by Romero’s strength, Alex wasn’t sure how much longer he could hold him back. Valerie hurried over to Isabel’s side, while Alex struggled with Romero. “Relax, dude, if he’d pushed her I’d let you at him.”

“You should leave, Lawrence,” Valerie urged.

Once they were all back inside, Alex could laugh about it. But Romero wasn’t laughing. “Why does that ass**le even care who you’re with?”

Valerie gestured to Alex that they should leave.

“We’re out,” Alex said as they walked out.

Isabel glanced at them and waved, but Romero didn’t take his eyes off her.

“She’s gonna have to tell him the truth,” Valerie said as they walked to Alex’s truck.