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Balthazar watched the woman known as Ross lead him back and forth pointing out what there was to see and what was available in the ‘share a pad’ deal. So far so good. Three hundred was easy enough to make in a day if he worked his game as he had been known to in the past. He had more than enough in his own account to ride out a good year of rent and no work at all if needed. Not that he was planning on being around that long. How long would it take to find out what he needed to know about Jesse Fforde and his ties to Christopher? Longer than he had ever planned on sleeping in the backseat of the schmucks caddy. His mind was made up then and there. Captain Kangaroo could have been leading him around and it still would have been an offer he wouldn’t refuse.

“Sounds good and looks even better.”

Yes, indeed. Ross was about to get herself a roommate. One boot pressed down and was followed by the other as he stepped in the room that was pointed out as available to be his. His peripheral vision served him well as he kept track of her so the woman didn’t jump out of her own skin as he got closer. The ink canvas from Seattle found a way around her and then leaned over just enough. His inked hand reached out, patted the mattress of the bed and discovered it was just how he liked it. Thankfully it was hard as a rock. A good night's sleep was worth close to three hundred going by what he had already forked out for the first couple nights he rented hotel rooms in the city.

“One drawer is plenty and no worries on the temperature control. You can have it how you like it. I am good hot or cold. Screw the layers. It is your place.” He was back around her and stepping back out into the hall making his announcement. “The best suit that I have I was born wearing. Colorful and seen often if you can handle that.”

Nudity was about as awkward for Balthazar as would be inhaling in front of a stranger to breathe. It didn’t register that it should be embarrassing or something to make excuses for. Because, well, it shouldn’t be. It was as natural as taking another breath in his book.

“I will take it.” He watched her still standing in the room he would be crashing in. “When is the earliest it is accessible? I figure it would take approximately 5 minutes for me to move in.” He was stretching it. He was already moved in. Pretty much what he had to bring in he already did since he was wearing it on his body when he walked in.

“Got it.” He nodded as if he had made this deal at least a thousand times before. “Air drying on the weekends isn’t going to happen. I am not here to scare off what you already got lined up, no worries there.” Not that Ross would know it but he pretty much resigned himself to not getting anywhere in the lucky or laid department. All for one good reason. He was cursed and he couldn’t shake it if he tried. “I’m good for the rules.”

Balthazar found Ross far cooler than her eye catching ink now that she was revealing more of what she was about. Obviously she didn’t answer to anyone. Huge bonus points there. The lady called her own shots. An even bigger score in his book. She was fully secure with herself and her personal space to be open to sharing it with a dude that she wasn’t banging or planning on riding. So much win. He didn’t hang around chicks all that much. It likely showed. However, the ones he did spend any amount of time with had to be down like Ross seemed to be. No ********, no drama, no shade. It already was feeling like home away from home.

“So when is the move in? The sooner it is the better. I got some laundry I need to do before your Superman flies in and catches my backdraft.” His hands plucked at his shirt in a ‘notice this’ gesture. “Been a day or two since it has seen Mr. Bubbles.”

Uncouth? Hell yes. Presumptuous? Most likely. Honest? If she got any closer she probably would be able to know he was keeping it real. That was the only way it was going to work for either of them. Upfront and no holds barred. He tried not to look at her as the thought came to mind. He had a few holds that he still was game on trying if the conditions were ever right. Unfortunately she was now the new roomy. That was a game changer. He was better off looking at the wall. Which is exactly what he did but found nothing notable on it to keep him from looking odd at best.

“Parking. Anything designated or do you prefer I park my cruiseship out on the public street?” Simple as that he found something else to focus on.

Balthazar eyed the space and figured with some careful maneuvering he could get the beast of automotive history into the slot he was being given the option of using. It beat getting tickets for parking where Chris’s caddy wasn’t wanted. The truck that would be parked beside it had his attention for a few seconds longer then he stepped away.

“Yeah, is why I asked about parking. I don’t want to pay for the extra space on the streets the thing takes up. She attracts tickets like an alleycat does fleas.” He had two fines he needed to pay now that he thought about it. He added it to his list of things that he had to do that he would rather ball up and toss in the closest waste basket. “Nice truck.”

He wasn’t going to put his foot in his mouth and ask her about it. He still was backpedaling from expecting to find a dude answering the door. Plain and simple he was going to play it safe for the moment. He considered it a win that he wouldn’t be subjected to the stink of the back seat upholstery for another night. She wanted to know when the big day was.

“All I need is a key and I am in.” Perhaps she thought he was full of **** about needing to do laundry and it consisting of what he was wearing. Maybe she thought he had some boxes to haul in and unpack over the course of a weekend or two. She would learn differently if that was the case. “This is it.” His hands rotated in the whole wala flair then dropped to slip slowly into his front pants pockets. “I won’t be getting mail so no worries in having to weed out anything for me or giving me a key to for that.” He stepped around the room making sure to steer clear of what she had in place. “I haven’t had much luck on getting an answer so perhaps I could ask you.” His right hand wiggled a little beneath the denim that covered it. He pulled it out and revealed a wad of cash. The bills unfolded and he fanned out enough for the first two months and held it out for her to take. “Know of any golf courses around here? Not the public ones. I am looking for private.” He nodded at the money. “Two months in advance or you rather have three?” Not that he planned on staying in town that long but just in case things changed he would be covered.

Balthazar had a key in his hand and the promise of a decent night's rest to go with it. It was like he didn’t know what to do first. Sort of. A shower was in order then hours of sleep. Once Ross was out of the general viewing area he was headed to the bathroom. A shower. The steam was filling the small room with the lack of cold water faucet being used. He stripped down and made sure he didn’t waste what was up until that point pretty hard to come by at the same time. Fresh hot water and soap.

Ten minutes later he opened the door. The cloud of warm steam followed behind him as he walked out in his pants holding the rest of what he wearing before he started. Now that he was clean it was time to make a store run. He had somewhere to keep things even if he was pretty much a minimalist. He could pull the toothpaste and toothbrush out of the glove box. Those things didn’t need replacing. He had some pit stick in there too. Of course the mustache wax that he was known to prefer expertly created out of a base of soft beeswax and left an after scent of fresh pine would be less likely to stay in the car. Once he brought it in it would be found on the surface of the small bedside nightstand. Oddly he didn’t own a comb. He had always used his fingers to style anything on his body that needed it.

He rolled up his shorts and between the steam enveloping him and the movement of the fabric he noticed that it smelled like a near case of swamp *** about to kick in. Counting his lucky stars he started making a mental checklist of what else would be needed. His current commando status was fine and well for the time it would take to pick up some more ‘*** covers’ as he called them. Socks too. He sniffed his shirt and figured turning it inside out for the moment was the wise option. The jingle of his keys went with him as he exited the apartment back in his boots stopping only to toss the shorts that were not worth another wash and wear into the nearest recycling container.

Once he was inside Christopher Fforde's relic caddy he popped open the glove box and used the deodorant that really made all the difference in the world when he lifted his arms to apply it. The reversed t-shirt was worth saving but that didn't change the fact it was currently ripe. A quick trip to shop for the basics meant all of his minor problems would be solved. Whatever remained would improve greatly with a decent night's rest.