#301

I wash myself off quickly and head up to the next apartment on the list. #301 is home to a trio of grad students: Liana Rivers, Natalie Glenn, and Ashlynn Rose. All three will turn 24 this school year. My knock is answered by an attractive brunette in a lightweight turquoise sweater. “Can I help you?” she asks, looking at me suspiciously.

I hand her my card. “I’m Iain Roberts—I’m the new building manager,” I say. “I’m just going around introducing myself to the tenants. My cell number is on there—it’s the best way to get a hold of me if you need me.”

Her face brightens immediately. She holds out her hand for mine. “I’m sorry for being suspicious. I’m Ashlynn Rose. Please, come in.”

“Thank you.” As she closes the door behind us, I tell her I’m taking pictures of the tenants and ask permission to take hers. She grants it. I explain briefly about the rig, which she finds quite interesting.

“Would this be a good place to take the shot?” Ashlynn asks.

“This should work fine,” I tell her. I look down to launch the app.

I look back up to find that Ashlynn has opened her sweater to show her bra. My jaw drops. She gives me a sultry look. “Is anyone but you going to see this?” she purrs.

“No,” I say.

“Then why not have a little fun with it? Unless you don’t like titties,” Ashlynn smirks.

“No, I love titties,” I assure her.

“Maybe you just don’t like mine?” she asks with a fake pout.

“No, no, no, they’re gorgeous,” I say hurriedly.

“Really, you don’t have enough information to say that unless I take the bra off,” Ashlynn purrs, “but we’ll have to save that for another time. For right now, I’ll have to settle for this.” She sighs. I smile and take the picture.

I show it to her. “Very nice,” she says approvingly. “You have a good eye.” She takes my arm. “My apartmentmates are both home. Let me introduce you.” Ashlynn leads me to a blonde in a Hogwarts shirt, Daisy Dukes, and (for some odd reason) a garter reading what looks like someone’s dissertation. “This is Natalie Glenn,” she says. “We’re both MFA students in the writing program. Nat, this is Iain Roberts, the new building manager. He’s introducing himself to everyone in the building and taking pictures so he can remember names. You should let him take yours, he’s really quite good—and then you need to get changed, we need to be going soon.”

“Sure thing, Ash,” Natalie Glenn says in a soft Southern drawl. She takes my hand and squeezes it gently. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Roberts.”

“Please, call me Iain,” I say. “We’re all peers here, and I’m not your boss, I’m here to take care of you.”

“Mmmmmm,” Natalie purrs, “and what services do you provide, Iain?”

I can’t resist. “Well, if you want a testimonial, you can talk to Adriana Martin in #101,” I say. With much effort, I manage to keep the smugness out of my voice. Mostly. Sort of.

Natalie and Ashlynn exchange a startled look. Their expressions quickly grow speculative, then hungry. “Well, if she’s satisfied with your work,” Ashlynn purrs, “I’m sure we will be. We’re less . . . demanding than she is.”

Again I can’t resist. “She wasn’t demanding at all by the time I finished,” I say. A smirk plays around the corners of my mouth. Two sets of eyebrows go up. “I see,” Natalie says at last, looking very impressed.

I explain about the rig, then take Natalie’s picture and show it to her. She gives me a pleased grin.

Ashlynn takes me to her other apartmentmate, who’s also wearing Daisy Dukes but paired with what looks like a backless one-piece swimsuit. “This is Liana Rivers,” she says. “Are you ever going to make it to the pool today, Liana?”

“Yeah,” Liana responds with a frustrated sigh, setting her laptop on the coffee table. “I’m about done with this stupid thing, finally.”

“Liana’s also going for her MFA, but in film,” Ashlynn tells me. “Her latest project has been kicking her ass.” Pause a beat; smirk. “Fortunately, she has an awesome ass to kick.”

“Ashlynn!” Liana exclaims in exasperation. “Don’t say things like that! Especially in front of strange men!”

“Oh, he’s not particularly strange,” Ashlynn replies with a naughty grin. “Liana, this is Iain Roberts, the new building manager. He’s introducing himself to everyone in the building and taking pictures so he can remember names. He has a good eye for it—you should let him take yours.”

“Thanks, Ash,” Liana replies with mingled appreciation and annoyance. “How is he as a building manager, that’s what I’d like to know.”

“Well,” Ashlynn says meaningly, “he said Adriana Martin in #101 was satisfied with his services.”

Now Liana’s eyebrows go up and stay up. She gives me a long, appraising look. “I’m very glad to know that . . .” she says slowly. Then, more briskly after a moment: “I’ll have to put that to the test sometime soon—I really do want to get to the pool right now.” She takes my hand. “I really am glad to meet you, Mr. Roberts—or do you prefer we call you Iain?”

“Iain, please,” I say.

“My pleasure,” Liana responds in a sultry voice. I explain about the camera and take her picture; she’s quite happy with it.

Ashlynn walks back to the door with me. “It’s really too bad none of us has the time right now to . . . evaluate your performance . . . but I’m sure you’ll be hearing from all three of us soon.”

I take her hand and kiss it gently; she looks pleased and impressed. “I look forward to it.”