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One

CLAUDIA

“Shit!”

I stared up in horror as the can of paint fell It slipped fro swath of the pale blue color — the one I’d taken ue

“SHIT!”

I juet out of the way The can hit the floor in an explosion of blue, just as I realized ht foot felt… well, wet

I’d just stepped in the roller tray for the white paint too

“Shit shit shit shit shit!”

The burst of sudden laughter fro I expected to hear It causedanother thin line from the overloaded brush in my hand Paint splattered over two more walls… which of course just happened to be the ones I’d already painted

I opened my mouth…

“Shit?” a deep but cheerful voice suggested There was ht smile “Sorry That’s just a lot of shit”

The stranger standing inshoulders ended where his sleeves did, revealing two very tan and well-developed are box

He glanced down curiously “Why are you barefoot?’

I’d taken my shoes off to spare them the mess Now I had paint all over s… everywhere but the here it needed to be, apparently

“Who the hell are you?”

He bent at the knees, setting the box on the floor without breaking his s out one hand When I didn’t shake it right away, he lowered it to his side “I’m here for my room”