Chapter 11
CHAPTER 11
CALLUM
“I really appreciate you doing this.” Parker shut the front door of the B&B, looking like a daisy in a bright yellow jacket. “It’s not that I’m not capable of finding my own place, but I’ve been here long enough to understand that there are differences between here and the States, and I don’t want to screw something up because I just don’t know it’s something I should ask about.”
“No problem.” It was the least I could do to make up for having been a total bawbag to her. I felt a wee bit guilty, too, that none of us had even considered the expense to her for lodging during the two-week trial period. That had to be a lot of money. While we were paying her fairly for the work she was doing, it wasn’t enough to cover the exorbitant occupancy taxes and such that applied to places like inns and bed and breakfasts. So, I was here today to ferry her about and make sure she found something affordable that met her needs. “Are you ready?”
“I am.”
Drawing on the manners I’d gotten far too rusty at using, I made an after-you gesture. Parker flashed a smile and moved automatically to the left side of the pavement, nearest the road. My instincts screamed because on that side, I couldn’t see her or any potential threats that might come from that direction. I made it about a half-dozen steps before I gently, but firmly, gripped her arm and moved her to my right.
She glanced up at me, eyebrows raised in question.
I wrestled with myself for a few moments before finally admitting, “I canna have you on my blind side.” I couldn’t deal with anyone on that side but my former squadmates, because I knew they could handle themselves.
“Oh. I didn’t think of that. Of course. No problem.” She continued on a few paces before I got my arse moving again.
“The estate agent is Mr. Harrison?”
She wasn’t going to say anything more about it. At the realization, I gradually relaxed. “Aye. He’s the same one we used to find the business property.”
Harrison’s office was on the high street, halfway between the pub and the newsagent.
Parker peered at the listings posted in the window. “They definitely do things differently here.”
“They dinna post the properties where people can see them in the US?” I tugged the door open and held it for her.
“Not in a window. It’s all online, with lots of pictures and sometimes video tours. And the architectural styles are wildly different from what I’ve seen here.”
Harrison rose from his desk as we stepped inside. “Mr. Quinn. Good to see you again.”
I shook the man’s hand and made introductions to Parker.
She flashed him that sunny smile. “Nice to meet you, Mr. Harrison. I appreciate your time today.”
“Of course, of course. Do you have a wishlist for what you’re looking for in a property?”
She glanced at me. “I’m not sure what Callum may have told you, but of course, I’m looking for a place to rent. An apartment—flat—or a small house. I’d prefer somewhere that’s furnished and within walking distance of the Out of Bounds Scotland office. Preferably on the first floor—wait, no, that’s the second floor here. The ground floor.”
Harrison blew out a breath. “Well, you ken it’s a small village, so we dinna have a multitude of options, but I’ll show you what we’ve got, and we’ll see how many of your criteria we can meet. Come on out to my car. I’ll drive us over.”
The first place was half a mile down the road from our office, the bottom floor of a two-story house that had been converted into flats. It wasn’t furnished. As we walked through the space and Harrison went on about the features, Parker stopped in the kitchen.
“Okay, what is it with the UK and having to turn on all the plugs? And why is there a random red Don’t Touch Me switch on the kitchen wall?”
“That’s the main breaker for the boiler. Since it’s radiant heat, that controls the master heat and the hot water for the shower,” Harrison explained.
She stared at him. “Then why’s it out here instead of hidden away in a breaker box in a closet, where it can’t get accidentally turned off?”
“Uh… because no one here would touch it?”
“So weird,” she muttered.
My lips twitched a little. “The rest of it is because our electricity is a lot more expensive than what you have in the States, so we shut it off at the source unless we need it.”
“Well, with that in mind, I can see I’m going to need to adjust my budget to account for more expensive utilities, so tons of furniture is definitely not in the cards.” Her smile took any sting out of the words. “What’s next?”
The next place was a bit more promising. It was furnished. Single level. Not a big place, but it would be plenty for her. As Harrison was going over the features and pointed out the washer, Parker spun a circle. “But where’s the dryer?”
“Most people line dry their clothes,” he explained. “There’s a rack out back.”
She stared at us. “In a country that rains this much, y’all line dry your clothes?”
“Well, plenty of people have dryers in their own homes, but it comes back to the cost of electricity. Many people will wash their clothes at home and then take them to the laundrette in the village to dry.”
“They’re… just toting bins of wet clothes around?”
She shouldn’t have looked so damned cute with that perplexed expression on her face.
When Harrison and I just shrugged, she shook her head. “I’m feeling very American right now. Okay, Callum, thoughts on this place?”
I had to remind myself she wasn’t asking for a tactical assessment. “The flat itself is fine, but I’m a little concerned with the distance. Two miles is nothing in good weather, but I dinna like the idea of you walking that far in the winter, so unless you’re planning to buy a car by then…”
“Fair point. I don’t know where my budget will be by then, and beyond that, I’m not sure I’m up for learning how to drive on the left side of the road. Next?”
Harrison circled back toward the village, to a side street not too far from work. “This one is closer and furnished. Single level.”
The block held eight flats and didn’t look great from the outside. The white painted exterior was stained, and rust showed through where paint peeled from the railings and stairways leading to the first floor. The moment we stepped inside, I smelled mold. It took me less than a minute to find the source—a leak over the kitchen window. The bathroom faucet dripped, and stains in the bowl of the toilet told me it ran more often than not. The floors were rough and scarred, and I absolutely couldn’t imagine a woman like Parker living with furniture that looked as if it had been scavenged from a charity shop dumpster.
“No.”
Harrison trailed off whatever selling point he’d been making. “I’m sorry. These are the only listings I’ve got.”
Parker caught her lip between her teeth. “Well, I’ve got to have something. I suppose the?—”
“I may have another idea. Hang on.” I stepped outside to make a phone call.
Hamish Colquhoun answered on the first ring. He’d been the attorney to handle the closing on our business property. He’d also been Alex’s landlord. Though the place had sat empty more often than not after Alex had moved in with Ciara, Alex had continued to pay the lease.
“Hamish, this is Callum Quinn.”
“Callum. Good to hear from you. What can I do for you?”
“Have you leased the flat above your office?”
“No, actually.”
“Would you be willing to show it to our office manager?”
“Aye, of course. I can meet you there in, say, half an hour?”
“Perfect.”
Ending the call, I headed back inside. “I’ve got one other option I think will suit you better.”
“I’ll just take you back, then.”
The short ride back to Harrison’s office was a little awkward, but Parker smoothed things over by warmly thanking the man for his time. As we hit the pavement again, she moved to my right this time, without being asked. She’d remembered and didn’t make a big thing of accommodating me. Because I noticed her flagging a little, I shortened my stride.
“Okay?”
“Just a little tired.” She shot me a what was no doubt meant to be a reassuring smile, but this one didn’t quite reach her eyes.
Had I said or done something wrong? Had Harrison said something to offend her while I’d been outside making my call? The man had seemed fine when I’d met him before, but he’d hardly try to mess with me. Parker was a sweet, trusting woman. I shouldn’t have left her alone.
“Hey, where did your brain go just now?”
I looked down to where Parker’s hand lay on my arm. “What?”
“You suddenly started scowling like you wanted to punch someone.”
“Was Harrison inappropriate with you?”
She blinked, her eyes widening in surprise. “No. Why?”
I couldn’t very well say that her smile wasn’t right. “You just seemed a little… off somehow.”
“Like I said. I’m a little tired.”
I could have left it alone. Probably should have. But instead I paused. “Is that all it is? Are you having second thoughts about staying?”
The hand on my arm squeezed gently. “No. I’m fine. I promise.”
“Would you tell me if you weren’t?” I was pushing boundaries. I was her boss. But I felt responsible for her, somehow.
Her answer was too long in coming. “If I need any help, I promise I’ll ask for it.”
Which wasn’t at all the same thing as being fine. But clearly I wasn’t getting anywhere else with this right now.
A little while later, we met Hamish in front of his office. I made introductions again, and Parker charmed him in that way of hers.
“Let’s go up.” Hamish turned to unlock a door.
“Up?” Parker asked.
“Aye, the flat’s above my office.” Opening the door, he gestured up the stairwell.
There was a strange almost-anxiety about her as she took them in. Was she that tired, or were stairs a problem for some other reason? I didn’t ask, not wanting to put her on the spot, and pretty sure she wouldn’t tell me either way. We followed Hamish up.
“The flat’s not huge. Just one bedroom, with a lounge area and small kitchen. We’d been debating whether we wanted to try the Airbnb thing or stick with long-term leases. It is furnished.”
We stepped inside. It looked much as it had when Alex had lived here, minus the desk with the bank of multiple monitors that had taken up one wall.
Parker brightened as soon as she came through the door. “Oh, this is adorable.”
Hamish reeled off the relevant details about price and specs, but I didn’t think she was fully listening. I could see her mentally settling in. She moved over to the little two-person table beside the window that overlooked the high street. I could just make out the edge of her smile as she looked out at the view.
“What do you think?” I couldn’t quite stop myself from asking.
Again, there was that hesitation before she finally answered. Her gaze skittered back toward the stairs. “It’s perfect. I’d have preferred ground level, but this is by far better than the other options.” She turned to Hamish. “What is your policy on pets?”
“Alex had a cat. Honestly, we’re fine with pets. There’s just an additional deposit.”
“Good to know.” This time, the smile she turned on me made it all the way to her eyes. “I’ll take it.”
A sense of satisfaction settled over me. I’d found her a place that was safe, affordable, well-maintained, and within walking distance of the office. It felt like I’d done something to help make up for the fact that I’d been an arsehole.
“Wonderful. Let’s just go down to my office and we can sign the lease.”