Chapter 9
Chapter Nine
Everett
The estate sale people were making major headway throughout the house.
Everett could see notes on items in most of the rooms. They were slow, but methodical.
Patient. The real estate agent, however, was just the opposite.
The man was pushing for him to let him photograph more of the house, and Everett still wanted more empty rooms for that. They hadn’t even listed the place yet.
Everett had to school his expression before he opened the door to Allen Bellingham the next morning.
The man was thoroughly repugnant. Everett should have gone with someone else because it was growing harder to hide his dislike.
He’d originally signed with a woman he’d found rather delightful—a recommendation from his friend, Trilla—but she’d had some kind of emergency and passed the listing off to Allen.
Sunlight spilled into the entryway as he opened the door.
Allen was short like Everett but they differed in everything else.
The agent was round everywhere. In his face, his torso—even his hands looked like fat sausages.
But it was his smarmy personality that made him repugnant.
He oozed so much disdain, he should have come with a warning label.
Danger. Incapable of honesty. Believe at your own risk.
Dax stood somewhere behind him, and Everett didn’t even have to look to know that.
He felt that man’s presence as soon as he entered a room, his body reacting with goosebumps more often than not.
Last night, he’d felt so close to Dax, he’d spilled his innermost secret shame, and while he’d thought he’d feel regret for that, he didn’t.
It had felt right to talk to Dax about his past.
They were growing close, and a part of him was completely giddy over that fact because he wanted them to grow even closer. He had every intention of asking the man out after he stopped working for him.
He focused back on the reason for opening the door and had to work hard not to frown.
Allen gave him a sleazy grin, reminding him he had to keep his mind on the task at hand. He somehow knew that not paying attention to this man’s every word would be a mistake.
“I already have an offer on the house,” he said in lieu of a greeting before he brushed past Everett without invitation. He halted in the foyer, obviously thrown off by Dax’s presence. He stared for longer than was polite before dismissing him with a snort and turning back to Everett.
Absolute fury zipped through Everett at his rudeness. Offer or not, he was going to find a different agent. Requesting someone else was added to his mental list of things to do.
“Did you hear me? An offer came in, and it’s two hundred thousand over the planned asking price.
You should jump on it now.” Allen frowned at Everett briefly before he pulled out that fake smile again.
“You’ll need to stop the estate sale company, though, because they want everything in the house as well. ”
“Everything?”
“Every last thing, including all those books in the office.”
“That’s not going to happen. Everything in that room is coming to me.”
His fake smile stayed pasted on his face. “Two hundred thousand over asking price, and you’re already listing this place far above what it should have been.”
“Yes, and a lot of the antiques in this house are worth thousands, so two hundred K isn’t going to cut it.” Something occurred to Everett, and he narrowed his eyes. “How does this person know what’s in that office?”
“I sent him pictures of every room.”
“I distinctly told you that part of the house was off limits until it was emptied. I also asked for no pictures until it was ready.”
Allen made another dismissive sound that grated on Everett’s nerves. “That study is the selling point of this place, so it couldn’t be left out.”
“You know what, Mr. Bellingham? I’m requesting another agent on this sale so you can leave.”
Allen scowled. “I’m the best damn agent they have. Getting an offer before the place is even listed proves that. Besides, I’m the only one available right now.”
“Then the house is no longer for sale. Leave, please.”
Allen’s mouth dropped open but only briefly as he deliberately softened his stance.
Everett could practically see the ooze of incoming fake charm leaking onto the floor.
“Look, I apologize for including images of the study, but it did the trick. And there are numerous antiques and paintings the buyer loved as well. He requested nothing be removed, and I know if we go back with a counteroffer, he’ll bite. Guy’s rich as Midas.”
“I’m not interested in offering a counter. There are many things in this house I’ll be keeping, and as of right now, I’m considering keeping the house as well.”
“You’re making a huge mistake.”
“Nevertheless, it’s my mistake to make. Again, I’ll ask that you leave. You’re fired.”
Allen opened his mouth to argue, but Dax took a step toward him, and that seemed to fluster him because his mouth slammed shut. He gave Everett a furious look as he shuffled back out the door. Everett didn’t even wait for him to get down the walkway—he just calmly shut the door behind him.
“What an ass,” he told Dax as he walked to the living room.
“I had very strict rules about the house not being photographed for the public until it was empty. He was just supposed to be taking pictures of some of the other rooms for his own use. I’ll have to see if he has all my grandfather’s private collections all over his website.
He infuriates me, and I should have let him go the first time I met him because he makes my skin crawl. ”
Dax leaned against the door jamb. “Are you seriously considering keeping this house? It’s a beautiful one.”
“I do love it. Just couldn’t justify living here by myself because it’s so big.
My grandfather left me enough money to keep it up and hire a staff, though.
And I suppose I could move my work here.
” He looked around what was his second favorite room in the house with its big, cozy furniture and massive television on the other side of the fireplace, which was made of floor to ceiling gray stones.
“I do love this room, as well as the kitchen. And I once loved that study.”
“That awful real estate agent was right about the study, even if he was wrong about everything else. It would be a great room to work in.”
“It would if it didn’t give me the creeps. I can’t shake the feeling there’s something wrong in there.” Everett knew he sounded crazy, but again, Dax made him comfortable enough to speak his mind.
“Maybe once everything is packed and you have your own things in there, you’ll feel differently.”
“It’s possible. I truly never thought of moving in here—had just always assumed I’d sell it once he passed.
” He was truly considering it, though. Creepy feeling aside, it felt like his home, and he’d had a hard time knowing people were going through it and putting price tags on all the things his grandfather had collected. Had cherished.
He should have realized this was what he needed to do, and now that the realization was settling, he knew the decision not to sell was the right one.
So what if he was alone, rattling around in this huge place?
It belonged to his family, and as the last surviving member, he should be here.
He could maybe fill it with children someday.
That was his dream. He’d always wanted a family, so he’d have to make one himself.
“You know what? I’m staying. I’m going to halt the estate sale, and I’ll have to think on what I want to do with everything in the office.
Keep all the books, of course. With what I’m writing, they are invaluable research.
I’ll just make room for all my books—keep packing away the shelves of figurines.
” He looked at Dax, who was quietly listening as always, and smiled.
“I can’t believe I’m doing this, but it feels right. ”
“It’s a lovely home, Everett. Maybe putting your own things in the one room will get rid of that bad feeling.”
He squared his shoulders and took a deep breath.
“I think you’re right. Now I just have to figure out what I’m keeping at my house.
” He laughed. “This is crazy, but I feel good about the decision.” He did.
Felt like a weight had been pulled from his shoulders.
One he’d mistaken for all of the things he needed to do in order to sell everything.
But he didn’t want to do that. This had been Wilson’s home and Everett’s father’s home, and it should really be his own as well.
A flood of joy made it feel as if sunlight had suddenly poured into the room. He gave Dax a wide grin. “This is a good thing, Dax. This is my family home. I think we should go out to celebrate. How does that sound?”
“I’ll do whatever you’d like. I’m happy for you—I had a feeling this home was special to you. Where would you like to go tonight?”
“Not tonight. Now. Today. This probably is going to make me sound like the most boring man alive, but all the fall vegetables will be on display at the farmer’s market, and I’d like to go, get some fresh goodies and cook a big pot of butternut squash soup with homemade bread.
A home-cooked meal in what will be my home again sounds like the perfect celebration of this decision.
Unless you’d like to do something different, like go dancing tonight? ”
Dax laughed. “I’m not much for dancing, and that soup sounds wonderful. I don’t find you boring at all.”
“Most men have. I write at home, and I prefer cooking my own meals and eating them at home. I’m a homebody to the extreme.”
“I’m not most men, Everett.”
Something in Dax’s tone had Everett studying him closer. “No, Dax, you aren’t. So, you want to go to the farmer’s market with me? Just so you know, I’m going to look at this as a date.” He watched as Dax’s beautiful green eyes widened.
“A date?”
He nodded. “A real date. I like you, and I have the feeling you like me, too. I don’t think I’m truly in any danger, yet have I let you go?
No. That’s because I wanted you here. I like being around you.
So, I think we should date. I’m sure your company has all kinds of rules about that, so we’ll just keep this to ourselves.
Unless…you aren’t interested in me like that? ”
It took so long for Dax to answer, embarrassment swept through Everett, and he quickly backtracked.
“I’m sorry—that was so presumptuous of me. It’s just that…I feel something happening between us, and it feels too big to be one-sided. Am I wrong in feeling that?”
“No, you aren’t, Everett. I am attracted to you.” Dax went silent again, but he seemed to be thinking of more to say, so Everett waited. “Yes, there is a company policy of not dating clients, but it’s not really enforced. It’s just that…”
“What?” Everett asked softly.
Dax shrugged his big shoulders, then gave him that shy smile that did all sorts of electric things to his insides.
“You know what? I’d like to go to the farmer’s market with you, and I’d like to share a dinner. Have a date. So yes, Everett, let’s do that.”