Chapter 10
CHAPTER TEN
Ivy
It’s Wednesday morning, and excitement stirs in my chest as I sit at my desk in my home office, scrolling through a new real estate listing that just hit the market.
I think it could be perfect for Wyatt. It's a little farther out than he originally wanted, technically just outside Hope Creek, nestled on the edge of Lynx Lake, but it’s absolutely gorgeous.
Only a ten-minute drive from town, and completely worth it.
I grab my phone, pull up the listing, and shoot him the link before tapping his name to call. It rings for a while, and I’m about to hang up when he finally picks up, sounding breathless.
“Hey, Ivy,” he says, a little out of breath.
“Hey,” I reply, a bit cautiously. “Is now a bad time? Am I interrupting something?”
“I’m at the gym,” he says, laughing. “You’ve got a dirty mind. What exactly did you think I was doing?”
Heat creeps up my cheeks. “Nothing!” I blurt, a little too quickly. “I, uh… sent you a link. It’s a listing I think you should see.”
“Oh, yeah? Hang on. Let me pull it up.”
There’s a pause on the line while he checks, and I take the opportunity to fill the silence.
“It’s five bedrooms, four bathrooms, built about five years ago. It’s modern, spacious, completely move-in ready. And there's even a multi-car garage. Plenty of room for your collection.”
He switches me to speaker. “Is that a lake view I’m seeing?”
“Yep,” I confirm. “That’s the catch, though. It’s not in Hope Creek exactly. It’s on Lynx Lake. About ten minutes out.”
“Wow,” he says, and I can’t tell if it’s good or bad.
I bite my lip. “Is that too far for you?”
“No,” he says slowly. “Not if it’s the right house. When can we see it?”
“It’s listed through my old boss. I’ll give her a call and see what I can arrange. You good for later today if I can make it work?”
“Absolutely.”
“Okay, give me five minutes and I’ll call you back.”
“Thanks, Ivy.”
As I end the call, I take a steadying breath.
Leaving Harper Estates just before Christmas wasn’t exactly a messy breakup, but it wasn’t all warm hugs either.
Isobel Harper, the owner, wasn’t thrilled when I left to start my own real estate business.
Still, I doubt she saw me as serious competition.
She’s been a fixture in Hope Creek for a decade.
Trying to start my own business here probably looked like a gutsy, na?ve move.
Business has been slow since I launched, so I haven’t exactly been a threat… yet. But when she finds out I’m working with Wyatt, she’s going to lose her mind. She always wanted to land a high-profile client like him.
I scroll through my contacts, find her number, and press call, holding the phone to my ear.
“Ivy, hi!” Isobel answers, her voice sugary sweet. “How are things?”
“Hi, Isobel. Everything’s going well, thanks. How about you?”
“Oh, you know, busy, busy, busy. What can I help you with?”
“I have a client interested in the Lynx Lake property. I was wondering if you had a slot open to show it this afternoon?”
Silence.
I glance at my screen to make sure the call’s still connected. It is.
“Hello? Isobel, are you still there?”
“You have a client who can afford the lakeside listing?” she asks, her tone laced with something between amusement and disbelief.
I grit my teeth, taking a steady breath to stop myself from snapping.
“I do,” I say evenly. “Can I schedule a viewing?”
“Who is it?”
Of course. She always wants names. And while I’d love to keep it vague, I know that’s not going to fly. She’s the listing agent, and she’ll be doing the viewing.
“It’s Wyatt Brookes.”
There’s a beat, then a laugh. “Your best friend’s brother? The NFL player?”
“Yes.”
“Oh, so not an actual client. He just hired you out of loyalty.”
I clench my jaw and exhale slowly. “Can you do this afternoon or not?”
“Of course,” she chirps. “Three work?”
“Perfect. I’ll let him know.”
I hang up and toss my phone onto the desk with a frustrated sigh.
I’d almost forgotten how grating she could be.
I’ve only had to deal with her a few times since I left Harper Estates, and until now, my clients hadn’t been anyone she’d consider competition.
But Wyatt? He’s a whole different story, and she knows it.
I dial Wyatt’s number, and he picks up on the first ring.
“Hey, any luck?” he asks.
I laugh. “Was there ever a doubt? You’re all set for three o’clock. Isobel Harper will meet you at the property.”
“You’re not coming?”
“Uh… no. That’s not really how it works. Realtors don’t usually tag along to a listing another agent is handling.”
“Oh. Got it.” He pauses. “Well, thanks for setting it up.”
“Of course. Call me later and let me know what you think?”
“I will. Talk soon.”
“Bye, Wyatt.”
I end the call and let out a groan. There’s no way Isobel won’t try to convince him she’s a better fit as his agent. She probably thinks she is. She’s got years of experience on me. Before I can spiral too far, my phone rings again. It’s Wyatt.
“Hey, everything okay?” I answer.
“Yeah, I was just thinking… if you can’t come as my realtor, would you come as my friend? I don’t think anyone should make a big decision like this completely on their own.”
“You’re sure? You don’t want one of your brothers or someone from your family instead?”
“I’m sure,” he says. “But if you’d rather not–”
“No, I’ll come,” I cut in quickly.
“Thanks, Ivy. I’ll swing by around two-forty. That work?”
“I’ll be ready.”
“See you then.”
He hangs up, and I lean back in my chair. Isobel’s not going to love that I’m tagging along, but she’ll just have to deal with it if she wants to close the sale.
Wyatt
I pull into Ivy’s driveway just before two-forty, but before I can even shut off the engine, she comes flying down the porch steps.
It’s the first time I’ve seen her since Saturday night.
I didn’t have a reason to text or call, so seeing her name pop up on my phone earlier was a welcome surprise.
She walks toward the car with a bright smile, and my eyes flick briefly to her jean shorts, showing off those long, tanned legs.
Even dressed down in a tank and with her hair tied up, she looks effortlessly incredible, like she always does.
She opens the door and slides into the passenger seat.
“Hey, thanks for coming with me,” I say, watching as she buckles her seatbelt.
She waves it off with a grin. “I’m actually pretty excited to see it.”
I grin back. “Me too.”
“This isn’t your car, right?” she asks, looking around.
“Mine’s in the shop. It’s my dad’s.”
She nods as I pull off the driveway. “Just a heads-up, Isobel might be a little weird when I show up with you,” I warn him.
He glances over, brows pulling together. “Why’s that?”
“Well… technically, I’m her competition. Not that I’m any real threat, but I used to work for her, and I think me starting my own business in her territory still rubs her the wrong way.”
I glance over at her, frowning. “Well, she’d better keep it professional, because I’m not about to let her be rude to you.” Ivy lets out a laugh, but I mean it. “Seriously. You’re doing me a favor by coming today. There’s no way I’m putting up with anyone treating you like crap for it.”
She looks over, surprised, and I just shrug like it’s no big deal. But it is. She deserves respect.
Ten minutes later, we pull up in front of a striking house.
It's a sleek, two-story modern build with a black and glass exterior, all sharp angles and minimalist design. It stands out against the natural greenery around it, beautiful, but almost too perfect, like it doesn’t quite belong.
The wide driveway stretches out before us, and to the left, I spot a large, detached building, most likely a garage that looks big enough to house my cars.
A silver Audi is parked out front, probably Isobel’s, and since the car's empty, she must already be inside.
I glance over at Ivy, who’s been quiet since we pulled up.
“What do you think?” I ask.
She studies the house for a moment. “It’s definitely impressive,” she says, but there’s hesitation in her voice.
I smile. “But…?”
She turns to look at me. “I don’t know. What do you think?”
Tearing my eyes from her, I focus back on the house. “I mean, yeah, it’s stunning. But I’m not sure it’s exactly what I pictured as my forever home.”
“Let’s take a look inside,” she says, unbuckling her seatbelt and getting out. I follow her toward the front entrance.
The landscaping is pristine. Every blade of grass is perfectly trimmed, and the flowers seem to bloom in symmetry. Nothing is out of place. It’s immaculate. Too immaculate.
At the door, I press the bell and step back. A moment later, a woman in her late thirties opens it. Blonde, polished, and smiling widely until her eyes land on Ivy. The shift in her expression is subtle, but I notice. The smile falters, and my mood sours immediately.
“You must be Wyatt,” she says quickly, recovering her composure. “Isobel Harper. Lovely to meet you.”
I take her hand, managing a polite smile. “Nice to meet you too.”
Her gaze flicks to Ivy.
“Ivy. I wasn’t expecting to see you. It’s highly irregular to attend another agent’s showing with your client. And dressed so casually? I thought I trained you better.”
Her eyes sweep over Ivy with barely disguised judgment. My jaw tightens, my irritation rising fast. I contemplate taking Ivy’s hand but think better of it.
“I think she looks great,” I say, flashing Ivy a grin. Then I turn back to Isobel. “And she’s not here as my realtor. I didn’t realize I needed permission to bring someone along.”
Isobel’s face flushes faintly. “Of course not. You’re welcome to bring anyone you’d like, Wyatt.” She steps aside, gesturing us in. “Come on in. I’ll show you around.”
I motion for Ivy to go ahead of me and follow her inside.
“Let’s start with the kitchen,” Isobel calls, already walking ahead.
I stop when I feel Ivy’s fingers brush against mine. She laces them with mine.