Chapter 1 #3
They toured the entire bottom floor of the house, including the kitchen, and were impressed that it looked to be up to date.
There were no curtains on any of the windows but wooden blinds that closed up the room tight against any sunlight coming in.
So far, the house was perfect for him, and he hadn’t even ventured upstairs yet.
“The paperwork that she gave you said that it has four large bedrooms and a master suite. There are bathrooms in each room with both a shower and a bathtub to use.” He said that he’d read as well that the master had two bathrooms as well.
“It does. It says that one has a shower and the other has a claw-foot tub in it with a window overlooking the back yard. I’m betting that’s for the woman of the household.
I can see a woman lounging in it for a couple of hours. ”
Cullen didn’t say anything. The house more than likely wouldn’t have a woman in it unless it was someone staying overnight with the family.
He didn’t expect to find himself a mate, no more than he’d not have nightmares tonight if he were to sleep here.
But the house did call to him, and he was more in love with it than he’d ever been in the one that he lived in now.
“What will you do with your other home?” He said he’d been thinking about making it a rental.
“Good idea. Make it about what your house payment will be here, and you won’t have to worry about it anymore.
I’d say hire someone to do the repair work on the other house so you don’t have to worry about anything to do with it other than collecting the rent. ”
The bedrooms were just about as big as any room that he’d ever been in.
You could have put two king-sized beds in the rooms and still have plenty of room left over to put dressers, as well as a desk for working.
The bathrooms were well up to date, and they had both a shower and bath combo and a nice long sink for putting your stuff out that you might need to brush your teeth and hair things.
Not that he ever used hair things, but there was plenty of room should he wish to.
As he walked around the long hallway that held the rooms, he was amazed at how bright the hall seemed, for it had no windows nor much in the way of lighting.
He found himself enjoying the hall as much as he did the rest of the house.
Falkner asked him what he thought about the house in general.
“It has a nice backyard that has a pool. I could be my beast back there, and no one would ever know.” He said that they could all come over and enjoy the pool, too, when he wanted to entertain.
“I’d not get my hopes up on that too much.
I’m buying this house because it’s all closed off.
I like it when it’s just me. You understand that, don’t you? ”
“I think I understand that more than the others do.” He nodded, and they looked at the basement.
It too was finished. In addition to being able to reach it from the inside, there was an outdoor entrance to it as well, with two large sliding glass doors.
“Which is a good thing, but where are the washers and dryers? I didn’t notice them. ”
“There is a set in the hallway upstairs that must be for up there, and there is a set just off the kitchen in the mudroom. I think that’s a brilliant idea that there is a set for each floor.
” Falkner said he’d not thought of that.
“I think I’m going to put an offer in on the house.
She told me that it’s been sitting for a while because no one likes the concept of the house being closed off. It’s what I want.”
“You might get a better deal on it since it’s been sitting empty for a while.
I like that it’s a bit closed off, but I’d want to open the kitchen and dining room.
I’d need for there to be more room than what’s in there now.
” He told his brother that it was perfect for him.
“I’m betting too that you use the dining room more than the kitchen anyway.
Just so you can be alone in the house. You’ll need staff, even if it’s only someone who comes in and dusts for you. And a cook.”
“I never enjoyed cooking, so that’s for sure.
And someone coming in once a week to clean up after me should be fine, don’t you think?
” He told him that a couple of times might be better.
“The less time, the better. I will need help with the yard. It’s bigger than I thought, and a pool person, too.
I want to use it, but I don’t want to have to mess with it too. ”
After putting in an offer, he wandered around the house again.
Falkner had to go home, so he had the whole place to himself.
The only room that he found himself loving more than the others was the library office area.
The floor-to-ceiling windows were perfect for him just sitting in the room and reading.
He heard back from the realtor when he dropped the keys off to her at the open house she’d been working at.
His offer was accepted, and he even got the insurance for the house that he’d asked for.
As soon as he got the loan from the bank, he was set to go.
All he needed to do was go there and sign some paperwork, and he would own the house. He couldn’t have been more happy.
He didn’t have much to move. A sleeping bag and a dresser.
He didn’t know how he was going to fill out a house that had all those bedrooms, but he’d take his time.
He knew that going to auctions was the way to go, so he’d rope some of his brothers to go with him and pick up what he needed then.
Cullen decided to have his mom and dad go with him, and he’d be able to find better deals.
His mom was good at auctions and would always amaze him with the deals that she’d be able to pick up when she went.
Reaching out to the two of them, the first thing he told them was that he’d bought a house that he thought he could live in for the rest of his life.
“Good for you, son. I was hoping that you’d find something worthwhile.
Was it that realtor who helped you who helped the others?
She helped the two of us find our little home, too.
Lori something was her name.” He told them.
“Yes, that’s it. I remember now. She did all of us a good job, and I’ve been singing her praises since she did so well for us. ”
“I’ll need some help getting the bedrooms filled out.
I was wondering if there was an auction that we could go to this weekend?
I have four bedrooms that are larger than we had, even as kids, and shared them.
Plus, I’ll need living room furniture as well as my library filled out.
I have some books in storage that I’ve been collecting over the years, so that won’t be too bad.
It has a pool too, that I’m going to enjoy.
” As he told them the things that he loved about the house, he also mentioned that he was going to need some staff.
“Falkner suggested having someone come in twice a week, but I don’t know about that.
I’ve been dealing with my own messes for a while now, and I don’t know that I want people around all that much. ”
“There are three such auctions this weekend. Dad said that he’d go to one on his own, and the two of us could go to the second one.
We can send your brothers to the third one and have you filled out in no time.
” He said he wasn’t in that big of a hurry.
“It’ll be fun for us all to help you. I think that Falkner and Booth are still looking for pieces for their home, too, and it’ll be like a mission for the family.
Besides, spending time with you will be the highlight of my day. ”
It was set up that they’d all go to the auctions and have fun.
His brothers were all for it, as the women in the family were going to go shopping and they were going to pick up things for his house.
He wasn’t sure what that was going to be, but he’d be all right with them doing it over himself.
He hated shopping as much as he did being around people.