Chapter 3
3
T abitha rounded the corner in her car, jam-packed with everything she needed for the summer. It was only a half-hour drive, but she wasn't up to going home for the next three months. It wouldn’t feel like a vacation if she was popping home, so she hired someone to water the plants and keep an eye on the place. Her neighbors across the street were more than happy to help since they’d have the opportunity to snoop. It was natural for them to be curious, but they wouldn't find anything jaw-dropping. Deb was no longer able to do it because she would be in Melbourne Beach.
A forest green Porsche 911 was parked in the driveway, which must be Marcus’. Tabitha doubted he looked like he did in the photograph. Even men are rumored to call in the glam squad before having one of those pictures taken.
The house was better looking in person than it was in the pictures. It was a pleasant surprise because that wasn’t always the case. Some filters made the grass greener and the views more spectacular. It was a three-story house with a three-car garage and plenty of room in the driveway for three more. There was a small, unelevated deck in front with a few benches, but she was most excited to see the back deck with a view of the pier and ocean. The photograph of the place was beautiful and showed plate glass windows in the front room and one of the bedrooms. She would select that room for sure.
Tabitha pushed aside the sea oats on the side of the house and walked towards the deck. She started to walk up the staircase and saw a pair of bare feet hanging off the chaise lounge. Tabitha slowed her walk because if it wasn’t Marcus, it could be someone with bad intentions. She was a step away from seeing who it was when he jumped up like a shot. He leaned over the rail.
“Boo!” he said.
Tabitha screamed and nearly fell down the stairs. It was Marcus from the webpage, and he laughed hysterically. She marched up the stairs onto the deck, never having felt so flustered. She didn’t know if she was scared because she almost broke her neck or in awe. Marcus, like the house, was more impressive in person than in his web snap. He had an easy smile that lit up his entire face.
Marcus gathered himself and offered his hand to shake. She accepted with a firm hand. “I’m Marcus Stover, and I’m guessing you’re Tabitha Dixon.”
“That’s me, and I’m not so sure I like you anymore,” Tabitha said. “I do like the house, though.”
“I’m sorry. I honestly didn’t think you’d react that way, and it was very unprofessional of me. I don’t make it a habit of playing with my clients that way or any other way. After talking to you on the phone, I figured you were the type to be able to handle a joke. I was off base on a lot of things,” Marcus said.
“What else were you off base on?” Tabitha asked.
“I didn’t expect you to look like…Barbie,” Marcus said.
From the look on his face, she could tell he regretted the comparison as soon as he said it. She didn’t mind at all since it made her think of the actress who portrayed her in the movie, which was a compliment.
Tabitha shook her head. “You’ve got that all wrong because Barbie has blue eyes.”
“I should have known because yours are an unforgettable shade of green,” he said.
There was an awkward silence because they didn’t quite know how to recover from their flirtatious interlude.
“Are you going to give me a tour and detail the particulars?” Tabitha asked. “We can begin with the lock code for the door.”
“Oh, yes. I’m flustered, and I never get flustered. It must be the heat.”
“I’ve spent most of my life in Florida, so I haven’t known anything different. Where are you from?” she asked.
“I was born in Miami and went to college in Southern California. Yeah, so it’s not the heat.”
“You could just be overcome with joy that you rented this place out so quickly.” She smiled. “I imagine you get some sort of commission.”
“That must be it. Money in my pocket always makes me giddy. This folder contains everything you need to know, from where the closest beer can be purchased to the evacuation route in the event of a hurricane,” Marcus said as he handed her the folder.
His hands brushed hers, and the feeling was electric. Tabitha had no idea what was happening because she had only known him for fifteen minutes. She had only been single for a couple of days.
“I’ve lived in the area for most of my life. My childhood home was leveled, and I’ve evacuated more times than I can count. We would have left Florida, but my Dad’s job kept him here.”
“What did your father do for a living?” Marcus asked.
“He played defensive tackle for the Miami Dolphins.”
“No way. The name Dixon isn’t familiar.”
“Dixon is my married name. I’m divorced. I kept the name because I wanted it to be the same as my daughter’s. My maiden name is Faust.”
Marcus’ eyes grew wide. “Your father was Tank Faust?”
“That was my pops. Fun fact: his real name was Thelonious. He had it legally changed when he was in college. He was quite the character and a superb father.”
“Cool. My dad was an insurance agent, and he, too, was a superb dad. Although, according to my mother, he wasn’t the best husband.”
Marcus showed Tabitha the rooms, and she selected the master suite with the best view. It offered a sweeping view of the Pacific and opened so she could hear the sound of the gently lapping waves. The house was so much more than she could have imagined. While he was showing her around, she noticed no wedding ring or tan line showing that it had been recently removed. Tabitha signed the contract and handed him the check. She knew it would be well worth it, and she hadn’t even spent one night in the house.
“I have your number, and I’ll undoubtedly have questions for you,” Tabitha said.
“I live in the arts district, so I'm close by if you should need anything. I still expect to be invited over for a beer,” Marcus said with a smile.
Tabitha nodded. “I didn’t forget. I think the other women will trickle in as the week progresses. My daughter, Deenie, will be here by the Fourth, and she’ll stay with me for July. My nephew, who is like her brother and sixteen, will be here, too, so this house will be hopping.”
“Sounds fun. I like renting to anyone except college students. I had a group last year that didn’t just knock a hole in the wall, but they took out a wall. There was a no-smoking policy they didn’t follow, and the carpets had to be ripped up. The smell of marijuana was so intense that it probably still smells that way today. Lucky for me that their parents co-signed and were on the hook for the bill, which was substantial,” Marcus said.
“I can assure you that none of us smoke anything.” Tabitha laughed.
“See you soon, Tabitha. I know not to call you a cat or a doll,” Marcus said jokingly.
“You’re learning – no Tabby and no Barbie. If you come up with an appropriate nickname, let me know.”
The next thing Tabitha heard was his car roaring to life and pulling out of the driveway.
As she sat in the chaise that Marcus had just occupied, Tabitha realized she hadn’t obsessed about Maxim. She had certainly thought about him, but the romantic component of that relationship was over. Even though she was geographically closer to him now, Tabitha didn’t second guess herself about breaking things off. Going from a marriage to a long-term relationship didn’t feel right. Tabitha needed time to get to know herself again. If the right man came along, she’d require less of an age difference.