Chapter 14
Chapter Fourteen
LEXI
The downstairs is just as beautiful as the upstairs. We even get the makings of half a smile. And that coming from Monica Chase? I’ll take it.
The kitchen belongs to a chef with stainless steel appliances and a scullery with a huge walk-in-pantry.
The living area is more like a cinema with high ceilings and a large mounted flat screen TV, plush carpet and a chandelier the size of Brazil.
It’s stunning. I could live here quite happily, storm or not.
But what captures the essence of the house, even if it had nothing else going for it, is the view from the back porch. It’s just as Melinda said; perfect in every way. Picturesque doesn’t even cut it.
“You have your own private mooring just in case you want to whip out the boat and sail up the lake,” Melinda continues, undeterred by Monica’s underwhelming reactions. Though, she keeps glancing at her phone, so I figure she has something else on her mind or somewhere else to be.
“I never really saw myself as a boat person,” she says, looking out to the lake. You can’t deny the serenity here. “But I sure as shit could give it a try.”
Melinda and I both laugh. Hope blooms in my chest that she doesn’t hate it.
Sure, in the summer months places get booked out well in advance, but it’s never overpopulated in Lake Haven, especially along this part of the lake because the houses are spread far apart.The perfect hideaway.
“There’s a fully decked out basement as well,” I continue. “Plus, space for vehicles or a water ski with a triple garage, and a high-tech security system.”
“Water ski?” Monica piques a brow and I see Melinda pressing her lips together from behind her.
“You never know.” I shrug. “They say water sports can get quite addictive.”
Monica contemplates while she hangs onto the intricate steel rail, even this has a swirling rose filigree design.
She casts her eyes out to the water as the rain pummels down in sheets, making the lake look almost ethereal as it catches the drops blanketing the surface.
“What was that about the rain letting up?” She arches an eyebrow at me, but there’s a hint of a smile.
I’m starting to realize Monica might have a sense of humor after all.
I mean, I can do a lot, but I can’t control the weather.
My breathing exercises have gone out the window, because something tells me that if Monica really doesn’t like this place, then it could be an extremely long wait for something else.
“My weather predictions leave little to be desired,” I admit. “Would you like to take another look around?”
Monica nods just as her phone blares out a country love song. Is that Brooks and Dunn?
She likes country music?
Okay, that was unexpected. I thought she’d be more of a heavy metal kinda gal, but looks can be deceiving.
“If you’ll excuse me for a moment?” she says, stepping back inside from the decked patio.
I nod politely, and wait until she’s out of earshot before I take a breath.
“What the hell,” I mouth.
“She’s a tough nut to crack,” Melinda says, taking the words right out of my mouth. “But I think she likes it.”
“Do you think so?”
“How could you not? It has everything on her wish list. I don’t want to be pushy, but I will be listing it tonight, and I have buyers already vying for property on the lake.”
I don’t doubt any of that is true.
“I appreciate you letting us view it privately. She was really insistent on a home here, something to do with her childhood. I thought she would’ve been at least a little bit impressed. I admit that I can’t read her very well.”
“I think she holds her cards close to her chest.”
“Definitely,” I agree.
“It was nice of you to step in for Ali,” Melinda says with a warm smile. “I wish I had an assistant like you that could jump in at the drop of a hat.”
“Good help is hard to find,” I chuckle.
“That it is.” She taps her beautifully French tipped nails on her chin for a second, clearly contemplating something. “So, you and Josh?” she finally says.
A sharp intake of breath leaves me as I take in her question. I can hardly forget her words earlier, before Monica rushed in the door, about him making eyes at me and having a thing for me. “Me and Josh?” I squeak.
I’m not sure if we should be discussing this while waiting for our client to come back, but if Melinda is phased by it, she doesn’t show it.
“Like I was saying before, he’s totally adorable and I think he’s really taken with you. He might just need a nudge in the right direction.”
“A nudge?” I press my hand to my chest in a hapless bid to keep my heart from beating right out of my chest.
“Josh is a professional through and through. He won’t cross the line if you don’t give him some indication you’re interested. You are, right?”
“Ummm…” The words flail off my tongue, and I feel more like a flounder gasping for air than a trained real estate professional.
Her smile is broad and she blinks a few times before reaching out to squeeze my arm.
How can his ex actually be this nice? Seriously!
“It’s okay, I get it. It’s weird talking about Josh to his ex, but like I was saying before, we’re still good friends.
Neither of us wanted to move back then because we both loved where we were based.
Then I found Peter and I love him to pieces.
And I want that for Josh, too. He’s a good guy. ”
“Hey, I think it’s cool you’re still friends. But wouldn’t it be a conflict of interest if I were to date him since we work for opposing firms?”
She gives me a semi-serious pointed look. “Not since your boss and Josh’s dad got together.”
I facepalm myself, unable to hold off the laughter that escapes me. That little detail almost slipped my mind.
“If Tristan can, why can’t Josh? And more importantly, why can’t you?”
“Take the bull by the horns?” I whisper, as the thunder cracks loudly and makes us both jump. Then we laugh.
“Exactly!” Melinda claps her hands together, giddiness erupting over her face.
“Josh hasn’t had a girlfriend in forever.
I’d love to see him happy. And I probably shouldn’t say this…
” She drops her tone slightly, talking behind the back of her hand.
“But once you take that bull by the horns, I promise you won’t regret it. ”
I feel the heat of a blush dust my cheeks before I can even answer. Boy, oh boy, would I even have the gall to attempt to tame that wild bull?
We are going to be stuck in the cabin tonight until the storm passes, I guess.
Maybe it’s time to test that theory?