Total pages in book: 162
Estimated words: 153946 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 770(@200wpm)___ 616(@250wpm)___ 513(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 153946 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 770(@200wpm)___ 616(@250wpm)___ 513(@300wpm)
“Huh.”
Shit, I was losing her. “The point is, I need peace and quiet until I can get my self-induced housing situation resolved. You need a renter you can trust who won’t take advantage of you. This is the perfect solution for both of us.”
“You’re serious.”
She had no idea. “You know where my family lives and where I work. Gene has copies of all my tax returns for the last decade, so he can vouch for me being good for the rent money.”
“I haven’t told you how much I’m charging.”
“It’s on the site already, and I would have paid more. I will pay more, because you’re lowballing, trying to get someone in here fast.” Take that, Terry.
“You think so?”
“I know so. You included use of the pool. That alone is worth an extra couple hundred a month.” When she didn’t jump on it, I said, “You’re thinking about it. I can tell.”
“Of course, I’m thinking about it,” she grumbled, still looking adorably rattled. “I wouldn’t have put my address online if I weren’t. But don’t you think going with strangers for rentals would be easier for both of us?”
I scowled. “Why the hell would I think that?”
August gave me a look that said Really?
“Because doing business with friends and family is never a good idea,” she answered repressively. “I know you work and currently live with your family, but most people keep their professional and personal lives separate, for good reason. There are also the Retta rules of hospitality to consider.”
I bit back another curse, because I was very fucking familiar. Sam’s number-one rule for herself and her daughters was to never accept help from a friend under any circumstances, but to always offer it vehemently and unconditionally, even if it put you out and was a gigantic pain in the ass you’d regret for the rest of your life.
It was a wrongheaded rule that had more to do with pride than sense, but they all tried to follow it anyway. Especially Morgan, whom August was no doubt thinking about when she made the comment. The only time she’d accepted a favor from my family was the eight months she’d lived in our house before college. Thirty years later, she still insisted she owed us.
“Morgan wanted you to rent the apartment out last year. She wouldn’t have a problem with this.”
August looked annoyed at the reminder. “The fact that it’s you would change things for her. She knows you can afford a better place and I’m not exactly your favorite person.”
“Why would you say that?”
“This conversation is the longest we’ve had in years, Wade. She’d put two and two together and come up with me accepting charity from her best friend, the guy who gives away his own apartment to someone in need.”
I didn’t agree with any part of that sentence. I took a step closer and she stopped pacing to meet my gaze. “I like you just fine, Gus. But if it worries you, there’s a simple fix that you aren’t seeing.”
She lifted her chin again. “Oh yeah? What’s that?”
“We don’t tell her.”
“You’re going to keep this from Morgan and her husband, who spends all his free time with you, working on his cars?” She frowned to herself for a second. “You work on his racecars for Lemons.”
“Nearly every weekend for years. And I can keep it from them because it’s none of their business. I need a place and you’ve got one. As far as I’m concerned, those two favors cancel each other out. As far as they’re concerned? I’m staying with you because you’re a kind and generous woman taking pity on an old man’s back.”
I needed her to say yes. “I’ll fill out the paperwork today and move in after work tonight. Check in hand or electronic payment in your account. Whatever you prefer.”
“That’s so fast. I mean, the place is ready but…just like that?”
“Just like that. And if you’re worried about the bill for Myrtle, skip the apartment deposit on the lease and we’ll call it even.”
“It’s only available for a few months,” she reminded me, obviously weakening.
I managed to keep from pumping my fist in the air, but it was a near thing. “Four or five max.” I’d take every bit of time she’d allotted on that website. “I’ll be in a house of my own by then, and in the meantime, you’ll barely notice I’m here.”
Her “Hah!” made my smile widen. Yeah. That was another lie. I planned to become impossible for her to ignore.
“It feels like a trap,” she said under her breath. Because she had good instincts.
“It feels like escaping one to me.” I moved in as close as I dared, until I could see those thick lashes framing her uncertain eyes. “Say yes, Gus.”
I wanted her to say yes to more than a lease, but this was a start.