Page 21 of Pinch of Love
Cash
On day two of Maya staying in one of my properties, I was already walking in unchartered territory. It wasn’t like attractive women hadn’t stayed at my B&Bs before, but something about Maya just threw me for a loop.
She was so layered and complex, didn’t mind showing a little emotion or putting me in my place.
And I couldn’t get the woman out of my mind.
We’d picked up some ice cream, and I’d dropped her off at her sister’s earlier today. That should have been it, but as I stood staring at the next property that I was about to add to my collection, all I could think about was the way Maya demolished her peppermint ice cream. It was the most alluring thing I’d seen in a long time.
Honestly, I’d never seen anything like it. She used up all thirty napkins she’d picked up and still had a sticky mess puddled on her chin. Granted, it was three scoops, and the temp outside had already hit ninety with the humidity at about seventy, so things just melted.
But still, it was a sight to behold.
“What do you think?” my realtor asked, coming up behind me after we’d toured the inside.
“I think it’s a great median price point for vacationers. I have some high-end rentals and some inexpensive rentals, but this kind of hits the best of both worlds. The square footage would meet the needs of a family more than my larger properties, and while it’s on the lake, it’s overgrown and needs some work to access it.” I took a few steps back and looked at the bright white vinyl siding and faded blue trim. “The place needs work. That’s for sure. I probably have a good six months of projects before I can get it up and running.”
My realtor nodded and stood next to me. “You can’t beat the price, and you don’t have to worry about going to market and getting outbid.”
I laughed. “That’s where you come in, Marcus. I don’t worry about those scenarios. You do.”
Marcus grinned at me and smiled. “True, and it’s been that way for over a decade.”
My cousin Marcus had been my realtor since he’d graduated college and realized he missed Buttercup Lake. So, he took his real estate exams and moved back home.
“Do you want me to give you the bad news before or after you make the offer?” Marcus flashed his typical salesperson look.
“What do you mean, bad news?” I folded my arms and frowned.
My cousin chuckled. “I knew your good mood wouldn’t last very long. It never does.”
“Spill it.”
“Since it’s an estate sale, the family selling it has one provision.”
“Not too unusual.” I nodded. “What? They want to be able to stay in it once a year?”
He shook his head. “No. It’s a bit more of a commitment than that.”
My brows rose. “Commitment?”
“They live overseas.”
I nodded, waiting for the drama king to spit out the detail that could spoil my afternoon.
“The house comes with a dog.”
“Huh?” I shook my head. “What do you mean, comes with a dog? Marcy didn’t have a dog.”
Buttercup Lake was a small town, and I knew enough about the woman who’d lived here up until a few years ago to know she didn’t have any animals.
“Well, Marcy adopted a dog before she moved into assisted living about three years ago. Her children can’t take the dog, and they don’t want it to wind up in a shelter... or worse.”
My cousin knew theor worsewould get me.
“Damn it.” I shook my head. “I knew this deal was too good to be true.”
“What are you talking about, Cash? You love dogs. And you just lost Rusty. Maybe it’s meant to be.”