"Uh, about that." He put the keys on a little end table next to the couch. "What would you think about living with me for the next month?"
"Living with you?" she asked incredulously. "We just met a few days ago."
"I know, I got that. I was just thinking..." His voice trailed off and he took a quick look at the flames in the fireplace as if he needed something to focus on while composing his thoughts. "So, a few of my neighbors have guest houses that they rent out, and I was thinking I would make you the same offer."
"Rent your guest house to me?"
Chase took a deep breath, as if he wasn't sure of this plan, before nodding his head. "It would be market rate, so Charles won't give me crap for leasing it to you for some exorbitant amount to get around his rules. It would give you a place to stay. We would see each other every day so we could plan how to spend this money. It would really work to our advantage, and especially your advantage."
Emma's ruggedness softened a bit. Would it bethe worst idea to live in Chase's backyard? It would solve several problems for both of them if they had the same goal of spending Nana's money as quickly as possible.
"You wouldn't have to couch surf," he said with a reassuring tone.
Emma gestured towards the little brown couch along the wall. "What would you call me sleeping on that?"
Chase got a mischievous grin on his face and walked over to a spot next to the wall by the couch. He reached for a handle that Emma had just noticed and pulled the whole wall down. It was a Murphy bed. The couch folded away under a Murphy bed. It was like Chase had a solution to everything, and she could only deny his offer for so long.
"OK, fine."
"Yes!" he said triumphantly. "Do you need help getting your stuff out of the car?"
"I should be fine."
"Nevermind, let's get your stuff together."
Chase was like a happy puppy bounding out of the guest house to his grass.
"Lucy, you can stop my playlist."
The eighties ballads abruptly ended with a "Yes, handsome," as Emma tried to keep up with Chase as he headed towards the house before taking a turn towards her parking spot out front.
Chase asked her to unlock her car and she fished around in the tulle of her skirt before shefound the keys in her pocket and pressed the remote button. He reached in and grabbed two of her duffel bags with ease.
"Are these good for tonight?"
"Um, yes, I guess."
"Excellent!" he said as he flung them over his shoulders. "You can lock that now."
She did as she was told and then followed him back to the guest house, walking in like he owned the place. Well, actually he did own the place. Emma was just his guest.
Chase flipped off the fireplace. "I didn't realize it was getting that hot." Then he put her bags in what looked like a small closet without a door with a few hangers inside and some towels on the top shelf.
"I think that should be it," Chase said. "I'm honestly not really sure though. Marcus usually takes care of everything for me."
"It's fine. I can figure it out."
But Chase just stood there staring at her, and she wasn't sure why. Maybe he was starting to realize that he asked a stranger to live in his backyard because her grandmother had a crazy plan for her inheritance.
"Uh, yeah, well," he stammered. "Do you need anything else?"
"Nope, I'm good."
Chase just nodded and finally took that as his cue to leave. "I left the keys on that table with your wine. You better finish that since Nana paid a lot ofmoney for that bottle." He winked at her. "So yeah, I'll see you tomorrow I guess."
"Sounds good."
He gave her another awkward smile and headed for the door. "And listen, Emma." He paused in the doorway. "I don't want you to think this is weird or awkward or anything. I'm actually really glad you're staying."
