“And this is the garden.” With a quick glance to check Angus was still fast asleep on the sofa, he opened the French doors and led me out onto a slabbed patio area that ran the width of the house, then curved away to one side to form a large area where I saw what I presumed to be a covered set of table and chairs.
Grass covered the rest of the garden, with raised flower beds on two sides.
“I bet it’s lovely out here in summer.” I could easily picture him having friends and family over for a barbeque.
Maybe you’ll be included in that if you get to stay.
While that was an appealing thought—I loved Cole’s family like my own—first things first.
“Yeah. It’s south-facing so when we get sun, it’s on the garden all day.” His grin was contagious. “I’m thinking about getting a greenhouse over there.” He pointed to the far corner. “Maybe grow my own veg.”
“Yeah? My mum grows her own tomatoes and strawberries. Taste loads better than shop-bought.”
I caught the faint pink tinge on his cheeks. Was he embarrassed at sharing that? Maybe it was the cold. Either way, I wanted to know what his thoughts were on me moving in. His expression had been hard to read as he’d shown me round, and the not knowing was killing me.
“Sooo...” I rocked back on my heels. “Your house is lovely.”
“Thanks.”
I waited for him to take the hint, but his smirk told me I was going to have to bring it up. Bastard.
“I’d really like to rent your spare room.”
For a heart-stopping moment, I thought he was going to say no, but then he gestured to the French doors. “Let’s go inside and have a cup of tea. There’s a few things we need to go through first.”
That sounded promising. Right?
“Okay.”
He made me a cuppa and we took a seat at his small breakfast bar. The stools spun around and I had to physically stop myself from messing about on them. I was trying to show him I was a responsible adult after all.
Though the way he seemed unable to stop twisting a little made me smile.
“Right. Firstly, the rent would be four hundred per month. That includes all bills etc. All you’ll have to pay for on top of that is food.”
“Okay.” It was about what I was expecting, maybe even a little less considering how big his spare room was. His master bedroom had an en suite, so it was like I had my own bathroom too. Who else was going to use it?
“There’s parking for two cars around the back, or you can try your luck on the road.” He paused after taking a sip of tea. “I’m assuming you have a car. You must have to get to work, right?”
“Yeah, it’s being MOT’d today, that’s why Cole brought me.”
He nodded. “I’ll make space in the cupboards and fridge for you. And you can use anything in the house as long as you clean it afterwards.”
“Fair enough.”
“No smoking in the house, either.” He gestured to the garden. “Outside is fine as long as you don’t drop them out there.”
Well, that was an easy one. “I’ve actually given it up.” His eyebrows rose. Not surprising I guess since he’d seen me smoking last weekend. “Bad habit and way too expensive.”
He nodded like my answer pleased him. “And lastly, you can have mates round, I’ve no problem with that. But I’d appreciate it if you could let me know beforehand, and definitely no parties. I have neighbours that I’d like to remain on good terms with, so if you are coming home in the early hours, try to keep the noise down and no puking in the bushes.”
“That’s Cole, not me.”
He chuckled. “God, my mum was so pissed off with him after that.”
“Yeah, he told me. I don’t think he’ll be in a hurry to do that again.” And neither would I. A fact I obviously needed to convince Finn of. “Look, I’m not sure what impression you’ve got of me, probably not a good one if you’re remembering me and Cole as teenagers.” We’d made our fair share of bad decisions. “But that was a few years ago.”
He raised his eyebrows. “About two if we’re counting.”
