Page 66 of The Sound of Harmony

“It’s what the market will bear, am I right? Sellers will do anything, and I mean anything to sell a house. Not all of them, of course, but the motivated ones will. The divorces, the sudden job losses. Those people will open their wallets and keep them open if it means unloading their houses.”

“So you won’t—”

“I won’t be the one paying you,” Mitch said. “It would be a referral thing. I ask how serious they are, ask them how bad they want to sell the place, and then I pitch your services. I don’t want a cut or a kickback or anything. Selling a house faster for a higher price is incentive enough for me. I just want what’s best for both of us.”

Emma was already at the end of the second block and she hadn’t gotten in a word. She waited to see if Mitch would keep talking.

“Hello?” he said. “Emma, are you still there?”

“I’m still here.”

“What do you think? Brilliant idea, right?”

“Well…it’s not a bad idea.”

A steady stream of referrals from Mitch would be a buffer against lean times. And it might be fun to expand her skill set, to declutter in a slightly different way, and use the interior design tips she’d been picking up.

“My own jobs have to come first,” she said. “Especially the ones I’ve already booked. For example, I’m going to be working on Kendrick’s house at least another week.”

“Sure, sure,” Mitch said, his voice as slick as a layer of spring ice. “But once you’re done with him, I can have you, right?”

“Uh…” Emma veered around college kids and people in suits, trying to get to an empty part of the sidewalk.

“Now, now,” Mitch said. “Get your mind out of the gutter. We won’t even be working together, so don’t get any ideas about me.”

Emma burbled a half laugh. Bell family humor and Bell family arrogance went hand in hand. “I won’t.”

“I’ve got a client whose house has been on the market for a month with no action. It could definitely use some sprucing up. I’ll put him in touch.”

“Sounds good, Mitch. I appreciate you thinking of me.”

As soon as she got to her truck, Emma called Gwendolyn.

“You’re working for the oaf?” Gwendolyn asked when Emma told her about Mitch’s offer.

“He’s not that bad,” Emma said. “And he says I can charge double my usual rates.”

“Did I say oaf?” Gwendolyn asked. “I meant clever new business partner.”

“Anyway, I won’t be working with him,” Emma said. “I’ll be working with his real estate clients. Mitch is the middleman, giving referrals.”

“Even better.” Gwendolyn’s voice sounded bright and breezy. “What does Kendrick think?”

“I don’t know. I called you first.”

“Hell yes, you did,” Gwendolyn said. “Keep making those good choices.”

“But I’m going to call Kendrick now. And in other news, I slept with him last night. Got to go, bye!”

She disconnected and looked at the screen, waiting. 3…2…1…

Her phone pinged. Two texts in a row from Gwendolyn. The first was the surprise emoji. The second text had two words. Be careful.

Kendrick sounded happy to hear her voice. “Do you want to get lunch today?”

“Sure.” Emma paid her fee and drove out of the parking deck. “And I was thinking about your grocery situation. Do you need a ride to the store?”

“I’m walking to Whole Foods right now.”