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“One and the same. So, you’ll send me a text, right?” My patience was alreadywearingthin.
“Absolutely, Mr. Spencer. I’ll seeyousoon.”
“Well, that was fast,” Laney murmured as I ended the call and it chimed a split secondlater.
“It better. It’s already closing in on three. We’re wasting daylight.” I grinned. “You sure you’re readyforthis?”
She shook her head. “Not at all, but I’m sure you’re less ready and you need me. So, I’m thereforyou.”
“Fair enough.” I blew out a breath, found the address on the map app and wedroveoff.
Twenty minutes later, we pulled into a nice country club subdivision. I watched Laney for a reaction. When she remained silent, I pressedhersome.
“What do you think?” Her opinion seemed suddenly importanttome.
“Eh. Hard to say. I’m not easily impressed. I’ve lived in a lot of mansions, actually.” She sighed and stared out thewindow.
“Really?” For some reason, I was under the impression money had been an issue for herfamily.
Laney shifted in her seat and faced me. “My mother was a trophy wife,” she saidflatly.
I cleared my throat. “Excuseme?”
“Seriously. She had no occupation aside from that. She simply went from one marriage to another, from one rich guy to another.” Laney shrugged. “When she was younger, the men were impulsive, prone to lying and cheating. Some even beat her, but she stayed because…money. When she was older, she found really old guys who were more forgiving, but their adult children weren’t, sothere’sthat.”
Slowly, I turned and pulled into the driveway as the GPS directed me. “I’msorry.”
“I’m…not. It was a learning experience. It’s the reason I went into accounting.” She blew out a breath and pushed open her door as soon as I pulled the keys from the ignition. As she stepped out, she pointed to the eager looking man in a suit at the front door. “This must be your realtor.” Laneysmirked.
“Yeah. Now don’t be too eager to settle on a place. This matters; what you like and want matters to me.” I met her in front of the car and wrapped an arm around herwaist.
“You must be Mr. Spencer.” Jay, the realtor, held out a hand. “So good to meet you. Are you filming a movie inthearea?”
“Let’s say I’m here to rest and recuperate, but I’m keeping my options open.” I winked conspiratorially attheman.
“In that case, let me tell you the stats on this place. It’s a five bedroom, seven point twofivebath.”
Laney and I exchanged looks. “I don’t know what that even means,” she murmured. “Is it a toilet? Is it a sink? I’mbaffled.”
He smiled and ignored her. “Just over thirteen thousand square feet, and a smidge over nine million for the price tag.” He nodded and opened the door for us. “Go ahead and look around. I’ll wait on the back patio. You tell me what you think and we’ll proceed fromthere.”
We walked into the place and Laney covered her mouth to hide a laugh. I couldn’t help but tease. “What? You weren’t schooled on the smidgeon system in school? It’s not quite as common as the metric system, but in these circles it’s obviously more important.” I rolledmyeyes.
She sighed. “Do you really want myopinion?”
“That’s why you’re here,” Iremindedher.
“Ihateit.”
The realtor froze in his tracks before even reaching the back patio door. “What don’tyoulike?”
“Too cold. Too contemporary.” She frowned. “You want me togoon?”
I glanced at my phone. “Nah. Nextplace.”
Jay wasn’t going to be easily defeated. “There’s another home in this same subdivision. It’s a little smaller, but Mediterranean. You maylikethat.”
“I may like that.” Laneylaughed.
