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Noah sounded so tentative that Jax wondered what he wasthinking.
“Three-thirty. Why?” he asked again.
“How would you like a bit of company? My afternoon student cancelled so I can be up there by that time. We could see the last place together.” He paused again, then added, “If that’s okaywith you?”
Jax hated how hesitant he sounded. “I’d like that.” A lot, in fact, but he’d keep that to himself for the time being.
“Okay. Text me the address, and I’ll meet you there.”
The morning went by quickly after that. Jax’s meeting with Dr. Mann went very smoothly, and she even had some advice about the places he was going to look at for housing. Based on her recommendation, he figured he would probably not take the townhouse because of what she said about the neighborhood. But she loved the location of the house by the lake and seemed pretty certain he would like it, even if the house itself didn’tsuit him.
“I hope there’ll be others available, if that one doesn’t suit,” she said as they shook hands by her office door. “I’m so looking forward to working with you, Dr. Knox. And good luck with the househunting.”
Dr. Mann’s face was wreathed in smiles. She was a gorgeous woman, and though he had never met her before, he imagined that she had only grown more beautiful with age, and he didn’t just mean her physical appearance. Her sweet spirit still warmed him as he drove off to his first realtor appointment. She would be a joy towork with.
Mary Morgan was waiting for him when he arrived at the first location. The house sat in the middle of a half-acre lot of land, surrounded by neatly trimmed lawns and a flowering hedge at the front and sides. It was a cheerful, bright blue ranch with white shutters. He took the tour because he’d agreed to it, but he knew before they were through that he wouldn’t be making an offer on it. The decor was dated and there were clear signs that age and slipshod maintenance on the inside had not been kind to it.
“We can cross this one off, Ms. Morgan. Let’s go see the townhouse.”
Although he had half made up his mind to go with his new boss’s recommendation, he decided to give it a fair shake. But even as they got closer to it, Jax could see that the neighborhoods were decreasing in appeal, and when the realtor’s car finally stopped ahead of his, he looked around and shook his head. He didn’t even want to see the inside of it. The street was clean enough, and there were no obvious signs of neglect, but the townhouse was part of a complex made up of eight or ten sets of row houses and once he was out of the car, he didn’t likethe vibe.
He looked around to see what redeeming qualities might make him change his mind, but aside from a few mature trees lining the street that his townhouse was on, there were no amenities that would make it worth his while to live among so many people. One or two cars were parked at the curb, and he already knew he wasn’t going to enjoy moving his vehicle from side to side on street cleaning days or fighting for parking with his neighbors at other times.
He could see why this was below his price point. It was probably part of the university’s contract to provide housing for grad students, and he had no desire to live where they did, especially not if he planned to have Noah in his life. His private life was his business. He walked over to where the realtor stood waiting for him, shaking his head as he went.
“Sorry, I don’t think this is a fit for me. Thanks for trying to find me affordable housing, but I know you can do better than this.”
Ms. Morgan smiled ruefully at him. “I figured you might not like it, but I had to give it a try. I’ve known professionals who lived in this complex for years without complaint, but it isn’t foreveryone.”
“I really appreciate your efforts on my behalf. Let’s hope this afternoon’s viewing goes better.”
“I’m sure you’ll love that one, Dr. Knox,” she enthused. “But if you don’t, I’ve lined up a couple of others for tomorrow, if you can stay over.”
Jax smiled. He liked the woman’s enthusiasm for her work, and he could see that she knew what she was doing, so he’d trust her to line up the best that she could find. This townhouse mishap was probably a fluke, brought on by her desire to spare him some change.
“We’ll see,” he said noncommittally.
His head was already with Noah, who would be leaving to get to him in time for the third house visit. He’d take a drive around town and get some lunch before heading to thelast one.
“I’ll see you at three-thirty, then.”
He gave her a thumbs-up and watched her drive away before checking to see where the closest diner was located. He’d have a late lunch before his last showing for the day and maybe get Noah a snack to tide him over until dinner time. And if he decided to stay over to see more houses, he’d take his man out to eat.
He grinned at the idea that crossed his mind as he followed the GPS directions back to town. He might even decide to view a couple of other houses so he could spend a night alone with Noah with no interruptions. The more he thought about it, the better the idea seemed. He’d need a change of underwear and a shirt, and so would Noah.
Maybe a bit of shopping before lunch? He could livewith that.
Chapter 16
Noah
“It was hell being apart fromyou, Jax.
I won’t be able to bearit again.”
“I’ll call you when I get there,Papi.”
Noah smiled at his dad, who still treated him like he was eighteen going on his first road trip every time he left the house to drive farther than anhour away.
