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“Just ask Scott,” Sage said with a smile. “I know, Ty.” She looked at him, and he couldn’t conceal his nerves fast enough. “Why are you so worried?”
“There’s literally nothing on the island like what you want,” he said.
“This technically isn’t on the island either.”
“It’s still in the zip code,” he said. But yes, they’d crossed the bridge from Hilton Head and back to the mainland. He’d driven another quarter of a mile, and now he made the right turn and started down the gently sloping road.
Sage looked out the windshield instead of her window, and Ty told himself to just drive them there. Look ahead and worry about her reaction later.
“If it’s not for me, we’ll keep looking,” she finally said. “I didn’t expect you to find me the perfect place in a single day, Ty.”
“Well, I wanted to,” he grumbled.
She reached over and took his hand. “I know you did, sweetheart. That’s what makes you so wonderful.”
He looked at her then, finding that sexy smile on her mouth. He’d kissed her for the first time a couple of weeks ago—and every chance he got since then. He pulled his hand back to make the right turn onto the property, and he coached himself to be a real estate agent for the next hour.
He could be her boyfriend after that.
Maybe just be both, he told himself. He’d never dated a client before, and he wasn’t sure how to be both. He barely knew how to be a boyfriend, and he felt like he was learning something new every single time he went out with Sage.
She had high expectations, and Ty had always strived to aim high. He liked being with her, as their conversations were so lively and easy. She always had a smile for him, even after a long day of cutting hair, and he couldn’t wait to take her back to his place after this and cook for her.
The house came into view, and it wasn’t much to look at from this side. He could admit that. It wasn’t built to be utilized from this side, other than to park and get into the main meat of what made it so great. The two-story walls of windows that faced the ocean. That was where the real beauty of this place sat.
It showed the waterfront way between the mainland and Hilton Head, which also had some pretty big mansions along all the waterfront property out there. Perhaps this would be the perfect place for Sage. Away from the busyness of the island, of her job, of all the tourists. More land for her and Gypsy and her freedom and friends.
“It’s three bedrooms,” he said. “Three baths. Two levels, but there’s only one bed and one bath upstairs. It would be perfect if one of your kids came to stay, or you needed to banish Gypsy to his own room when you have Supper Club.” He smiled at her. “Of course, he’ll have the yard for that. It’s six-tenths of an acre, so it’s not huge, but with the house right in the middle of it, there’s not a giant patch of grass.”
“Looks like there’s plenty right in front of me,” she said. She’d made no move to get out of his SUV either.
“It’s fenced along the north side there,” Ty said, nodding. He’d slipped into his agent-voice, and he didn’t try to come out of it. “The waterfront is open, so I’m not sure how your dog does with swimming and whatnot. The sun will come up in the morning and flood your house with light, and then in the evening, all those trees actually keep the whole property shaded.”
“So no full-sun foliage,” Sage said.
“You could try,” he said. They turned toward one another, and like kismet, he leaned toward her at the same time she moved in his direction. He cupped his hand around the back of her neck, really burying his fingers in her hair, and kissed her.
Kissing her was an earth-spinning experience, and she seemed to have some nerves or pent-up energy she needed to release, because she was the one who accelerated and deepened the kiss. Ty didn’t mind one bit, and in fact, he growled as he matched her movement.
She broke away several moments later, and Ty pulled at the air desperately. “You okay?” he asked, the words almost coming out as air.
“Yeah,” she said. “I just…really appreciate you doing this. This property isn’t even listed.”
“I know a lot of agents on the island,” he said. “This house belongs to a South Carolina Supreme Court judge. They don’t live here, but up in Columbia, and well, my friend said they might be willing to sell.”
“Might be?” Sage turned toward him, alarmed now. “I didn’t realize this might not even be for sale.” She unbuckled then and got out, Ty tumbling after her.
“We just have to convince them,” he said across the hood of the SUV.
“Convincing them takes money.” She threw him a pointed look that spoke of her displeasure, and it stabbed right into the fleshy part of Ty’s heart. “Let’s just look at it.”
He led her down the front sidewalk, that yes, had grass growing on both sides. “See the fence?” He pointed to his left. “It goes from the corner down to the water. You could put your chickens and vegetable garden on this other side.”
Sage looked right and left, taking it all in. He wondered what she saw. He saw a piece of property that had been taken care of decently well. The judge sent in someone to mow the grass and keep things from getting overgrown by vines. But the driveway needed some weeding and re-graveling, and Ty would add more flowers and shrubs along the front of the house to increase curb appeal.
“I’ve not actually been inside,” he said. “I was told they turned on the AC this morning for us, so we won’t bake.” He grinned at her and tapped in the code for the lockbox. The secret compartment opened, and he removed the brass key. That got fitted in the doorknob, and he looked at Sage.
“They might be looking to sell no matter what the offer is,” Ty said. “We real estate agents have this game we play, you know? We’re always trying to make it sound like it’ll take top dollar to move a property. It doesn’t, probably ninety percent of the time.”
