This Time Around

by Walker, Aimee Nicole

  “Sounds perfect.”

  When I returned downstairs, Maegan rightfully assumed the reason for my good mood, but she didn’t know all of it. I’d warned her I would get even, and my guy seemed eager to aid me.

  “Well, what do you think?” Becker asked after I’d had a chance to look around the house by myself.

  “It needs work,” I told him, looking around the kitchen that was covered with God only knows how many layers of wallpaper. “A lot of work.”

  “I think it’s mostly cosmetic,” the realtor said. “Of course, you know how it works. You can make an offer contingent on the outcome of an inspection. You’re more qualified than most of the home inspectors in this area, but you can always have Mike, Chris, and Simon take a look at the electric, plumbing, and evaluate the heating and air conditioning.”

  I had worked with Becker before when I bought the small house across the street from Wren and Dare. The house only needed cosmetic work, and I really needed to stay busy so that I didn’t continue to make an ass of myself over Milo. Only part of the plan worked, and anyone could probably accurately guess which one I failed miserably at. I spent a little over a month remodeling the interior and hired Dare upon Becker’s recommendation to stage the house when I put it on the market. I’d never heard of that before but took the realtor’s advice. Dare came through for me big-time, and the house sold the first time Becker showed it. The three of us made a good team, and I appreciated Becker giving me the inside scoop on this house before he listed it.

  When I first saw the house on Lover’s Lane, I thought it could be a great house to flip. Once I got inside, the house appealed to me on a different level. Instead of seeing dollar signs, I saw a house that could become a home I shared with Milo. I didn’t hear fictional cash register sounds tallying up the profit I could make; instead, I heard little feet running across the hardwood floors. They might’ve been scuffed and damaged, but they would be as good as new once they were sanded and stained.

  I heard a tiny woof then felt a rough tongue lick across my chin.

  “Bull likes it,” Becker said.

  I looked down at the ridiculously tiny, black and white dog I took with me almost everywhere except work or places where dogs weren’t permitted. I hadn’t taken Milo seriously when he first suggested we adopt another pet, but then I met Bull. I took one look at that tiny little body shaking from fear and the big, sorrowful eyes that said the world had let him down time and time again, and I knew he was meant to be my dog. My nemesis, Tucker, thought I would throw a fit about taking a photo with such a tiny dog while he and some of the others got bigger dogs. The photographer, Scotty, said he liked the contrast of a big guy like me cradling a tiny dog safely in my hands.

  You know who else found it appealing? Milo. I was the one who got the last laugh when I took home that tiny dog who didn’t threaten my masculinity in the least because my guy found my gentleness to be sexy and hot. He said he knew then that I wouldn’t drop the babies when they came. Take that, Tucker!

  Bull became my shadow everywhere I went, so I had to be careful about where I stepped. He went with us to ballgames and family dinners. Milo started dressing him in silly sweaters or tied tiny bandanas around his neck. I usually took that stuff off him as soon as we were a safe distance from home, at least until the weather turned colder. Bull loved to ride in my truck, and he brought a lot of joy to people everywhere we went. He was especially a big hit on the nights I took him to NA meetings with me. Hell, even hard-ass Keeton couldn’t resist his charms.

  One of my favorite things was that he kept Queen Alli Cat on her toes. She wasn’t to be outdone though. Milo felt horrible that Bull could go places with us while Alli Cat stayed home. Not only was he concerned about the safety of our belongings, but the emotional stress it could have on the cat. She was so used to being number one with both of us. Milo decided to try a harness on Alli so she could take walks with us. I laughed, but Alli Cat gave me a baleful look and went willingly with Milo.

  Alli Cat might’ve resented Bull’s presence at first, but I noticed a big shift in her behavior a few weeks after I brought him home. She seemed less needy and stressed about being left by herself. I worried it was because she picked on Bull, but the way that he curled up next to her during naps made me realize I was wrong. He wouldn’t seek her out if she was causing him stress. We’d found harmony in our household, so why was I suddenly eager to cause another upheaval?

  “Bull likes the big, fenced-in yard. Daddy likes that part too.” I just needed to decide how and when to approach Milo with the prospect of moving. I mean, it didn’t get any better than living on Lover’s Lane. Even if Milo didn’t like it, the house was a damn good investment because I would be able to nearly double my money after some sweat equity. “How much time do you need? I would like Chris, Mike, and Simon to take a look at the mechanicals, and I want to closely inspect the roof when it’s not raining.

  “Tell you what,” Becker said. “Let’s write up an offer that allows you ten days to get the house inspected and obtain conditional approval from the bank for a mortgage. I think the owners will be satisfied with that.”

  “Deal.”

  Bull and I followed Becker to his office and filled out the necessary paperwork. He phoned the owners with my offer while I was there, and they verbally accepted it. Becker would email a copy to both parties for electronic signatures, and we’d be good to move forward.

  “Did you want to bring Milo by later to look at the house? I can either meet you or I would trust you with the lockbox code. It’s up to you.”

  “How’d you know I was looking at this property for myself and not to flip it?”

  “Your demeanor was totally different than the last house you bought to rehab and flip. You kind of had this dopey grin on your face when you met me in the kitchen after touring the upstairs. It seemed like maybe you were picturing your future there.” I had done just that, especially when I saw an adorable picture window in one of the spare bedrooms. It wasn’t quite as grand as the one in Maegan’s house yet, but it had a lot of potential.

  “You’re not wrong,” I told him, “but I don’t know when I’m going to show it to Milo. I think I want the house to put its best foot forward. That wallpaper in the kitchen is scary, man.”

  “I can’t recall a time when wallpaper with dancing peppers was popular, but to each their own. Right?”

  I snickered. “Yeah, but I have a feeling that the previous owners didn’t removed the other layers of wallpaper before they added the jazzy peppers. All I know is that it has to come down before Milo can picture himself living here.”

  Becker laughed. “I understand. I tried to hide my horrified reaction when I saw it, but I think I failed miserably. The husband pulled me aside and told me it was all his wife’s doing. He was really stressed that the wallpaper would prevent people from buying the house.”

  “I’ve seen much worse,” I told Becker. “Not sure Milo has though.” I knew how he’d react to the ghastly print. Once I got the keys and started working on it, I couldn’t very well ban him from stopping by the jobsite since he brought me lunch nearly every day, so I’d just have to wing it based on his first impression. If he saw the diamond beneath the dust, then I’d tell him my plans. If he was indifferent, I’d wait until it was nearly ready to put on the market.

  Before I left Becker’s, I reached out to Chris, Mike, and Simon to see when they could inspect the property so Becker could check their availability against his calendar. The guys all agreed to inspect the mechanicals the next day, which meant I could start working with my banker to secure financing. I had turned a huge profit on the last house I flipped and could almost pay cash for this one, but I didn’t want to use all my capital. I’d see what the loan officer recommended, but I didn’t want to put more than fifty percent down.

  I shook hands with Becker and headed home, but Maegan called me just as I pulled onto our street. “What’s up, Mae?”

  “Lyric Willows
is what’s up.”

  “Hmmm. I didn’t think you were his type,” I teased.

  “He’s arriving in town later tonight to see the house in person. Would you mind coming over in case he has questions about your experiences while remodeling the house?”

  “Sure,” I said. The rain had completely screwed up my workday. “What time?”

  “He said he’d be there by six o’clock. He sounded like the entire world was riding on his shoulders. I figured he could use a friend, so I invited Emory and Jon over. Thought we could do a little backyard barbecue if the rain goes away, or I’ll fix a lasagna or something if it doesn’t. I even offered the use of one of my guest rooms to him.”

  “And did he accept?” I wasn’t as big of a fan of the show as Milo and Memphis, but Lyric came across as a loner on the episodes I watched. I expected Maegan to say that he politely turned her down.

  “He did.”

  “Wow,” I said.

  “I was surprised also, but I’m telling you, Andy, the guy needs to be around people right now.”

  “Then he’ll be around people,” I told her. “Probably more people than he can stomach.” I chuckled then asked, “You are inviting Memphis, right?”

  “He is baulking at the idea, but I know he won’t be able to resist meeting Lyric.”

  “You mean Milo wouldn’t allow him to miss the opportunity.”

  “That too,” she agreed.

  “Is there anything you want us to bring for dinner?” Years of watching my mom taught me you didn’t show up to dinner without asking if the host wanted you to bring something.

  “I can’t think of anything, but I’ll let you know.”

  “Why don’t you let me pick up a couple of pies from the diner at least,” I suggested.

  “Perfect. See you guys tonight.”

  I glanced sideways at Milo when we pulled into Maegan’s driveway. He’d spent an extraordinary amount of time getting ready to meet Memphis’s dream lover. One could argue that he didn’t put that much effort into getting ready for our dates or even work for that matter.

  “Is that shirt new?” I asked.

  Milo looked down at the short-sleeved, button-up shirt in a navy-blue color that matched his midnight eyes. I hadn’t seen those snug, white jeans before either. “Maegan got it for me for my birthday last year. I think this is the first time I’ve worn it though.” Just how far had he dug in the closet to find the perfect thing to wear. At least he hadn’t worn the leather pants.

  “Your hair looks nice,” I said.

  “What’s going on?” he asked suspiciously. “You never comment on my clothes or hair. I wasn’t sure you ever noticed.”

  “I’m pretty sure I notice that you wear clothes since I strip them off you as often as I can.”

  “You can’t be worried about me meeting Lyric.”

  Actually, I wasn’t worried, because I knew that I had Milo’s heart. That didn’t mean I wouldn’t work him a little. “I’ve seen the expression on your face sometimes when the dude does something you feel is brave or exciting.”

  “That’s sheer terror,” Milo replied with an exaggerated eye roll. “I don’t think he’s brave; I think he’s freaking nuts.”

  “I’m just yanking your leg,” I told him.

  “Save your energy to yank on something else later, will you?”

  “I’ll always have energy for that, Peach.”

  Everyone had arrived by the time we got there, but we got held up at the diner during dinner rush. Luckily, the weather cleared enough for us to have a barbecue and enjoy the backyard. Lyric was sitting at the patio table with Maegan, looking through the album of remodeling photos when we stepped onto the veranda.

  There was something substantially different about Lyric when Maegan introduced me as the contractor who handled the renovations and her brother’s boyfriend. I was proudest of the last part.

  “It’s good to meet you, Andy,” Lyric said, shaking my hand. “You did a phenomenal job on this house.”

  “Thank you. It was truly a labor of love.”

  Maegan’s assessment about the man was right. I recognized a man who was trying to outrun demons when I looked into his gray eyes. As empathetic as I felt toward his struggle, I wanted to be sure the people I cared about weren’t caught up in the aftermath of his battle.

  Elijah manned the grill while the rest of us talked about our experiences at the house. Lyric felt it was important to document what was happening in the house when the paranormal activity occurred.

  “Renovations really seem to upset the order,” Lyric said. “If the apparition had violent tendencies, they would’ve shown them while the house was under construction.”

  “Anthony made his displeasure known a few times, didn’t he, Mae?” I asked. “It could’ve been coincidence, but I suspect the slamming doors indicated a big ole nay when we were picking out paint colors.”

  “It’s very possible, especially with the care he put into building this house.” Lyric looked up at Emory. “You’re pretty sure it’s Anthony’s ghost, Em?”

  “I am,” Emory said. “I’m picking up a lot of residual energy from the pipe that’s identical to the one in documented photos of Anthony Bliss. It could be a family heirloom and the energy belongs to someone else, but I don’t think so. It’s definitely male, and I’ve picked it up in other places in the house like the ivory mantel above the fireplace or the banister of the grand staircase. I can’t be one hundred percent sure it’s him, but I am positive there is a ghost in this house.”

  “I felt it too. He’s not sure he wants me here. Not all ghosts willingly cross over, so he might not give us the information we need to solve his disappearance.” Lyric patted his thighs, which was the first animated thing I saw out of him since I arrived. “We won’t know until we try.”

  I heard playful barking and growling coming from the yard and went to see what Lulu, Maegan’s French bulldog, and Bull were up to. They were engaged in a battle of tug of war over a stuffed toy. The hair on the back of my neck stood up, and I had this eerie feeling of being watched. I looked up to the second story just as a curtain fluttered shut in the master bedroom. I looked at the veranda and everyone was still sitting in the exact same place chatting about their experiences in the house.

  “I can’t give you an exact film date yet,” Lyric told Maegan. “I’m in between things right now, and I actually think I’d like to stick around town and do some research. Is there a bed and breakfast or a boarding house where I can rent a room?”

  “I have a spare room you can use,” Memphis said softly. A pink flush spread up his neck and face like he couldn’t believe he spoke up. “Um…”

  “Okay,” Lyric said with a casual shrug, but I saw the hint of a smile tugging at the right side of his mouth.

  I looked over at Milo and saw that he was smiling smugly. I didn’t want to add to his swelled ego, but maybe Milo’s belief that Lyric belonged in Blissville with Memphis wasn’t as much wishful thinking as I’d thought.

  Over the next month, a lot changed in our lives. The renovations for the apartments over the shops were completed, and they were ready to rent. Andy finalized the loan on the house he purchased to “flip.” I’m not sure who he thought he was fooling, or maybe he didn’t realize how much he loved the house on Lover’s Lane yet. I hadn’t seen the inside since he just got the keys the day before, but he looked downright smitten every time he talked about it. I’d driven by the house plenty of times, and it was an adorable house with a big, fenced-in yard. He bought the house for a song, so I suspected the interior was pretty rough. I’d find out when I took his lunch to him.

  “Morning, Milo,” Memphis said when he approached the counter.

  “Is that your shirt that Lyric is wearing?” I blurted out. I know damn well Memphis has worn that vintage Rolling Stones T-shirt before. “It looks quite a bit tighter on him, but I know that’s your shirt.”

  Memphis leaned forward, his fair skin a vibrant pink. �
�Lower your voice, will ya? He needed a shirt to wear while he washed his clothes.”

  Lyric had left town for a month, presumably to wrap up some personal things, and had only returned the previous weekend. Memphis vacillated the entire time he was away between thinking he wasn’t coming back and excitement that he would.

  “Is he a big enough jerk for you? Are you head over heels in love yet?”

  “Milo,” Memphis groaned.

  “Or is that bad boy, tatted image just a façade for a sweetheart?”

  “It’s not like we’ve had any heart-to-heart chats about anything other than Bliss House. He does admire my vinyl records and comic book collection.”

  “Hey, I think relationships have been formed over less things in common.”

  “Cut it out,” Memphis said. “I don’t know what his deal is, but it’s obvious he’s not in a good place. A relationship is the last thing on his mind right now.”

  “What’s at the forefront? A certain dark-haired guy with the cutest chin dimple?” I leaned forward. “Tell the truth, Memphis. Have you seen him walk out of the bathroom wrapped in a towel?”

  “I hate you,” Memphis hissed before he left with two coffees.

  I watched as he handed one to Lyric then got busy looking on his laptop for some must have record or comic. If Memphis had glanced up or paid the slightest bit of attention, he would’ve noticed Lyric’s intense focus on him. How could he not feel the sexual tension in the man’s gaze. Lordy, I was ready to fan myself, and he wasn’t looking at me.

  At lunchtime, I headed over to Lover’s Lane to make sure Andy kept up his strength for the sex I would demand from him later. If I hadn’t been convinced before that Andy was in love with the house, I would’ve known it when I saw that he took Bull with him to work. Our dog was curled up on his doggie bed with his stuffed bunny. Both my boys looked at home in this house.

  “I see you brought your attack dog with you to work today,” I said when I walked inside the kitchen door at the side of the house. Then I got a load of the wallpaper and cringed. “I’m not living in a house with that kind of wallpaper, Andrew Mason-Miracle.”