“Well, if she can understand d-day, she can understand Sweet Pickles. Just for a week until Daddy comes to visit. He can take him home with him.”
Bethany shook her head. “I’m not asking my new roommate to sleep with a baby alligator in her bathroom. Why don’t you hide him in your garage or something?”
Bunny’s eyes got wide again. “Oh, that’s a good idea, but I’ll hide him in the storage room. Danny never goes in there. Thank you.”
Bunny threw her arms around Bethany and gave her a wet kiss on her cheek. “You’re the best. I want to meet this new roommate. I’ll come back this evening after I get Sweet Pickles settled, and I should call Daddy and tell him to bring a cage for him.”
Bunny grabbed the alligator out of the tub and shoved it in Bethany’s face. “Give Sweet Pickles a kiss.”
Bethany backed up. “No thanks.”
Bunny pouted, and Bethany very nearly gave in. But then Bunny shrugged her shoulders.
“Your loss. See you later.” She pranced out, leaving a trail of water. Bethany hoped none of it contained alligator pee.
Bethany opened the front door to let Bunny out and found herself face-to-face with the devil herself, hand raised about to knock. Mrs. Calhoun lowered her hand and blinked her eyes at Bunny.
“Good heavens. What is that?” Mrs. Calhoun adjusted the brim of her three-foot wide white hat, a gaudy accessory to her powder blue old ladies suit. Bethany wondered for a second if she got dressed up to come over here or if she’d been somewhere else first. Bethany never understood Mrs. Calhoun’s fashion choices. They lived on the beach for crying out loud, not downtown Charleston.
Bunny thrust Sweet Pickles at Mrs. Calhoun, and she took a few steps away. “It’s my new pet. Isn’t he cute?”
“Pets like that aren’t allowed in our neighborhood.”
Bunny shrugged. “He is now. Danny can make it so.” Bethany nearly snorted. Bunny was smarter than Danny gave her credit for. Even though he was president of the homeowners’ association, he would do no such thing. Bunny knew that, but she also knew how to push Mrs. Calhoun’s buttons.
“Like hell he will. Just because he’s president doesn’t make him God. I’ll have words with him at the next meeting if he even tries to pass a measure allowing animals like that.”
Bunny shrugged and kept Sweet Pickles as close to Mrs. Calhoun as she could. To Mrs. Calhoun’s credit, she pretended not to notice as she rounded on Bethany and gave her a wicked grin.
“Saw your house listed in the tax sale.”
Bethany took a deep breath. “I’ve found a roommate, so I’ll be paying those back taxes. I’m so sorry to disappoint you.”
“Roommates aren’t allowed any more than that thing,” she said, shoving a finger toward Sweet Pickles.
Bunny came to the rescue once again and rolled her eyes. “That I know Danny can fix.”
Mrs. Calhoun crossed her arms. “Just because you’re married to Daniel Wynn does not make you royalty. Tell Mr. Wynn I’ll see him at the meeting next week with multiple complaints.” She smirked at Bethany. “Your roommate won’t last long. The HOA won’t allow it. I know because I helped write the provision to the neighborhood laws so the college kids didn’t try to buy a place and throw awful parties. Now it looks like it’s going to help me get your house.”
Mrs. Calhoun turned on her short heels and stomped down the stairs, holding onto her enormous hat.
As soon as Mrs. Calhoun was out of earshot, Bunny gripped Bethany’s arm. “I’ll talk to Danny. You don’t need to worry about your roommate.” Bethany would never be able to pay Danny and Bunny back for the help they gave her. If it weren’t for them, she’d have lost the house months ago with Mrs. Calhoun filing a new complaint on her at every HOA meeting. With Danny being president, he’d saved her bacon on more than one occasion.
“Thanks, Bunny. Good luck with Sweet Pickles.”
Bunny held him up. “Sure you don’t want a kiss?”
Bethany took one last look at the bedroom, which had been her room when she was a child. Her mom had painted the beige walls shortly before she died, changing it from the unicorn pink. If it weren’t for her mom, the house would probably not look as good as it did. But her mom had done some serious remodeling four years ago, taking all of her ideas from the Southern Living magazine. Bethany took a deep breath. Her mom couldn’t have known that barely a year later she’d die in a sailing accident.
Bethany kept this room and the others closed up most of the time. She had a routine, but five thousand square feet didn’t clean itself, so she kept the doors shut on the rooms she didn’t use. In fact she probably hadn’t opened the doors to the office and study in several months. There was no reason to.
It was impractical to keep such a big house, but this had been her childhood home and was the only thing her parents left her when they died. There had been a little bit of money, but she’d used that to pay off her student loans for her ridiculous degree.
The doorbell rang. She grabbed her dust rag and raced for the door.
Jamie followed his GPS to the address his private investigator had given him. Zoe had lived downtown when he’d been in Charleston seven years ago. But even then, she hadn’t lived in a nice area. At least now, she was close to the beach. But the neighborhood was still rough.
He pulled up in front of the cracker jack apartment building and double-checked the address. He shook his head. What kind of a person lived here? He was usually able to find beauty in places where others couldn’t. It was his photographer’s eye, but he couldn’t even find anything to take pictures of here.
Hexa nudged his shoulder. “Stay here for a second, girl. This won’t take long.”
He put the windows down so she could get out if she needed to. But she was good at staying when he told her to.
He approached the door, frowning at a broken glass on the steps. He knocked, unsure what Zoe would say when she saw him, but he was pretty sure they wouldn’t be nice words.
The door opened, and a short skinny guy wearing a dirty shirt stood there, cigarette in hand. “Yeah, what do you want?”
Something about the man immediately made the hair on Jamie’s neck stand up.
“Is Zoe here?”
The man brushed a piece of greasy hair out of his face and looked Jamie up and down. “I didn’t realize she was still screwing guys for money, but she’s not here. Want me to tell her you were looking for her?”
Jamie clenched his fists. He didn’t have a very high opinion of Zoe at this point, but he’d never accuse her of something so foul. Who the hell was this guy?
“No. I’ll come back later. Do you know when she’ll be home?”
The man shrugged. “No. She’s working. I think.”
“Who are you?” Jamie had to ask. His PI hadn’t mentioned him, but Jamie hadn’t told his PI to be on the lookout for a creepy guy. Jamie had assumed Zoe was alone.
“I’m Ray, her boyfriend. I don’t care what she does with you as long as she brings me cash. Gotta pay the bills somehow.” He pulled out his cheap phone. “What’s your number? I’ll make sure she calls you.”
Jamie tensed. He hadn’t banked on a boyfriend. Especially one as foul this one. He thought about interrogating him further, but thought better of it.
“I’ll find her later. Thanks.” He had to get out of there before he punched the guy in the nose. That would not be the way to get on Zoe’s good side.
He’d call her as soon as he settled into his new house. He’d found a place a few blocks over, something he felt lucky to find. It was amazing how quickly the houses went from trash to incredible. He’d have to photograph the change. It would make a nice series.
He hadn’t been able to find something without a roommate, but he wanted to be on the beach, and all the other houses were rented. He supposed he shouldn’t be surprised. Spring was the best time to visit Charleston. It was just getting warm enough to be in the water.
He followed the numbers as he d
rove down East Ashley Ave. The houses were all enormous. Each three to four stories and full of character. He’d enjoyed time at Folly Beach when his job had taken him here, and now he was happy to be living on it. He pulled into the driveway of number 1535 and parked in front of the left garage. The house was weather beaten and full of curves. The landscaping was a little overgrown, which would be a turn off to some people, but to him it added to the house’s charm.
In the backseat his dog, Hexa, whined. She could see the yard. He let her out, and she rolled around in the grass. At least she’d be happy here. He opened his trunk and stared at the house. The waves crashed behind it, and the air smelled of salt. Yeah. He’d love it here.
The house was three stories, painted a soft yellow with green accents. Three porches framed the massive stairway that lead to the front door. Most of the houses on Folly Beach had garages under the house and the front door on the second floor.
Before heading up the stairs, he stepped back and snapped a few pictures with his camera. That would be for him. To document his time here. He hoped this would be a good several months. They’d be hard, but rewarding. He looked down at the paper in hand. Bethany Davis was his new roommate.
He left Hexa in the yard and headed up the stairs to the double glass front doors. No privacy there. He rang the bell and saw a flurry of movement, and the door opened. He found himself face-to-face with a woman who was five foot nothing, with ice blue eyes and a messy brown knot on the back of her head. She must be Bethany. Her wide eyes opened even wider when she looked him up and down and checked out his two suitcases. She was cute, but not his type. Thank goodness. He couldn’t afford distractions, and in spite of his recent efforts, he wasn’t too good at avoiding them.
“Um, come in,” she finally said. “The bedroom is around the corner.” She wouldn’t look him in the eye, and he was instantly curious. Her posture indicated confidence, but the lack of eye contact did not.
He whistled for Hexa and dragged his two suitcases into the house. He waited for his dog and then shut the door. She made a beeline for Bethany, and jumped up on her, putting her paws her shoulders. Dobermans weren’t heavy, forceful dogs, but Hexa was tall. His cheeks flushed with embarrassment. Good way to meet his new roommate. She’d be liable to kick him out now.
He dropped his suitcases to rescue her. To his surprise though, she was laughing, and instead of pushing Hexa away, she got on the ground to play. She didn’t even look up at him.
He glanced down, and without meaning to, right into her shirt. She had nice cleavage, but he closed his eyes. He did not come to Charleston to get involved with another woman. Besides, she totally wasn’t his type. He preferred his women tall and blonde. At least that’s what he told himself. Maybe Miss Bethany would be more distracting than he originally thought.
“Are you okay with her? I’m going to put the suitcases in the bedroom.”
She nodded and pointed to the open door, off the foyer.
The old house had white pinewood floors and light blue walls. It seemed to have a beach theme, with shells scattered on the side tables. An old southern staircase led up to the third floor.
He hauled his suitcases into the bright and spacious bedroom with a balcony. His face fell when he saw the bed though. It was a tiny daybed, clearly meant for a child. There was no way his six-foot-four body would fit on it. He snapped a few pictures of the room and sent a quick text to his assistant. She’d order him something decent to sleep in.
Hexa barked, and he went out to investigate, but both Hexa and Bethany were gone. He walked past the stairs and into a living room. In the kitchen Bethany was sitting on the floor with Hexa, doing tricks for treats.
“She’s well-trained,” Bethany said, keeping her eyes on the dog. This would not do at all. He couldn’t live with her if she wouldn’t even look at him. Well, he could, but it wouldn’t be very fun.
“Yeah, she is.” He crouched down next to Hexa in the hopes that he could at least get another glimpse of Bethany’s eyes.
She kept her hands and gaze on Hexa. “It was nice of you to bring in Jamie’s stuff for her. Is she here yet?”
He creased his eyebrows. “I’m Jamie.”
Bethany continued to pet Hexa and then stood slowly. She opened and closed her mouth. Then she looked him in the eyes for the first time. Her pupils were huge, nearly causing the blue to disappear. “I’m sorry. I told the agency I would only accept females. I think there has been a misunderstanding. You can’t stay here.” She reached around him and reached for her phone.
He grabbed her hand. The one with the phone. He needed to reassure her that he wasn’t dangerous. Her hand was ice cold, and she sucked in a hard breath.
“I’m not dangerous, and I’m not looking for anything but a roommate. I’m pretty sure the agency did a background check on me. I promise, I’m no threat.”
“Why did Vivian think you were a girl?”
Jamie thought fast. Then he let out a breath. “Because my assistant found the house for me. The agency probably thought she was me. I’m sorry for the confusion. I paid six months up front and signed a year lease. This is important. I can pay another six months, if you want, but I need this place. Yours was the only one in the vicinity that met my requirements.”
She jerked her hand out of his and crossed her arms. “And what requirements might those be?”
“On Folly Beach.”
She sighed. “There was no other place?”
“Not long term and last minute. Please.”
“Are you sure? Charleston is full of houses. And there are a lot of houses for rent if you are willing to be off the beach a block or two.”
“But I was not. I promise I won’t impose. This place is more than big enough for the two of us.”
“Three, you mean.” She pointed at Hexa, and he saw the wheels turning in her head.
“Yeah, three. She’s not a problem, is she?”
Bethany sighed. “No, she’s not, but she will be if she goes to the bathroom in the house.”
“Does that mean I can stay?”
Bethany muttered under her breath something about an old biddy. He waited, but at some point he would ask about said old biddy.
She blew a chunk of hair out of her eyes and kept her gaze on Hexa. “Okay, but I’d rather not have you pay the other six months, as I don’t know how this is going to work out.”
If her motivation was money, she would’ve taken the extra six months. But she was clearly not comfortable with him in her house. He’d have to tread carefully. Show her he wasn’t a threat.
He took a couple of steps back. “Thank you. You won’t regret this. I promise.”
He glanced around the room. The kitchen was light and airy, painted with blues and yellows. He expected he’d spend a lot of time in the breakfast nook with the large window that overlooked the sea. The kitchen opened onto a veranda with a terrific view of the beach. His fingers twitched on his phone. He wanted to take pictures, but he didn’t want to spook Bethany. His phone buzzed with a message from his assistant, Claudia.
Gone country have you? Send me the space specs so I get something appropriate.
He moved closer to Bethany. “I have a request. Can I replace the bed? I’ll pay for a new one. It’s a little small.”
She scooted away from him. “Sure, but don’t get rid of it. We’ll put it in the storage area under the house. Would you like a tour?”
He nodded.
“You’ve seen your room. This is the kitchen.” She pointed behind her. “This is the formal living room and behind that is the family room. There are loads of movies in the entertainment center if you’re interested. I don’t watch a lot of TV, so I don’t have cable, but you’re welcome to have it put in if you pay for it.”
His eyes took in all the details. Bright white couches framed the formal living room and looked like they’d never been sat on, but a large poofy sectional couch took up most of the far wall in the family room. That couch had naps wri
tten all over it. Ocean blue throw pillows were tossed casually on the couch. They walked through the family room and into another guest room. This one had a bed that was only slightly bigger than the one in his room.
“If you want to have guests, that’s fine for a night or two, but nothing long term. Also, please give me a heads up if someone is coming. I’ll do the same. Sometimes, I have family that comes to stay.”
He nodded. Fair enough.
“Well, that’s it for the tour, unless you wanted to check out the outside.”
“I’d love to, but what’s upstairs?” This house was gorgeous, and he intended to photograph every inch of it.
“My room. Plus a few other bedrooms. You aren’t allowed up there.”
He raised his eyebrows at her. “You think I’m that dangerous.”
She squirmed and pressed her palms together. “No, but I like my privacy. Even if you were a woman, I would ask you didn’t come upstairs. I wasn’t crazy about getting a roommate in the first place. But it was either that or move into a smaller house and rent this out completely. I chose the lesser of two evils. Upstairs is off-limits.”
“Fair enough. Is Hexa allowed up there? If not, we should put up a gate or something.”
A smile twitched on her lips. “Hexa is allowed wherever she wants to go.”
“Okay, just a warning though. She’s very well behaved, but when she’s stressed she likes to chew on stretchy or silky material. You might want to keep your closet door shut.”
“Thanks for the warning.”
Bethany still wouldn’t look at him, and he desperately wanted to change that. He wasn’t sure why, but probably because he never backed down from a challenge. Plus, she was attractive. Not that he should care about that, but she moved with such grace. Her body was hard to ignore. More than that though, he wanted to get a peek at the upstairs. The view from the upper porches had to be incredible. But he wouldn’t get upstairs unless he gained her trust.
Folly and Forever (Omega Mu Alpha Brothers Book 3) Page 2