“I'm glad the two bedrooms are close together. I want Carter in a room close to mine. My wife died from cancer when Carter was only four years old. He's all I have.”
“I’m so sorry about your wife.” Sydney wondered if that was why he wanted to move. Maybe there were too many memories of his wife where he lived now with Carter.
Karen gave Blake a sympathetic look. “I’m sorry about your loss. This floor plan would be nice for you and your little boy. Do you have a house you need to sell first?”
“After my wife died, I sold our house. I’ve been renting a townhouse, but I’d like to have my own place again,” Blake said.
After they walked out of the house, Karen stopped by a hot tub. “They're leaving the hot tub.”
“That’s great,” Blake said. “I can relax after working out.”
Her parents had a hot tub but it’d be nice to have her own. “I’d love to soak in it after playing sports.”
Blake gave her a thoughtful look. “What sports do you play?”
“Right now, I’m on a church softball team and, during the winter, I play on a co-ed basketball team. What about you?”
“Racquetball—whenever I can fit it in.”
Karen motioned to them to join her on the huge deck. “The sellers told me they enjoyed throwing summer parties here.”
Sydney thought how cute the deck would look with big clay pots of flowers. “With this view and deck, I’d love to give a party. And I’d enjoy sunbathing here.”
Karen ignored her comment. “Blake, I bet your son would love to play in this big yard.”
He nodded. “I was just picturing tents pitched back here for a campout for Carter’s Cub Scout troop.”
“Excuse me,” Karen said as her cell phone rang. “I better take this call. It’s a client I’m showing a house to next.”
When Karen was out of earshot, Sydney turned to Blake, “You’re using the kid a lot to discourage me from buying the house.”
Blake grinned. “Is it working?”
She grinned back. “No, but it is for Karen. She definitely favors you. I think she’s expecting you to have a better cash flow to buy the house or better credit to get a loan faster.”
“I liked your party idea. Sounds like fun. If you buy the house, am I invited?”
“Clever man, changing the subject. I guess that means you won’t have any hard feelings if I get it.” She was elated he wanted to see her again. But she wanted to play it cool, even though she definitely wanted to feel his arms around her again. She’d never mentioned in her column about meeting guys while house shopping, but maybe going to open houses could be productive for other singles. Young professionals needed houses after all and didn’t want to rent forever.
“To be honest, I like this house a lot.” His blue eyes met her brown eyes. “We seem to have a lot in common—exercise, this house, we both like kids. You do like kids, don’t you? You talked about having your niece and nephew over to visit.”
“I love kids.” She frowned. Where was Blake going with this?
Karen returned. “Sorry for the interruption. I don’t think I told you the owners built this duplex four years ago. They put the highest quality of materials into this house because they planned to stay here. But their daughter is getting remarried and moving out of town. They found a house they want to buy closer to where she's going to live.”
“My parents couldn’t come with me today. I wanted them to see it before I make an offer.” Sydney turned from Karen to see Blake’s reaction. She felt mean but Blake also wanted this duplex, and she had a feeling that he planned to make an offer soon. She needed to get the jump on him. “But I hate to wait so I want to set a time to write up a contract on this house.”
Chapter Two
“We have a problem because I also want to buy this duplex.” Blake smiled at Karen. “You don’t have a duplicate house so we can both be happy, do you?”
“I wish I did.” Karen sighed before turning to Sydney. “You can go ahead and have your parents look at the duplex tomorrow. And you need to see the other side yet too. Although it's pretty much identical to what you saw today.”
Blake nodded. “I’d like Carter to look at the house too.”
“We can talk privately soon about how much each of you can give for a down payment and find out if there’s any problem with credit.” Karen played with her silver watchband. “Does that sound fair?”
“It sounds fair to me,” Sydney agreed. “Thank you, Karen.”
“Yes, thank you. I know we’ve made things difficult for you,” Blake said.
“Do you have any papers with the room measurements?” Sydney remembered when she’d gone house shopping with her brother and his wife; the realtor gave them a folder with the lot and house information.
“I do,” Karen answered. “I’ll get the folders for you when we leave. I left them in the car. I have my iPhone there and we can go ahead and schedule the time for your family members to see the house.”
After following Karen to the driveway, Blake stood close to her. “Sydney, we need to talk.”
His manly smell was doing something to her brain. Why did he have to excite her just by standing near? “I’m sorry if it seems that I’m being selfish. You need a house for you and Carter, but I just can’t help myself. I love this place. It just seems like my house.”
“I have a proposition that might work for both of us, but not sure until I talk to you.” His blue eyes widened. “I’d like to take you out to dinner. Outback Steakhouse and Red Lobster aren’t too far. You can decide which one. We can both drive to the restaurant.”
She rolled her eyes. “I don’t know. Are you sure that you aren’t going to try and talk me out of making an offer?”
He laughed. “No, it’s something that I think might be a win-win situation for both of us.”
What the heck…she had to eat. “I am hungry. And I’m intrigued to learn what your plan is so we can both be happy.”
* * *
After ordering their steak dinners, Sydney said, “Don’t keep me in suspense any longer. I’m guessing your proposition has something to do with you saying we have a lot in common.”
He exhaled a deep breath. “Promise you won’t leave after I tell you what I thought we could do about the house.”
“I’ll stay. I don’t want you to eat my steak.”
He grinned. “That’s a good reason. When I got my first real job─”
“What was your job?”
“I did an internship in civil engineering so had a job right after college.” He took a drink of his beer. “Three friends and I decided to buy a house together. I was thinking that’s what we could do. We can buy the duplex together. Of course, we need to learn more about each other before we even decide if buying the house will work for us.”
Whoa. Buy a house with Mr. Hottie Engineer. Could she sleep under the same roof even though he'd be on the other side? She pulled the paper holder off her silverware and napkin. “You don’t waste time. We just met. I don’t─”
“I should’ve mentioned we’ll keep our relationship platonic which should be easy enough to do with the house built for two families.”
Staring at his lips, she wondered how Blake could look sexy while saying the word platonic. And why had he even mentioned anything about their relationship? Did he want one with her? “Hey, what's this all about? Platonic relationship. Where did that come from? You can't assume I'd want to sleep with you just because we bought the duplex together.”
He frowned. “I'm sorry. It came out wrong. I was afraid you'd think my preposition included that. I'm stupid, okay.”
“So you’re serious about this business arrangement. You really think we should buy the dream house together?”
He nodded. “We both like it and want it so thought this might be a possibility. I figured you don’t have a significant other right now since you didn’t bring anyone with you to look at the house.”
She ran her finger around the rim
of her glass. “You're right. I don't have any special guy in my life. My boyfriend dumped me by a text. We'd dated less than two months but still I don't like that he couldn't tell me in person, or call me to tell me that it was over. But that’s okay. I’m going to get a column out of it and tell how rude it is to break up with someone by texting them.”
“I agree. You’re better off without him. I want to read your column. What’s the name of it?”
“Sydney’s Sassy Suggestions to Singles.” When another idea occurred to her for an article, she drummed her fingers on the table. “Even though I don’t think much of texting to break off a relationship, email breakup can be a good thing. It offers more privacy to the person being dumped. But an email breakup should always give an offer of a face-to-face meeting if he-or-she-who-was dumped wanted one. I’ll have to write about different ways to break up in my column.”
The male server stood next to the table with their food. “Hey, I read your column. It’s good.”
“Thank you. I especially appreciate your compliment since this guy,” she paused to point a finger at Blake, “never heard of my column.”
While the server placed their plates on the table, Blake said, “Don’t be too hard on me. I never have time to read the paper.”
Holding an empty tray next to his chest, the waiter said, “She also gives tips where to take your date…in the weekend edition.”
After the young man left, Blake said, “I guess he’s hoping for a big tip.”
“Maybe or maybe he’s definitely into my column.” She cut a piece of steak and popped it in her mouth.
“I thought we could try to find out some things about each other this evening.” Blake took a bite of his garlic-mashed potatoes. “Have you ever been married?”
She shook her head. “I’ve never been married. Sometimes I think I’ve dated too many guys and I’m becoming cynical. My brother teases me that my personal life’s a shambles, but I tell him that’s why I can write about breakups and trying to find Mr. Right.”
“Excuse me,” a female employee said to Sydney, “Your waiter, John, told me who you are.”
Oh my gosh, does she want my autograph? No one had ever asked her for one, but that must be it. Sydney felt a thrill and thought how John had given positive feedback about her column. And Blake wanted to buy a house with her. She was on a roll here. After Mark rejected her, it was nice to feel like Miss Popularity.
“I’m Teri.” Putting her hand on the chair, Teri asked, “I’m on break. Is it okay if I sit down and ask you something?”
“Sure.” Sydney saw Blake’s amused expression at Teri joining them at their table. Too bad Teri hadn’t wanted her autograph. She bet that would’ve impressed Blake.
“My boyfriend and I just split up. While we were living together, we got a dog, Buffy.” Teri tapped her chest. “I’m the one who took care of Buffy. But my ex-boyfriend says that he wants Buffy. He says I’m being selfish for not letting him have her.”
“Whose idea was it to get a dog? And who paid for Buffy?” Sydney asked.
“He gave her to me for a Christmas present. I mentioned wanting a puppy.” Teri shrugged. “He did walk Buffy sometimes, but I took her to the vet for shots and I fed her.”
“What kind of dog is she?” Maybe that was the real issue. The dog might have been expensive and the ex wanted to recoup his money.
“A Labrador Retriever,” Teri said.” I love Buffy and I can’t believe he’s giving me a hard time about keeping her.”
Eyeing her steak, Sydney wondered how long Teri had for a break. “From what you’ve told me, I think you should keep Buffy. Even though she was a gift, maybe you could offer to reimburse him. It might be all about money.”
Teri nodded. “He did pay a lot for her. Or so he said.”
Sydney stared at Teri for a moment. “Of course, he might be using Buffy to get back together with you. If he has Buffy, you'll be visiting him to spend time with your dog.”
“I don’t know. We were fighting a lot.” Teri stood. “I better get back to work. Thank you and order a dessert for both of you. It’s on me.”
After Sydney said that wasn’t necessary, Teri insisted she’d surprise them and order it.
Once Teri left, Blake said, “Do you have any pets?”
She shook her head. “No. Do you?”
“I promised Carter I’d get him a dog once we moved to a house with a yard.”
“I like dogs so that’s no problem for me.”
She sipped her beer, thinking how Blake needed to give more information. Why would a single father want to buy a house with a complete stranger? Did he have credit problems? Maybe his wife had battled cancer for a long time, and their medical insurance hadn’t covered all her expenses. “I’m curious why you even thought of us buying the duplex together. It seems a little weird to me since we just met. Is money a consideration in suggesting a business arrangement?”
“No, I make a good living as an engineer. I have money for a down payment.” He ran his fingers through his brown hair. “I figured you must be able to afford the house because you took the time to schedule a showing and want your parents to see it. I know you have a nephew Carter’s age and seemed sincere about liking kids. And just now you were nice to a complete stranger.”
She laughed. “I have to admit I was a bit disappointed that Teri only wanted my advice. I thought I finally had someone wanting my autograph.” She carefully cut a small piece of steak, wondering how much she should tell about her financial situation. It shouldn’t hurt to tell she had some money and obviously Blake already suspected it. “When my uncle died six months ago, he left money to my brother and me. He didn’t have a wife or kids. I’m using my inheritance for a down payment.”
“I’m sorry about your uncle.” Blake had a thoughtful look. “I’ll be honest. I still miss my wife. Her name was Caroline. It’s been rough on Carter not having his mom. Then my mom died a year ago. I thought maybe a woman’s touch in our new house might help us adjust to life.”
“You’ve had it rough. I’m sorry about your mother. What about Caroline’s mother? Is she involved in Carter’s life?”
He shook his head. “Caroline was adopted and her parents moved to Florida. We go once a year in the spring or summer to visit. They come to Ohio each year before the weather gets cold to see Carter. Caroline's biological father lives in Alaska. Her real mother also died of cancer so Carter doesn’t have a mother or a grandmother close by. My father left when I was small. I seldom see him.”
“I guess I better meet Carter soon. He might not even like me.”
“I’m sure he’ll like you.”
* * *
After Sydney and her friend, Libby, finished their jog on Saturday morning, they returned to her apartment.
Libby glanced around the small apartment. “You should move. The only good thing about living here is the swimming pool.”
“I do want to move, but wasn’t planning on buying a property with a stranger.”
Libby sipped her bottled water. “I can’t believe you didn’t take me to look at the house with you.”
“I wish now I had waited for you to get off work. My life is so complicated now since I met Blake.” If she’d gone later in the afternoon, there wouldn’t have been a mix-up about the showing. But meeting Blake could end up being a good thing.
“I wish you’d taken a picture of him with your cell, but from what you said, he sounds like a sensitive guy and good-looking too.” Libby grinned. “Hey, I’ll buy the house with him.”
Sydney wiped her sweaty forehead with a napkin. “You have lousy credit. Plus you’re engaged, remember.”
Libby picked up a newspaper from the coffee table. Fanning herself with the paper, she said, “I’m getting hot just thinking about Craig. I’ll be in your debt forever for introducing us.”
“You two make an awesome couple.” She rested her head on the back of the couch. “Mom and Dad are going to look at the house this afternoon
. If you aren’t busy, I’d like you to go too.”
“Craig’s playing tennis with the guys so I’m free.”
She considered teasing Libby that going by Craig’s schedule wasn’t mandatory. Why did women plan their lives around their men’s activities? Maybe that was why she had so many failed relationships. She had never put the guy first before spending time with her girlfriends. “Good, I’m glad you can make it.”
“That’s great you and Blake exchanged references.” Libby put a few strands of strawberry blonde hair behind her ear. “You could also ask each other questions about hobbies. And you should find out Blake’s ideas about dividing up the house maintenance jobs. I realize it's not an old duplex, but eventually something will need to be repaired.”
Sydney sat up and gave Libby a thoughtful look. “I assumed that each of us would take care of our own unit. But you’re right, we need to discuss it because some disaster could happen—like a windstorm causing roof damage.” Sydney sat up and continued, “There’s something I am worried about, though.”
“What’s that?”
“When we were in the master bedroom, I pictured Blake in bed. If I have these thoughts already, how am I going to keep my hands off him if we live under the same roof? He wants a platonic living arrangement. An adjoining door is going to make it easy to wander into each other's living quarters.”
* * *
Later in the afternoon, Sydney nibbled on a pretzel and noticed her dad watching her. “I love eating outside here.”
Her dad, an attractive man with white hair, said, “I was surprised you wanted to be a writer when you love the outdoors so much.”
While her mom handed Libby a glass of iced tea, she thought how wonderful the sun’s rays felt on her face. It’d been a long and cold winter. Sometimes she thought about leaving Ohio for a state with nicer weather year round. “Where did you get this patio set? I should buy one for my new deck.”
Her mom tapped the glass top lightly. “I bought it at Sears. From the way you described the deck, you’ll need more than one table.”
“I’ll give you my grill,” her dad said. “I’ll have an excuse to get a bigger one.”
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