“Lying isn’t going to make this process any easier.”
“What makes you think I’m lying?”
“Because you have an opinion on everything. Since you were twelve and drafted a plan to get into the NBA. So, claiming you don’t know what you’re looking for in a property just doesn’t ring true.”
“I want a home. A place I can make my own. I don’t want a cut-and-paste house. I want to walk in and feel my presence. Aldridge lives here.”
“Character and good bones.”
“Yeah, everything in Vegas lacks charm and individualism. It’s like the homes were designed by AI.”
“Okay, I’m not going to lie, that’s a difficult ask but it’s not impossible.”
“Well, you have twelve weeks to make it happen.”
“So you’re not canceling our contract?”
“Like you said, that would be like burning money. No bueno.”
Danessa shut her portfolio. “I’ll line up some listings and schedule availability with your assistant.”
“Great.” I stood with a stretch.
“I look forward to helping you find your next home.” Standing, Danessa extended her hand.
I looked at her gesture as if it was a snake ready to strike. Reluctantly I claimed her hand, which was dwarfed when enveloped by mine. Danessa gave a soft squeeze to seal the deal. Like I feared, goosebumps freckled my arm and my heart shifted into a familiar pitter-patter. Danessa’s touch was my first addiction. Her soft skin making contact with mine put my sobriety in jeopardy.
“Did you know?”I burst into my sister Anika’s office.
“That Mom loves me more than you? Yes, I’ve always known,” she said, not bothering to look up from her paperwork.
“Anika, this isn’t a joke.” I slapped my hand onto her desk.
“I can’t help it that you’re a disappointment.” Anika was four years older than me, but you wouldn’t know by the way she was acting or based on the choices she made. We were complete opposites, and although I loved my sister to death, she often gave me heartburn.
“My client today?”
“What about them?” She finally met my gaze. “Oh my God you look like you bumped into a ghost.”
“I did. Today’s client was an oldie but a goodie from my past. And a heads up would’ve been nice.”
“I didn’t schedule your client today so I’m not sure why you’re coming at me all hot.”
“Aldridge Mosley,” I spat out.
Anika’s smile faded and I had her undivided attention. “Aldridge was your one o’clock?”
“Yes.”
She raised her hands in surrender. “I didn’t know anything about that. I’d heard he’d signed to the Ramblers, but I didn’t have a clue he was our new client. I thought you were meeting with someone named Norah or Nancy.”
“Nori is Aldridge’s assistant or something.”
Anika leaned back in her chair, her eyes pinging from my head to my toes. “You wore that?”
I ran my hand over my dress. “What do you mean?”
“It’s just kind of milquetoast.”
