“Why do you keep staring at me and smiling?” she asked as she drove them to the fourth house that morning. Her large carryall sat behind them in the backseat of her Civic, stuffed with an iPad mini keyboard she used to take a ton of notes as they walked through the houses.
He sipped his hot cocoa, glad Piper wasn’t such a hard-ass that she’d refuse them a coffee break before they hit the westside of town, having already conquered the houses down south. “You’re so much more pleasant than usual. I’d say an orgasm looks good on you.”
She laughed. “Yeah, well, it felt good. It’s been a while.”
“Me too.”
“I find that hard to believe.”
“Why? I’ve been busy with the end of the season and playoffs.”
She scoffed. “You’re telling me there aren’t groupies constantly hanging around the team? the stadium? Your bachelor pad?”
“Yes, yes, and no. I keep my home life private. No one knows where I live, I don’t think.”
“See?”
“See what? That I’m a discerning kind of guy? That you should feel downright lucky and grovel in my presence because I gave you orgasms as well as my DNA? Several times, I might add?” He glanced her way, saw her dark look, and chuckled. “Okay, so I went a little overboard.”
“A little,” she muttered.
“My point is you look good happy. And I feel like a king because I helped you get there.” Seeing her blush, he glanced away, containing a huge grin. “In any case, I have questions for you.”
They pulled into the driveway of a large house in a cute subdivision filled with other large houses. Many of them looked similar yet had enough differences not to be cookie-cutter cute.
She grabbed her bag from the backseat while he held their drinks. “Ask away.”
After she’d let them into the home, they passed empty rooms and a hallway to the back, settling at the kitchen. Piper took out her iPad and drank from her latte.
Her honey-blond hair caught the sunbeams streaming through a sunlight overhead, and when she glanced up, her eyes sparkled. “You had a question?”
What will it take to get you to marry me? He cleared his throat. “Yeah, so, ah, we’re looking at all these houses for you so you can get an idea of what to pitch to new clients.”
“And current clients. I have a few who might be interested in this.” She looked around. “Great for families. Plus it has a yard.”
“Right. But what’s your house like? Is it your dream home? Or would you get something different if you had the resources to do it? Asking for a friend,” he teased.
She grinned. “Funny. Well, let’s see.” She nodded for him to accompany her and made notes in her tablet as they walked and looked around. “I like the size of this kitchen, but my dream house would have a larger space. A bigger oven and stovetop, since I like to cook.”
“Huh. Jenna say you’re not the best in the kitchen.” He noted her annoyed look and shrugged. “Not my words, your niece’s.”
“I’m going to pretend she never said that.” She ignored his chuckle. “Anyway, if you’re talking about what I want, I’d like an open living space. I’m not that formal, but I do sometimes have to host parties, so a formal living and separate dining area would work. An office, for sure. But I’d love a comfy area just for family. Kind of like they have a small sitting area here.” She waved back at the area off the kitchen. “But I’d want a grand living room for my husband and kids.”
“How many kids? Are we talking a basketball team or tennis players? Or better yet, a huge home for a gaggle of baseball fanatics?” He smiled wide.
She shuddered. “Aren’t there like twelve on a team?”
“Try nine.” Playing at one time, not accounting for substitutions and backup players.
“Still way too many. I’d like at least two. Four if I can swing it in the next three years, but that would mean twins.”
“Why three years?” He frowned.
She blushed. “Grant, I’m thirty-two. After thirty-five, mothers have an increased likelihood of health issues with pregnancy.”
“Bull. Some do, sure, but my one of my coaches just had twins, and his wife is in her forties.”
“Yeah, well, I don’t want to be sixty-five having kids.”
