Smitty stood, patting his gut. “How about that pizza?”
“I still can’t wrap my head around this.” Chloe regarded Jesse. “We both know Smitty? How have we not met before now?”
“Timing is everything, kids,” Smitty said. “Now, about that pizza.”
“Give us a second to digest here, Smitty,” Jesse said. “I meet Chloe at a wedding reception the day she reads for a part in my screenplay. Then I end up renting from her father. Last but not least, you lie to me about Archer, and now I find out you’re... religious?”
“Well, when you put it like that. I never claimed to be perfect.” Smitty wandered into the kitchen, tugging open the fridge door. “Empty. You need to go shopping.” He returned to the living room. “What you need to ask yourself, Jesse, is why you don’t cross a church’s threshold?”
“I’m not the church-going kind.” He glanced at Chloe. “Are you okay with me living here? If not, I can hole up in a hotel for a night or two until I find a place.” He grimaced at Smitty. “Without your help. You’re a horrible Realtor.”
“What? I found you a great deal. Twice. Just because the first one didn’t work out—”
A small knock resounded on the door. Jesse, Smitty, and Chloe called in chorus, “Come in.”
Geez.Who’s place was this anyway?
Raymond Daschle entered, smiling, wearing the aura and attitude of an... ordinary man. A father. “How’s everything? Getting set up? I see you’ve met Chloe.”
“Dad, this is Jesse. You met him at Violet’s wedding.”
“Right, of course.” Raymond crossed to shake his hand. “Welcome to Daschle Grounds.”
“It was nice of you to let me rent this place.”
“No problem. George Crumbly is gone for a year. I like to havethe house occupied. Chloe’s got the apartment on the north side of the house, but Kate lives in West Hollywood. No need to have the place empty if someone wants to stay here.” Raymond walked over to the box on the kitchen table. “You’ve started to move in. Good.”
“Well, I’m all moved in.” Jesse glanced at the boxes. A total of five this time. “I travel light.”
“I like it. Possessions encumber a man. Weigh him down.”
“Said the man with a ten-thousand-square-foot mansion,” Chloe scoffed.
Jesse laughed. She looked pretty tonight, casual in her shorts and top. Like the kind of woman a man could build a life with.
“I didn’t sayme,” Raymond said. “I like mystuff.”
Jesse agreed with his wisdom. Stuff encumbered a man. And he wasn’t looking to addstuffto his life. Even if she came with hazel-green eyes and the fragrance of summer.
“I’ll say good night.” Raymond moved toward the door, pointing to the phone on the kitchen wall. “Pound nine gets the service staff. If they’re not there, leave a message. Use the pool whenever you want. You swim?”
“I used to, in another life.”
“Great exercise, swimming. There are towels in the kiosk by the lanai. Just toss them in the hamper when you’re done. The maid collects them.”
“Thank you, Raymond. I appreciate it.”
“Like I said, I like having someone here. At night I look out my bedroom window, and seeing a light on in here comforts me.” He paused in the doorway. “Sort of like, ‘All is well in the world.’ That’s what light does, you know. Says all is well in the world.”
As Raymond left, Smitty ducked out behind him. “Know what, I remembered I have to be somewhere. Chloe, see you at church. Jesse?” He saluted him from the doorway. “See you in the movies.”
The door clicked closed, and he was alone with Chloe.
“This feels awkward.”
“Why?” she said. “We met, had a good time—”
“Shared a kiss.” An amazing kiss.
