“You hate it,” Matt murmured as Christopher stepped into the dining room to give them privacy.
“I’m not?—”
“I know, MJ,” he said. “But I do value your opinion.”
She exhaled and looked around, taking in the panoramic window offering a mountain view that was probably half the reason the house cost so much. She took a few steps, hearing her shoes tap on floors that looked like an ice skating rink. Imagine walking barefoot across that marble, she mused. Imagine coming in on a snowy pre-dawn to make tea in this…mausoleum.
Horrifying.
“It, um, doesn’t have a heart,” she replied as he watched and waited.
“Yeah, it’s…sterile,” he agreed.
They exchanged a few looks of mutual distaste as Christopher walked them through the rooms and pointed out the many luxurious features.
He was obviously good enough at his job that he picked up on their opinion, even though they didn’t say a thing. Before he even opened the door that led to the walk-out basement and media room, he tapped his electronic tablet.
“On to the next?” he asked. “I think it might be more to your liking.”
A few minutes later, they were back in the SUV, with the GPS programmed for house number two. MJ shifted in her seat, suddenly wondering why the questions about living in the same town or being in a relationship hadn’t plagued her for the last year. She’d just hoped Matt would return and knew they had great potential to be…a couple.
There was that word again.
“Want to talk about something completely different?” Matt asked.
“You do know me pretty well,” MJ replied, laughing.
“I know you’re figuring things out, and I promised you space and time to do that. So, let me tell you about Wade’s visit to that vet college that Elise attends.”
“Oh? He went to Great Basin?”
“He did and came back quite enthused.”
“About the school or…”
“About everything,” he said. “He absolutely loves Utah and never expected to. He was blown away by the school, which is apparently quite unique in the veterinary world, and he is, uh…smitten.”
“With Elise?” Her voice rose with a little thrill. “Oh, how nice. Elise is a beautiful young woman who is absolutely not defined by her disability. I’d love to see her find someone.”
He reached over for her hand. “Listen, today is just an exploratory and fun trip to see houses. I do have to live somewhere. This is just…an option. Don’t worry.”
“I’m not worried,” she said, but even as the words came out, she knew they weren’t entirely true. “Tell me more about Wade and Elise.”
He didn’t have much to add and MJ made a mental note to get the details from Nicole, but was happy for the change of subject. Holding his hand, she watched the gorgeous scenery pass as they made their way to the next showing, joking about how they could be onHouse Hunters.
The second house sat lower in the valley, a weathered cedar-sided home that had once been grand and massive but now felt extremely dated.
“The eighties called and wants their sunken living room back,” Matt joked softly as they walked into the front of the house and eyed a double curved staircase.
Still, the place had…warmth. MJ stood in the entry and let the faint scent of pine resin and history hit her.
“Oh,” she whispered. “This place has stories.”
Matt looked around at the dated wallpaper and dusty built-ins. “This place has potential.”
“This place has termites,” Christopher corrected gently. “But the lot is spectacular and the seller is motivated.”
MJ drifted through the living room, fingers tracing a scarred banister. She imagined Christmases here—but notherChristmas. That would have to be at Snowberry Lodge forever and ever.
