“Uh-huh.” I don’t believe him.
When he turns the key, I hear the door unlatch. He pushes it open and steps back so we can walk in first. When we get all the way in, we both gasp.
“It’s beautiful,” I say first. And it is. The living room is huge with extra-tall ceilings. The walls and ceiling are white, but they look like they need a fresh coat of paint. The hardwood floors are a medium color and mostly shiny except for the parts that need cleaned. They look like they’re in great condition, just a little dusty. On the outside wall are large windows that run across the entire space. It’s so sunny, it makes me smile.
I turn toward the area designated as the kitchen. Most of the appliances and sink are all opposite the window wall. There’s a gas stove, large fridge, and even a dishwasher. All the appliances are white to match the walls, but the cupboards are dark gray, almost black. Not only that, there’s a large kitchen island that faces the windows.
I look over at Tayler as she opens the cabinets one at a time. She hasn’t said a peep yet.
Stepping out of the living area, I walk down a short hallway into the first of two bedrooms. This one is huge with the same large windows along one wall. The floors from the living room have continued into the bedroom. I pull open a door and see a giant walk-in closet with built-in drawers along the back wall. “Amazing,” I whisper. I suddenly feel nervous. What if someone else has already filled out a rental application? What if the old guy picks them instead?
Shaking off the doubts, I walk farther down the hallway past a bathroom with a giant bathtub that also doubles as a shower. The black-and-white tile in the bathroom reminds me of the old houses I’ve seen onHouse Hunters. Everything is in good condition. It just needs to be cleaned.
Moving on to the next bedroom, I notice it’s just slightly smaller than the other one. It’s also not as sunny, because the windows are on the opposite side of the apartment and there aren’t as many. I pull open the closet and see the twin of the other one. I like this room. I think I’d sleep better in a less sunny room.
Moving back out into the hallway, I bump into Tayler. “What do you think?” She looks up at me, and there are tears in her eyes. “What’s wrong?”
“I love it. It’s perfect.” She pauses. “Right?”
“Yeah. It’s perfect. The price is a steal too.” I wouldn’t be paying much more than I was at the house. “I wonder what the catch is.”
“I’ve been wondering the same thing,” she grouses. “I mean, was someone murdered here? Is it haunted? Does it leak?” She looks up at the ceiling and smiles. “Shit. Tin ceilings.”
“I know. This place is amazing. There’s got to be a catch.”
As Tayler continues her tour, I move out of the living room where the old asshole is standing. “So,” I say with caution. “What’s the catch?” What? I might as well cut to the chase.
“Catch?” He chuckles. “You sure are a spitfire.”
“Uh-huh. So? Is it haunted? Is it a murder apartment? Does the neighbor have a thing for college girls?”
“The neighbor is a professor at the college. I don’t think he’s got any weird fetishes.” He shrugs. “Who knows these days. Am I right?” He chuckles again.
“What’s your name?”
“Vic.”
“And you manage the place?”
“I own it, hon.”
“And the stairs?”
“Carpenter is coming on Monday.”
“And what about utilities?”
“Included. So is cable. I’ve also got WiFi.”
“Shit,” I mutter. “It’s too good to be true.”
He chuckles again. “Sometimes something good can be true too, love.”
Love. He called me love.
God, I miss Cooke.
“We’ll take it,” I say suddenly. “How soon can we move in?”
