Hazel laughed.“I’ve got my hands full with the job I have.”
“Please sit, and I’ll tell you about the house you’ll see,” said Melanie.“It’s a great opportunity for a couple who wants to grow their family.It has a lot of flexibility.There are four bedrooms, a small office, a small dining room, and a family great room that opens into the kitchen.Depending on what you want, you could use the dining room for a formal living room, turn the kitchen into a larger dining area, and so on.The small office could be turned into a nursery because it’s not far from the master suite.”
“It all sounds fine,” said Mike.
“The fenced backyard is bigger than some others who chose to keep theirs natural with wooded lots,” said Melanie.
“I’m anxious to see it,” said Hazel.
Melanie stood.“Here are the keys.I’ve arranged for the family living there to be absent.”
Mike held the door for Hazel and then followed her outside.
“It’s bigger than I need right now, but as I told the gang last night, I’m ready to make Lilac Lake my permanent home,” said Mike.
“I like the idea that it’s flexible.Let’s see for ourselves,” said Hazel.
They walked down the road of large homes built on sizeable lots.The fifth house on the left was a contemporary-style home stained a warm brown.It had lots of glass windows that gave an openness to the house.
The front door was painted an evergreen color and held a colorful floral wreath.Beside the door sat a pot of red geraniums.
Hazel followed Mike onto the porch and waited while he unlocked the door.
Stepping inside, the entryway led to a closet on one side and a powder room on the other side.The open space beyond the entry held a family room with a stone fireplace to the right and a dining room to the left.The back of the house beyond the family room contained a kitchen and a laundry room.The master bedroom suite was off to the left.
As Hazel and Mike walked through the house, Hazel commented on the quality of the finishing touches.Though the owners had chosen different colors in different bedrooms, Hazel liked the idea of pale-gray paint on the walls throughout the main rooms.She could see herself living here.Especially with Mike.Not that she’d ever say so.
“The master bath has everything,” said Mike, studying the oversized shower and separate spa tub.
“I love the private deck off the bedroom,” said Hazel.“A marvelous place to have coffee in the morning.”
“Let’s look upstairs,” said Mike.
They climbed the stairs and found a large bedroom with its ensuite bathroom, and another two bedrooms with a Jack-and-Jill bathroom between them.The wide landing at the top of the stairs was presently serving as a toy room.
“What kid wouldn’t love a house like this?”said Mike.“What do you think?Money is not a problem.I still get funds from companies that sponsored me when I played tennis nationally, and for being part of several advertising campaigns for them and others.I’ve invested all the money and used some dividends to participate in the Sports Center ownership.”
“I think it would be a wise investment if you could get it for a fair price.It’s a beautiful home.And we both know The Meadows is the premier housing development in the area.Even the ex-governor and his wife live here.”
They went downstairs for another look around.
As Hazel stood in the kitchen gazing out at the screened porch and beyond it to the woods, Mike came up behind her.
She turned and found herself in his arms.
Heart pounding, she gazed up at his face.
Seeing the hunger in his eyes, she put her arms around him and laid her head on his chest.She could hear the pounding of his heart and sighed with contentment.
He lifted her chin and gazed at her with a tender expression.“I’m going to fight for you, Hazel.I want you in my life.You’re the best person I know.I don’t care what anyone thinks about me except you.I want to prove to you that I can make you truly happy.I fell for you for real the first time I saw you with Jed.”
Mike lowered his lips to hers.
Feelings she didn’t know she had exploded in a burst of desire.She’d imagined what his lips might feel and taste like, but she was unprepared for the shock of need that went through her.
When they pulled apart, she gazed at him in a daze.
“Wow,” he murmured, caressing her face in his broad hands.
