“How long has it been vacant?”
Grizz stretched his arms, grasping the back of his neck. “About nine years.”
Her brows shot up to her hairline. Grizz was probably pushing seventy, if she had to guess. How had this beautiful little home stayed vacant for so long? When she looked at it, there were so many possibilities.
“How old was your grandmother?”
He burst out laughing. “Ninety-two when she died. She wasn’t the last to live here. After my pop died, my mom was living on her own. Me and my lady took turns checking on her but with both of us working a lot, it made it hard. We suggested we move into this place. My mom insisted on giving us the main house and she moved into this one. After my woman passed, I offered my mom to come live with me but she refused.” His face softened, staring at the one story cape. “God, she loved this little house.”
Cleo smiled, looking up. It was weathered and clearly hadn’t been updated or cared for in years, but she could see the potential. A little power washing, some paint and minor repairs, was probably all it would take to make it livable. The idea sparked in her head like a flash. It was as if all the dominos were falling in place.
“Have you ever thought about renting it out?”
He scoffed, grabbing a rag from his back pocket and wiping his nose. “The only thing fit to live in this shack are the critters burrowing underneath the floorboards.”
I see something different.
It probably wouldn’t take much more than an exterminator to set up traps. Cleo inched closer to the house and heard the crunching of leaves under his heavy boots.
“I bet if you cleaned it up a bit, it would shape up to be livable. I’m sure you could get decent rent for it.”
“Not putting my money or time into this place.”
Cleo spun around with a burst of energy racing through her body. “I can do it for you.”
He furrowed his brows. “Why would you want to do that?”
Cleo shrugged.So I can live here.
Grizz shook his head. “Don’t want strangers living on my property.”
She pressed her hand over her chest. “I’m not a stranger.”
Grizz jerked his head, clearly taken aback. “You wanna rent this place?”
Cleo shrugged, losing a little bit of her confidence. If she wanted this, and she did, Cleo would have to sell herself.
“I’d be a great tenant, Grizz. I’m very responsible, neat and quiet.”
“Sweetheart, I can’t…”
He was shutting her down without even hearing her out. Cleo rushed toward him, halting a few feet away.
“I’ll pay for all the repairs, painting, and even new appliances. You won’t have to put any money out.”
He raised his brows. “Sweetheart, this place would take a few thousand just to be livable. More if you want it to be comfortable living for a woman.” He shook his head, sighing again, “Cleo, I….”
“I’ll pay for it all. I have the money.”
He knitted his brows. “Why do you wanna put money into a place that ain’t even yours?”
It was true. She could spend tons of money on the house just to have him turn around in a year and not renew her lease. He would be well within his rights as the owner. It would leave Cleo in the same position she was in now.But…At least she’d get a small slice of life on her own, in a home she could make all hers. Even if it wasn’t going to be forever.
“Please, Grizz.”
He cupped his jaw, peering over at the house. It was hard to get a read on where his head was at. She didn’t know him well enough to know what he was thinking. More importantly, which direction he was leaning toward.
Movement across the property had her angling her head. Cypher was walking out of the house and down the stairs. Her time was up, and she hadn’t gotten an answer. She was set to giveone more desperate plea for his reconsideration. But she didn’t have to. Grizz turned and started walking back to his house.
