“At first, it wasn’t in the cards, but I’ve done the math, and financially, it makes more sense. The rentbreaks out to be about the same as a monthly mortgage payment. The commission I’m earning from Clarissa’s dresses is just enough for a down payment on a place. I was planning to invest it in starting my business, but there’ll be time for that at a later date.”
Sam nods slowly, stroking his jaw. “I think you’re going about this the right way. I agree with you that if your plans are to stay in London, jumping onto the property ladder sooner, rather than later, makes a lot of sense. Where is this property you’re looking at?”
“Belsize Park.”
“When is the second viewing?”
“Um, I haven’t had the time to schedule it yet.”
“Min . . .”
“I know.” I bury my head into the soft fabric of his dress shirt.
“You can’t buy a place without seeing it.”
“I know, but?—”
Sam sits up taller, repositions me, and places both hands on my shoulders. “There are no buts about it. You need to see the prospective flat in person and take somebody with you who knows what they’re looking for in case there are problems like damp.”
“What’s damp?”
He stares at me as if to sayreally?“Damp is when the walls have a problem with being wet.”
“Oh. That would be a breeding ground for mold and mildew.”
“Exactly. I don’t want that to happen to you or to see you getting taken advantage of.” He frowns. “Have you put an offer in?”
“No, just an expression of interest.”
“Good. Don’t do anything further until I can get downthere with one of the lads from my troop who’s trained up on surveying work.”
I blink a few times. “You’d be willing to go down there? For me?”
“Of course. If this is a flat you want to purchase and move into, I want to make sure it’s safe. I care about you, Min.” He cups my cheeks. “You’re working on a tight time frame with that dress you were telling me about. I, on the other hand, have a little more flexibility in my schedule. If you send me the listing, I’ll see if I can take care of it tomorrow. I don’t want you worrying about anything.”
His lips brush against my forehead.
“I could say the same about you. Did everything go all right with your sister and mother?”
“As well as can be expected. Celine was back to her old self. She settled back into school and promised she wouldn’t cause any more trouble. We had a serious talk. The school psychologist is going to spend some time speaking to her about healthier ways to deal with her anxiety.” He leans back into the sofa. “As for Mum, I spoke to the headmaster and showed him the paperwork from the court transferring custody from her to me. She won’t be admitted back onto school property without my consent.”
My heart leaps. “Good. I hope she doesn’t try and pull a stunt like that again.”
“I hope she doesn’t either. I have a meeting with her tomorrow.”
I swallow hard. “You do?”
“Yes. It’s time to nip her meddling in the bud once and for all.”
His eyes burn with intense fire and passion. “What do you have up your sleeve, Sam I Am?”
“WhatMum wants—money.”
“Are you going to bribe her?”
“Not bribe. Just give her enough money to settle whatever debts she has and leave the girls alone.”
I wince. “Sam, you shouldn’t have to do that.”
