Page 75 of Daybreak

“Oh wow… If that’s an exit through your backyard, I can’t wait to see.”

“The remote to that exit also opens the back gate that leads into the alley. It’s how I got out of town while the hit men were still hunting me. Nobody saw me leave this house, and I don’t drive it around Dallas, so it was an unknown to anyone hunting me by car tag.”

“Car tag? Those hit men were looking for you by the number on your tag?”

“So says the dude I sent flying into the concrete barrier.”

She paled. “You must have been so afraid.”

“Honestly, my first reaction was surprise, and then anger. It got scary later, not knowing the faces of my enemies. But that’s over, and that back exit helped me get away unseen.”

She shook her head. “A man with an escape hatch. Amazing.”

As soon as they exited the car, Gunner hugged her, then kissed the top of her head.

“Okay, Miss Dillon. That’s the hug I promised. Now put on your Realtor shoes and let’s get down to business. I am in your hands.”

* * *

Holly was a pro at her job.

She began with the exterior photos front and back and then moved to the interior. As she worked, it became apparent that Gunner was more of a neat freak than she would have believed. It made taking photos much easier.

He stayed out of her way, watching her setting up a shot by moving a pillow, tilting a lamp shade a certain way, and making sure all of the lights were on in every room. It was eye-opening, witnessing how adept she was at her job.

“Lighting is everything when selling a house. The curtains always need to be pulled back. The shades up, lamps and overhead lights on. Bright is uplifting. If people want to live in a cave-like atmosphere later, they can close shades to suit them,” she said. When she got to his bedroom, her eyes widened at the sight of his bed. “That might be the biggest bed I’ve ever seen.”

He grinned. “I have a foot and leg problem.”

She turned, mirroring instant sympathy. “Why? What’s wrong?”

“My legs are too long, and my feet hang over the edges. The bed and mattress were special orders.”

She laughed. “You are always teasing. I should have known.”

“I don’t remember teasing you,” he said.

“Remember that big barbeque they had at the high school to raise money for new equipment for the baseball team?”

“Vaguely,” he said.

“You were serving in the food line. I was standing beside my mom. Extended my plate to the food you were serving, and I asked you what it was.”

His eyebrows arched. “Are you talking about the calf fries?”

“You told me they were meat patties. Little pieces of beef.”

He was smiling now. “I did not lie to you.”

She rolled her eyes. “That was the worst joke anyone has ever played on me. I gagged for a week every time I thought about it.”

Now he was laughing. He swooped her up in his arms and swung her feet off the floor. “I’m sorry, darlin’. I’m sorry.” And then kissed the frown off her face.

By the time the kiss was over, she was breathless. “Truce. Let me finish up here with the pictures, and then we’ll go over the contract.”

“You’ve already taken all the pictures you need in the kitchen, right?”

She nodded.