“I know we said five years, but can I keep you for things like this?”
I laughed, crossing my arms. “We’ll see. How on Earth did you cope before now?”
Matthew shrugged. “I told you—I was just the money. I suppose I got lucky with The Heron’s building.”
“Well, you would have found out eventually with the survey, but this just saves time now.”
“What should we do?”
“We?”
“Yes, we.” He caught my gaze. “Eva, I didn’t bring you here so I could go home and have a business meeting by myself in the bathroom mirror. You know how to run hotels, you clearly have a good eye for this stuff, and apparently, you’re rather intelligent.”
“I think that was a compliment.”
“It wasn’t an insult.”
I dipped my head to hide a laugh.
“I didn’t come out as I’d intended, but it still wasn’t an insult.”
I could no longer hide it.
I laughed, and he wrapped his arm around my shoulders, drawing me against his body. I assumed it was all for show—my back was to Ivan, so I didn’t know if he was looking at us or not.
Either way, I wasn’t sure I cared if it was for show or not.
Ho, hum. That’s annoying.
It felt better than it should. Pressing my face into his chest while his arm held me against him set a mini fire burning under my skin, one that warmed me the whole way through. His fingertips brushed over my arm, sending goosebumps rolling down it.
Oh, no.
This was very bad.
“What are we doing, then?” he asked in a low voice. “I think he’s wrapping up his conversation now.”
“We can bluff him into holding onto it for us while we get a survey done. If he didn’t tell you about the issues with the roof and the barn foundation…”
“Then he’s not going to announce it at the auction under the guise he didn’t know either.”
Something that I was ninety-nine percent sure was illegal.
Not that I thought Ivan cared. If he did, he’d have already told us about the issues without me having to yoink them out of him , wouldn’t he?
“Exactly,” I said quickly. “So we can tell him we’ll pay one hundred and fifty thousand after a survey to rule out any other major issues.”
“That’ll never be accepted. This place is worth two-ten minimum with the issues. The low starting price is just to get people going.”
“I know, but the seller wants a quick sale, and that works in our favour. What do you think is going to happen after it goes to auction? The issues will be found, and the buyer will probably drop out. This way, we can negotiate, probably up to one-eighty, one-ninety, and the seller can get it done fast.”
“You are an evil genius,” he muttered, tilting his face into mine. “Where do you come up with this?”
“Somewhere between showering and trying to pair my socks.” I turned my head, and my nose brushed against his jaw. His stubble was rough, and I slowly drew in a breath.
I’d kissed him a thousand times, but there’d never been anything remotely romantic about it.
So why did this feel a bit like it was?
“Sorry about that,” Ivan said, walking over to us. “Bloody thing never stops ringing.”
“I find silent mode helps.” I smiled, turning around.
He chuckled and looked at Matthew. “Well? What do you think?”
“I like it,” he said. “But I do have concerns about the roof.”
“The owner has had a quote from a local company that says thirty thousand to replace it.”
“Really? For a house of this size?”
“That’s what she said.”
“Mm, that’s not bad,” Matthew said, nodding along.
Not bad?
Not bad?
There were tabloid newspapers out there jealous of the amount of bollocks he was spouting.
I side-eyed him.
Ivan caught it. “You don’t agree?”
I shook my head. “Thirty thousand for a roof that big? I’m not exactly an expert in construction, but even I know that’s never going to happen. This place is huge because of the size of the rooms.”
Matthew frowned at me. “No, I think that’s about right. Everything is more expensive in the south, don’t forget.”
“I still don’t think that’s right.”
“Well, I do. I’m interested in this one. I think we should make an offer.”
What was he doing?
“I really think you should get an exact quote,” I said slowly.
“And we can. After we’ve made an offer.” Matthew looked pointedly at me.
Oh.
Ohh.
Were we playing good cop, bad cop?
Damn it. Role play was so much more exciting in the bedroom.
I glanced at Ivan then back at Matthew, huffing.
“Do you need a minute?” Ivan asked uncertainly. He didn’t look best pleased with this new development.
Namely, me.
I supposed I was rather cramping his style. I didn’t expect him to invite me over for afternoon tea anytime soon, I would just say that.
“How much are you thinking?” I asked my darling husband.
Matthew leaned over and pretended to whisper something in my ear.