“Humor me. Try it again, my way.”
“Luna, come,” Kate said, mimicking Adam’s gruff voice and style. She’d been mocking him but damned if the dog didn’t get up and go to her. He hid a smile when he heard her mumble, “Stupid mutt.”
“Now praise her. This part will be right up your alley.”
“Oooh, such a good girl. Who’s a good girl? Mommy’s baby’s a good girl. You came all this way for Mommy, what—”
“All right, all right, she didn’t save Timmy from the well. She came to you. A pat on the head will suffice.”
“Humph. Are we done here?” Kate asked, attempting to stand but struggling in the tight skirt.
He offered a hand and helped her up. “We don’t need another torn skirt,” he said.
She snatched her hand back and gave him a dirty look.
“Too soon?” He laughed and then changed the subject. “I want it. Can we make an offer today?”
“You’re sure? This is a fantastic house, but what if you find something you like better?”
“How often do properties on the lake come on the market?”
“In Old Towne? Not very often. Lots of stuff on the rivers, but they can get pricey. Thisisa good shot if you want lakefront.”
“I love to fish and jet ski. It’s perfect.”
“Well, you can’t jet ski on this lake. There’s a ten-mile-per-hour limit. Most people frown altogether on motorized vessels, but there are a couple of guys that putter around in little fishing boats.”
“That’s good to know. Do you go out on the lake much?”
“I have a paddleboard I take out every once in a while. I don’t swim in it, if that’s what you mean. That’s what pools are for.”
Yeah, he couldn’t see her swimming in the lake. Too dirty for Kate. He could definitely see her lounging by the pool—big sunglasses, small swimsuit…sipping something cool.
“Is there a sporting goods store near here?” he asked as she locked up, and they headed to the car.
She thought for a second. “Yeah, there’s one about two miles from here. Do you need to stop for something?”
“Not right now. I’m thinking of investing in some good binoculars, but I won’t need them for a couple of weeks.”
“All right,” she said. “I’ll point it out on the way back to the office. What do you need binoculars for?”
“Bird watching.”
She squinted. “Whatkindof birds?” she asked, her voice laced with suspicion.
“Hot ones. In bikinis. On an unrelated note, do you have a set time you swim or lay out at your pool? Or is it a sporadic, spur-of-the-moment kind of thing?”
“That’s what I thought.” She slapped his arm, and he laughed. She was fun to tease because she was so easy to rile up. Everything about her screamed perfectionist. Her impeccably organized office, her prim persona, and her hair, which was smooth, straight, and styled flawlessly. He wondered what she’d do if he reached over and messed it up. He could think of some other ways he’d like to mess it up too.
“So, why do you want to move to New Bern?” she asked from the passenger’s seat.
“A few reasons. I’ve lived my whole life in Jacksonville and have been ready for a change for some time. I come up here all the time for business anyway. New Bern is pretty, and I like the feel of it. My best friend lives here, and I recently found out my mom is moving here. Also, I recently broke up with someone who, it turns out, is a bit of a psycho-slash-stalker. I told her from the start I wasn’t into commitment, but, well, let’s just say escape seems prudent.”
“Wow, must have ended pretty badly to sell off all your properties and move over a breakup.”
“It’s not just that,” he said. “I’ve been thinking about consolidating for a while. Maintenance issues at so many properties scattered all over and the paperwork at tax time can be a real hassle.”
“You don’t manage all the properties, do you? And do you do your own taxes? That seems dangerous.”