“Do you like it?”
I love it.
“It’s a nice place. Does it come furnished?”
“It does, but if you didn’t like something, I can take it out.”
I bite my lip. Why does he have to own the most perfect rental for me in town? Ineeda furnished place because I lost everything in the fire. And it has an ocean view.
“If I’d known you wanted to move out of June’s place, I would have just offered it to you,” he says. “Hell, you can have it, Sarah.”
“No.” I shake my head and look at him squarely now. “Absolutely not. If you’ll rent it to me, I’llpayfor it. I can afford it. But I can’t come without Petunia.”
“The cat?”
I nod solemnly. “I’m all she has, and I won’t desert her.”
“I’m fine with the cat.”
Hope spreads through me. “Would it be okay if I used your beach access to walk down to the sand sometimes?”
“Whenever you’d like.”
I can walk to work from here, I have beach access, and the adorable little house is furnished.
But will I have to see Tanner all the time? And if I do, will it continue to be uncomfortable?
“What’s your hesitation?”
He always could read me.
“I don’t want to make things weird or hard. If I live here, and if we run into each other all the time, I don’t want to make it uncomfortable for you.”
He lifts an eyebrow.
“Or for me.”
“It’s never my intention to make you uncomfortable. If it makes you feel any better, I can tell you that I rarely ever run into my tenants. I go to work early each morning, and I pretty much keep to myself, but I’m nearby if you need anything. Sarah, we see each other as often as we do because we share the same friends. Huckleberry Bay is a small town, and I refuse to give up my friends, or turn the other way whenever I see you. There are no hard feelings here.”
I nod and lick my lips, then look around the space once more.
I want it. I knew it when I saw the listing online last night.
This is where I’m supposed to be.
“I’d love to live here.”
He shoves his hands in his pockets and smiles, nodding. “Good. You can move in right away. Do you need help with your things?”
“No, I don’t have much. Mostly just some clothes and the cat. I lost everything else in the fire.”
“Wolfe’s rebuilding.”
“I know. But it’ll take a while. And as much as I love June, and I’m so incredibly grateful to her and Annabelle, I really need my own place, you know?”
“I get it.” He pulls his hand out of his pocket and holds up a key. “Looks like this is yours, then. The rent covers all the utilities, and it’s due by the fifth of the month.”
“I can do that.” I reach out and take the key, brushing his fingers with mine in the process.