Truth is, I lost more than my job that year. I lostmyself. My life became a series of bad decisions as I tried to fix the gaping hole in my chest.
It took Grandpa’s accident to get me on the straight and narrow. But by the time I got on the right path, it was too late. The girl who promised me forever had her arms wrapped around someone else, and I…
I was too late.
My neck cranes as I take in all three stories of the lake house. In broad daylight, there is no way to hide the imperfections plaguing the home. The chipped paint and rotting wood siding doesn’t bode well, especially when paired with the tarp covering a majority of the roof. Most of the windows look outdated and their wood frames decrepit from old age. Vines crawl up the exterior walls, completely out of control as if they want to swallow the house whole.
Maybe that’s for the best.
The house is a wreck. In its current state, I’ll be lucky if I find a buyer willing to purchase the place.
All you need to do is find one person willing to take a chance. That’s all.
I release a tense breath before ringing the doorbell. It takes Lana a whole minute to answer the door, her eyes barely open and her hair a wreck as she steps out on to the porch wearing nothing but an oversized T-shirt that barely reaches her mid-thigh. The material falls loosely over her curves, accentuating the shape of her breasts.
Blood rushes through my body, directly toward the source of my newest problem. I wipe my face with my palm. “Please tell me you don’t make it a habit of opening doors dressed like that.”
“What’s wrong with my clothes?” She looks down.
“The fact that you’re barely wearing any.”
She crosses her arms, which only pushes her boobs up. “You’re the one showing up on a Saturday morning without an invitation.”
“I need the keys to the guesthouse.” My molars smash together.
“Oh.” Her lips press together. “Give me a second.” She disappears into the house before coming back a minute later with a key ring.
I reach to grab it, but she clutches it against her chest.
“Hold on.”
“What?”
“How long do you plan on staying?”
I grin. “Trying to get rid of me already?”
“No, although I’m sure the mice staying in the guesthouse will do that for me.”
“Mice?” My eyes widen.
“A whole family of them.” She has an extra special glint in her eyes.
I shrug like the idea of mice doesn’t repulse me. “No problem. Merlin will love the challenge.”
“Who’s Merlin?”
“My cat.”
Her head tips to the side. “You have a cat?”
“Surprised?”
“That you can take care of a living, breathing organism? Absolutely.” She delivers her venom-coated words with a vicious smile that does wonders for my dick. Blood flows directly to the source, making the front of my pants uncomfortably tight.
I reach for the keys again, but she clutches them in a tight fist.
“Wait.”